What Do You Fear?

This piece was something I originally wrote to share with my youth group. I've decided to branch out and share it with the rest of the world! And, I didn't have pictures to help me the time I spoke, so this is fun!

Josh (my youth pastor) said that for the next year, we will be in a series bringing us closer together. In other words, we’re going to be a big, happy, family. We want to love each other, like brother and sister. I’m not saying we should all fall in love and become sister wives, because I’m pretty sure that’s NOT what Josh wants. So, let’s just keep it at a brother-sister relationship.

I know a little bit about family, I grew up with a big one.

 

 My dad was the eighth kid out of eleven and my mom was the fifth out of six, and I had 90+ “like” big sisters watching over me, from when my dad coached women’s soccer. I’m not saying that I know so much more than you do, or that I'm some kind of expert on families. I’m just sharing what I have learned from my experiences in the family field. I know a little bit about what I think family SHOULD be like, and what family SHOULDN’T be like.

 

I know that if you cancel a hangout sesh to go on a date… That’s not okay! Because you should honor your commitments. I know that if you pick up your little sister and take her to Chik-Fil-A and then the mall, just because you love her… That? That’s great, because you’re showing her that you value her.

Philippians 2:3 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

 

 

 

Valuing others above yourselves means considering them, they should be in your thoughts. I know that in order to get to know your siblings, you have to ask questions and listen. You know the two ears one mouth policy? Good. Use that. You aren’t born knowing that your older sister was born April 24 1994, and her favorite color is blue. You aren’t born knowing that your older brother has issues with cats. You aren’t born knowing anything. You have to ask questions. And today, I have a question for you.

Your biggest fear. What is it?

Think about that for a second.

See, I have a few “phobias”: Arachnophobia, Agoraphobia, Kleptophobia, and Claustrophobia. Let me rephrase those in English for you.

Arachnophobia: I’m afraid of spiders.

Agoraphobia: I’m afraid of leaving safe places.

Kleptophobia: I’m afraid of being kidnapped.

Claustrophobia: I’m afraid of getting trapped in small spaces. 

Those are fairly rational. They aren’t normal, but I’m not afraid of everything. But what amazes me is how many other fears there are.

Agyrophobia – fear of crossing the street.                                                                                   

Amychophobia – fear of being scratched.                                                          

Friggatriskaidekaphobia – fear of Friday the Thirteenth.                                             

Gelotophobia – fear of being laughed at. Which if I had that, then I wouldn’t be up here.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number 666.                                         

Nomophobia – fear of being out of mobile phone contact… How many of you have had that one?                                                                                                                                

Pogonophobia – fear of beards. I’m assuming none of us have this one.  (Our Youth Pastor is bearded usually)                        

Turophobia – fear of cheese.                                                                                     

Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

There are fears for everything!

And it is un-be-lievable!!

 

 

There are so many fears on this Earth and yet all the time, we say to people…. “I believe that Christ Jesus my Savior will take care of me, I fear nothing because Jesus has saved me…” We might even mention it says in the Bible 365 whopping times DO NOT BE AFRAID! But, what about all the fears I just listed…? It’s not true that you and I don’t fear anything. We just remember to trust God. Trust Him with our fears and trust that He is with us always.
So, I have one last thing before I wrap this up and we worship together.

In The Fault In Our Stars, Augustus Waters says that his greatest fear is oblivion. Towards the end he says: “I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable.” What he says is true. Oblivion is inevitable. But we tend to use the word oblivion in a sense where we think that oblivion means “To be ended, or to be destroyed.” When it really means “To Be Forgotten.” The truth is in the eyes of the only One who matters, you will never be forgotten. I know that when the time comes and God decides to end the world, as he said he will do in Revelation, I know, that He will be taking me with Him. I was saved in June of last year. And it was an amazing day. When you get saved, your family , and your family “In Christ”  will really, truly, be happy for you, and we will celebrate. My God, my Lord, is so amazing, and He can be your Savior too. You see, Jesus died for me and you. Our Savior, well, there is no other way to put this. He can move mountains. He conquered the grave; He is mighty to save… Soooo, what's a little fear?