June 2009 Balancing Tips: Fear Not!
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Balancing Tips: Helping You Balance Your Life According to God's Word
June 2009 Newsletter From Cross Your Heart Publications

~Crossing your life with God's plan~

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY CHILDREN THIS JUNE AND JULY!**

**HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!**

In this issue:
- Fear Not!
- Prayer Requests and Praise Reports
- Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions

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Fear Not!

What are you afraid of? We're all afraid of something! Whether it's the dark -- or monsters -- or how to pay the bills -- everyone has fears that sometimes get the better of them.

But, you know what? Someone else can get the better of all our fears. GOD!

We learned this at my children's Vacation Bible School. Two lessons, in particular, stood out for me -- AND caused quite a chuckle among the children.

In the first activity, we wrote our fears on small pieces of paper. Since I was in the preschool group with my son, the fears were items like dinosaurs and paper (must be the paper cuts?). Once we wrote down the fears, we hung the pieces of paper on the wall. Then the teacher pulled out a huge leaf blower, turned it on (much to the delight of the children!), and whooshed those fears right off the wall and out of our lives.

Just like God does.

The second lesson took place while the entire group sang worship songs at the end of one evening. Each crew leader blew up a balloon as the children in his or her group yelled out fears. For some reason, "snakes" was quite a common fear for this group of youngsters, who ranged in age from three up until around 14. Each crew leader spoke one of the fears out loud as they stuffed the balloons under the large robe of an assisting guinea pig (er, I mean parent). The VBS coordinator then pulled out a balloon and (again, much to the children's glee) began popping all of the balloons.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Just like God eliminates our fears.

We need to trust in Him and KNOW He is in control -- not us, not other people around us, and certainly not our problems. God is stronger than all our fears!

To repeat the phrase the kids remembered from that night: God is powerful! And the children replied: Fear not!

As God's children, we all need to remember this and repeat that simple phrase: GOD IS POWERFUL! FEAR NOT!!!

Each night of VBS, we learned a new lesson:
- God is always with us. Fear not!
- God is powerful. Fear not!
- God does what He says He'll do. Fear not!
- God gives us life. Fear not!
- God cares for us. Fear not!

We would do well to remember these five traits of God every single day. Repeat them morning, night, and in between. Any time we need to face a fear -- or even just step outside the house. When we wake up and when we lie down to bed. God is always with us. God is powerful. God does what He says He'll do. God gives us life. God cares for us.

What do we have to fear with God on our side? FEAR NOT!

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Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to list a prayer request or update in the next issue, please email cdowns@crossyourheartpub.com.

This month's prayer requests:

- Vern: My friend Betty's husband recently had surgery. Please pray for his recovery and her sanity as she sees him through it (as she also continues to recover from arm surgery after a fall).

- Mandy: Young mother of two small children whose brain is swollen due to an injury or illness.

- Ray: My husband recently found out he has high cholesterol and a thyroid imbalance. Please pray as he discusses treatment options with the doctor.

- Financial issues: For God's will regarding finances, employment, and careers for everyone during today's economy. Specifically, I am looking for at least one more writing/editing contract, and I am exploring some additional career and education ideas. Please pray for guidance and God's hand in opening doors and showing me the right decisions to follow His will. I'm sure everyone could use prayers and guidance to follow God's will in their lives regarding finances, careers, relationships, and many other issues.

- Our children: That they grow up knowing God's Word and loving and respecting others. Lord, please help us set a Godly example for them. Help them and us all learn to love God and love others.

- Unspoken issues in all of our lives, whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or anything in between.

This month's praise reports:

- VBS: It was a blessing to be involved with Vacation Bible School at our church again this year. My children and everyone had a blast!

- Our children: They bring such light into our lives in the midst of everything else. What a blessing!

~I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone… - 1 Timothy 2:1~

~Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12~

~Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:24~

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Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions

Contact information:

Cross Your Heart Publications
Crossing your life with God's plan
P.O. Box 206
Loyalhanna, PA 15661
Phone: 724-787-6756
Email: info@crossyourheartpub.com
http://www.CrossYourHeartPub.com

Publisher/Owner:
Christina Downs
M.A. Professional Writing (Carnegie Mellon University)
Author of "Simply Balanced: Bible 'Contradictions' Teach Balanced Living"
Author of "Dress for De-Stress: How Wearing the Full Armor of God Helps Deflect the Fiery Darts of Worry and Distress"
Over thirteen years of writing and editing experience
Wife and Mom to two beautiful children
Child of God
More than labels!
http://chrisdowns.wordpress.com
http://chrisdownsprofessional.wordpress.com

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We hope you have found this issue useful in helping you balance your life! If you have any suggestions for improvements, please email Chris at cdowns@crossyourheartpub.com. Thank you, and God bless you.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liabilities:

These files were prepared by Cross Your Heart Publications. Cross Your Heart Publications, including all representatives speaking on behalf of this company:
- Makes no warranty or representation of warranty, express or implied, with respect to using any information disclosed in these files.
- Has made every attempt not to infringe on or interfere with anyone's privately owned rights, including any party's intellectual property.
- Assumes no responsibility for any damages or other liability whatsoever (including any consequential damages) resulting from using these files or any information disclosed in these files.

Further, Cross Your Heart Publications employees have no professional counseling, psychiatric, or legal training and make no claim to be experts in these areas. Staff members provide emotional and spiritual advice on a general basis, based on personal knowledge and Biblical and other research.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Any other quotes or links belong to their respective owners.

Copyright © 2009 Christina M. Downs, Cross Your Heart Publications

http://www.CrossYourHeartPub.com

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