Fear vs Love

I want to extend special Valentine birthday greetings to my brother, Stanley Smartt.  "Happy Natal Day Big Bro!" 

1 John 4:18 (HCSB) – “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.”
     News reports of events circulating around the globe create an atmosphere of hopelessness, doubt and fear; fear of terrorism; fear of abandonment; fear of loss; and fear of the unknown. Our country has experienced drastic changes due to our new administration; poor decisions lead to speculation and prejudicial treatment. Severe weather patterns have caused many to be without the basic necessities of heat; light and food. The global economy, stock markets, missile nuclear testing and fluctuating financial trends foster precedents unbridled fear.
     Fear is a tool of the evil one and will appear without warning or invitation. We have to be mindful that fear creeps in and hangs around waiting for a vulnerable place to slide into our consciousness. It will try to make itself at home whenever we take our eyes off of the true ‘love’ that God proves.
     When we look into the eyes of our problems; we stare into nothingness and lose focus of the love that God has for us. Don’t give problems that much attention. Our scripture tells us that fear cannot and will not abide where there is love. God is love; perfect love; and where God is -fear cannot be. Fear tries to intimidate and instigate our emotions to work against us. Every bump in the night becomes an intruder; every low tone becomes a whisper against us; every slight pain is malignant and like every other lie of the devil it can be chased away just by the mention of the name of Jesus.
    Do not let fear, which is False Evidence Appearing Real, linger. When it tries to creep in and take over speak out against it. Give God the glory and usher in the courage that the Holy Spirit brings. Take courage in the form of love. Love yourself and take courage in your God-given ability to call out fear and take its power away. Don’t be afraid to try, to do, to advance, to fail, to get back up and try again, to explore, to stand up for yourself, to listen, to learn, to be all that you can be. Love will conquer all.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! On this Valentine’s Day let LOVE Victoriuosly and squelch fear. Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn