What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Never Fear - UPDATED 2-6-18

2-6-18  UPDATE TO THIS STORY:  Thank you all for your words of kindness regarding the break-in at my MIL's house last night. Thankfully it appears that the robbers did not get anything from inside the house, even though they had broken down the door to the laundry room and left their crowbar inside. They did steal some items that were in the carport. It appears that they may have been scared off before they could take anything else. Praise God! And it also appears that they did not do any other damage inside the house.  My husband and I both said it is as though an angel may have guarded the interior of the home and kept them from moving forward.  We give thanks to the Lord for His protection over her home.  


I've been sitting here reading my blogging friends' various posts from today and over the weekend, and I'm thinking that I should be writing something, but it seems as though I can't get my brain in gear to say anything.  Stayed up last night and watched the Super Bowl, which is unusual for me, but hubby would have had to watch it alone if I didn't, and that didn't seem like much fun for him. Normally, or at least in times past, there would have been at least one or two of our sons here to watch with him.  But since one got married this past fall and the other works evenings on the weekend they aren't around so much to watch the games with him.  So, I actually got into it and enjoyed the game. I wasn't rooting for either team in particular, but was glad to see the Eagles win. They truly played the better game, and in my opinion, they deserved to win!

So that being said, as I was sitting here typing this, my brother in law called to tell us that he had just had a phone call that my mother-in-law's house has been broken into.  He was on his way to check it out and see what kind of damage has been done. Sadly, her house has been sitting there empty for sometime since she has been in the nursing home.  Due to circumstances beyond our control, we aren't able to sell her house yet, so this has been a major concern that vandals would discover it. We had removed most of the more valuable items from the house, but there was still quite a bit of furniture and appliances inside.  This is not good news.

Yesterday's sermon verses seem to fit here:

John 10:10
"The thief does not come except to steal, 
and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."


II Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."


I John 4:1, 4
1.  "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets 
have gone out into the world."
4.  "You are of God, little children, 
and have overcome them, because
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

(Pictures from the beautiful camellia bushes that are blooming at the church)

When fears and disappointments come our way, we have a tendency to run and hide and throw up our hands in fear and surrender to the enemy. 

(For a little comic relief, I just had to throw this picture in, which is at a three way intersection on our way to the town where the church is that we attend.  It is someone's way of getting our attention so that we don't drive straight into the woods! )

But God has come to give us a spirit of "power, and love and a sound mind."  We need to remember that our God is able to deliver us from the hands of the evil one...

We need not fear what man may do to us, for we belong to Jesus...and "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."  

It is sad when things that are of value to us are stolen or damaged or lost...but they are just that...things. In the grand scheme of life, those things are not what is really important.
What is truly important is our soul, mind and spirit...and when we belong to Jesus,
no man can take us away from Him.

John 10:28-29
"And I (Jesus) give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish; 
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, 
is greater than all; 
and no one is able to snatch them out of 
My Father's hand."

You Belong to Jesus? Never Fear!
Praise God!!

18 comments:

  1. I am so sorry your mother-in-law's home was broken into. That is always a worry with a home that is sitting empty.
    Beautiful verses that followed and I hope you have a wonderful night- xo Diana

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  2. Here all this time I thought I was following you!!! I have you on my side bar but I just happened to look to the side and noticed that I had never really signed up. You can count me in now! xo Diana

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  3. Pamela, I am so sorry to read this. Even though your mother in law isn't there at present, it's such a violation to think of someone breaking in. There is such a temption to give in to fear as I read more and more of burglaries and other crimes, and it seems we aren't really safe anywhere. Thank God that He is with us and the verses you shared are so perfect. He is with us always.

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  4. So sorry to hear someone broke into you mil's house, sure hope there isn't any damage and nothing of value was taken. One of my 'go-to' scriptures is Isaiah 41:10, fear not for I am with you...I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. When I read that all my fears go away. He is holding me. WoW

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  5. Truly sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's house break in. Hopefully nothing was damaged and destroyed. Love the verses you shared. One of my favorites is: II Timothy 1:7- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

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  6. Oh yes, stuff isn't what's important, every day I am learning and growing in faith. God is good and is with those that call on him and seek his will. I do hope they catch who has broken into your mother-in-laws home so they can't do that again.

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  7. Oh yes, stuff isn't what's important, every day I am learning and growing in faith. God is good and is with those that call on him and seek his will. I do hope they catch who has broken into your mother-in-laws home so they can't do that again.

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  8. I am sorry to hear about the break-in. When I was in college someone broke in to my apartment and took my spare key that was by the door. I could tell they'd been through things and then tried to make it look like they hadn't been there...but they had the key. Yiiikes. A man from my church changed the locks for me and I got a dog. I almost got a gun, but a friend told me that if I wouldn't shoot someone, I was just arming the intruder, OH, what a day.

    Anyway...

    You could always donate the things from the house to a veteran's association. They will even come and pick it up.

    Although, I suppose you'd still be concerned about damage inside if someone went in.

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    1. The guy never came back, by the way-- that I know of!

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  9. Sorry about the break in. It's disgusting when people take advantage to steal.
    Consider getting ADT alarm for the house. It would pay for itself if it deters loss of property.
    Putting fake security cameras on the house also are a deterent but ADT is a good idea especially for a house left alone for any period of time.

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  10. That's terrible about the break-in, Pamela! But the good news is, your MIL wasn't in the house. Now that could have been tragic.
    Thank you for the lovely photos and for the reminder that we are all God' children and live under His protection.
    Blessings!

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  11. Pam, I am so sorry to hear about this vandalizing that took place at your mother-in-law's home. Thankful that the items that were missing were from the garage and not the house itself. God was good to watch over the house. xx

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  12. Pam: I am so sorry to hear about the break-in. We returned from Florida late one December to discover we had been burglarized. That's when we installed a deadbolt on the front door.Have you thought about getting one of those timers that turns on lights in the house when no one is at home for an extended period of time. Hubby's sister's home got broken into when she was in a nursing facility and Hubby had to talk to her insurance agent. We found out that once a house is empty for 6 months the insurance is void. (sad news, I know.)

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  13. I am so sorry to just be reading this, Pam! How horrible!! That feeling of being violated is a hard one to handle. It sure does seem like there were Angels watching over your mother-in-law's home. Hugs!

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  14. So glad to hear that they were interrupted in their stealing spree.
    It's very traumatic to be broken into like that.
    Hope today is happy and lighthearted for you all.

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    1. Thank you, Annie...our son had his wisdom teeth taken out today...not exactly lighthearted, but he's glad to get it over with. Thanks!!

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  15. Pam, While I'm sorry to hear about your MIL's house, I'm glad that she wasn't there and that the damage was minimal and that so little was taken. Thank you also for the reminder that we never need to fear.

    Blessings!

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