NO FEAR by Teresa S. Mathews

NO FEAR

When your thoughts are running away from you.

When you heart races and you don’t know what to do.

When it seems, your life is turned upside down. 

And you feel your world spinning round and round.

When your life hasn’t turned out liked you thought. 

When all your dreams have come to naught. 

  

When your doctor tells you, “there's no cure.” 

In this one thing you can be sure;

Your life is in the hands of GOD, 

He’s been every place you’ve ever trod. 

  

As His perfect love draws you near, 

Remember in HIM there is NO FEAR!! 

TSMATHEWS © 2017

Back in 2014 when my husband Carlton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, GOD began to deal with me about fear. He brought to my remembrance many scriptures about fear and He reminded me many times that fear doesn’t have a place in a Christian’s life.  I thought He was showing me this to encourage Carlton while he was going through treatment. No, He was getting me ready for the most difficult time of my life, losing my husband of twenty-eight years. He was showing me how to live a life fully trusting HIM with NO FEAR!!

Most of you know the struggles I have had since Carlton moved his residence from earth to Heaven on May 7, 2015, if not, you can read about it here. There have been many things I have faced that should have made me tremble with fear but GOD has held me close and reminded me HE is in control of my life.

On the first day, I visited the Oncology Radiation Office waiting to be called back, I begin to feel an overwhelming spirit of fear and I started to tremble. So, I begin to pray and ask the Lord to bring peace to me. One of my sons noticed me and asked what was wrong, when I explained, he held my hand and prayed too.  I began to immediately feel GOD’s peace surround me, but as we all know, satan wants us to live in fear, so he will do whatever he can to slip it back in our lives. He is very cunning and will use whatever tactic he can to succeed.

During the past 4.5 weeks, every time I undergo a treatment, which only lasts about 3-4 minutes, I pray that the radiation only goes to the “bad” area and not to the surrounding tissues, heart, lungs, ribs, back, etc... To me that seemed like a normal response to a stressful situation.

On Wednesday of this past week, while repeating my ritualistic prayer, the Lord spoke to my spirit these words….NO FEAR!!!  Wait a minute!! Could my little silent prayer asking for protection from the radiation, be born out of FEAR??!! Then I felt the Lord telling me “Instead of praying a fearful prayer, why not use this time to pray for the others that are coming in and lying on this table undergoing radiation treatments.” It only took me a few seconds to process this and I began to pray for salvation and healing for anyone that comes into that lonely room to undergo treatment.

Let me clarify that asking GOD for mercy and protection is not wrong, in fact that is what we are supposed to do. Our Heavenly Father loves to hear from his children; but when your prayers are being driven by fear and not by faith, it grieves Him. 1 John 4:18  tells us “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  GOD’s love is perfect and it will drive away any fear that we have.

Another scripture on fear is 2 Timothy 1:7  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  Fear will torment our minds and that is not what GOD wants for us. He has promised us a sound mind! When we call out to Him, He will help us overcome our fears, just like Psalms 34:4 says “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Another wonderful reminder that GOD will help us overcome our fear is Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

I appreciate all the prayers that everyone has sent up for me and for the ones that you will continue to pray but I also ask that you join me in praying for EVERYONE that is fighting cancer. Hearing that word can instill fear in anyone, so let’s remind them and especially satan, that GOD IS GREATER than cancer and in HIM THERE IS NO FEAR!!

Here are some additional scriptures about not being fearful. 

          Deut. 31:6             Joshua 1:9            Psalm 27:1            Psalm 56:3-4            Psalm 118:6

         
 
          Isaiah 41:13          Isaiah 43:1            Hebrews 13:5-6     John 14:27

Here are a couple of my favorite songs by Chris Tomlin.

ENJOY!!

  

                                                                     

If you have a favorite scripture that has helped you overcome fear,  

please leave me a comment.  I would love to hear from you!! 

BE THANKFUL by Teresa S. Mathews

For all our followers who may not know, I have had a pretty tough year, of course losing my sweet husband Carlton to cancer in May 2015 and then I had to have surgery this past July. Surgery went well except I had complications and was back in the hospital twice in less than 6 weeks after the surgery. With all that was going on, I had put off having my mammogram done for about 2 years, thankfully I didn't put it off this year. 

I went in October and a couple days later I received a call-back that they had found an area that required a closer look. I went back in and after another mammogram the Radiologist came out to tell me what he saw was going to require a biopsy. On Oct. 13th I had the biopsy and on the 14th I received a call telling me I had DCIS; Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. Some doctors call it a cancer contained in the duct or ducts, others consider it pre-cancerous. Either way it requires a lumpectomy and afterward it requires radiation treatments and an estrogen blocking medicine to be taken for approximately 5 years, perhaps longer.  

On October 21st, when the surgeon took out the DCIS and he also took out a small margin around it to make sure there was no invasion cancer. This was sent to the pathologist and when he looked at it under the microscope he saw a very small (1.3mm) area that was found to be HER2 a very aggressive and fast growing cancer. 

Fast forward to the Oncologist visit, she said I had not one but two very different cancers that needed to be addressed. Since HER2 was the more aggressive type she addressed it first. She told me she had NEVER seen this type cancer found so tiny before.  All I could say was Praise God! She wanted to take a few days to decide if we needed to go the traditional route of aggressive chemo with an added medicine called Herceptin. She held my hands and prayed with me before she left the room for GOD to give us wisdom and if there was anything we couldn't see in my body for GOD to put it under the Blood of Jesus. What a wonderful blessing to have a Christian doctor that first and foremost consults with the Great Physician.

After a couple days she called me back and asked if I would be agreeable to her saying no to the chemo but yes to the radiation. I told her I was at peace with her decision because of how she took the time to consider if the risks outweighed the benefits with the chemo. So I will be starting radiation treatments sometime in the next couple weeks. 

Right in the middle of the cancer scare, I got the call that my mom had passed away.  It was a shock but I am at peace knowing she is now enjoying the splendors of Heaven. All of this has made me think about a lot of things but most of all I have thought of the goodness of GOD and how all of this could have been a lot worse. I try everyday to thank Him for all He has done for me and my family. Below is a poem I wrote as a reminder to myself to always be THANKFUL!!

BE THANKFUL

When there comes a time that life gets hard, 
Or troubles come your way.                                                                                  
When everything seems to close in on you                                                                  
And you don’t know what to say.

BE THANKFUL

When the doctor gives you that dreaded news,                                           
You never want to hear.                                                                                    
No matter that it makes you afraid,                                                               
And you shed many a tear.

BE THANKFUL
                                                                                                                        
When life gets hard and things go wrong                                                                 
And you don’t know what to say.                                                                               
Hold your head up high, take a breath,                                                                     
And tell Him “Lord, I thank you for this day.”
                                                             
BE THANKFUL

Thankful His love, Thankful for His Son,                                                          
Thankful for His kindness to each and every one.

Thankful for His Blessings that come every day.                                                 
Thankful for the things that come to brighten up our way.

Even be thankful for the things that you don’t understand,                                   
Those are the things that make you hold more tightly to His Hand.

©Teresa S. Mathews 2016

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE
OVERCOMING WITH GOD
BLOGGERS!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD

JULIAN SHARPE

  

 Happy Father's Day Dad

You worked hard to keep us clothed and fed

You taught us the right way by the life you led.

You read your Bible and soaked up every word

You listened to the Pastor and believed what you heard.

You shaped me into what I am today,

Because of your willingness to fast and pray.

You truly were a man of God in doing what was right,

Your life was like a beacon shining out God's light.

I can still hear your voice singing slightly off key,

"You Are My Sunshine" to the other kids and me.

I still can hear your laughter as you would tell a joke

I still hold dear the poems that you wrote.

You were the greatest dad there could ever be,

And I am forever grateful that you were there for me.

©Teresa S. Mathews 06/15/2013

My dad was a wonderful man of God. When we were kids if any of us got sick, he would come and pray for us and before he could say amen, we were feeling 100% better. 

When he read his Bible he believed every word. Some of his favorite scriptures were found in the third chapter of Malachi starting with verse 8; Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Daddy loved to quote this scripture and then add his interpretation; "If you shovel it out, God will shovel it in and His shovel is a whole lot bigger than ours." It was very simple to him, if God said it, that was the end of the discussion.  What a mighty man of God, what a heritage our family has.

Thank you daddy for showing me by example how to live for the Lord. 
Happy Father's Day in Heaven. 

Baby Julian

Dad and his dog, Rusty

Dad, Mom and myself.
I was probably 9.

Father's Day 1988
Gotta love that grin. 

The Sharpe Family, Christmas 2006
Since this picture was taken there have been
four more great-grandchildren born.
Sadly my daddy passed away in April 1996,
so he only got to see his first great-grand child. 

Resurrection by Teresa S. Mathews

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said...
Matthew 28:6

RESURRECTION

The first day of the week broke with Heaven’s glorious light.       

Looking at the beauty you would never know there had been a fight.

                                                                                                                    

Three days before, GOD’s Son, Jesus, had been killed.

Crucified upon a cross, on Golgotha’s horrid hill.

All the powers of evil thought that they had won.

They knew they had succeeded in destroying GOD’s only Son.

Never again would He show His Father’s love for fallen man.

They were so proud they had finally stopped Salvation’s plan.

                                                                                                                                     

Oh, but when JESUS showed up knocking at death’s door, 

All hell began to tremble, death had lost its power forever more!

                                                                                                                                   

Jesus was the victor, over death, hell and the grave. 

He was the final sacrifice for mankind to be saved.

                                                                                                                                     

The words He spoke are still the same as they were back then:  

“I AM the Resurrection and the Life, believe on me and you shall live again!”

© Teresa S Mathews 2016

…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

John 11:25

Dealing with Loss During the Holidays by Teresa S. Mathews

Carlton posing with his "wise man" crown!
He loved having fun at Christmas.
Yes, it was made from a pie pan and yes,
he was very proud of it!! lol

As most of you know I lost the love of my life, my husband Carlton, on May 7^th and as expected I have been dealing with overwhelming grief. There are days that I make it through without crying, then again there are days when all I do is cry. When you love someone and have been married to them for 28 years the loss is unbearable.

I have found out that the holidays are especially difficult. The first Mother’s Day we were at the funeral home for the wake; that was very tough for my sweet mother-in-law. Father’s Day was rough for the boys and Thanksgiving was extremely difficult because sweet Carlton loved eating lunch with his family and he was very thankful for turkey! J

Christmas was our very favorite holiday, as worship leaders we loved singing the beautiful Christmas carols. Every year at some point we would sing O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem and a newer one that he loved was I’m Glad I Know Who Jesus Is and we can’t forget Joy to the World. There is absolutely no better feeling in the world than losing yourself in the wonder of Christmas; the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!  Until you lose the love of your life; I have found everything has lost its appeal. I haven’t lost my love for Jesus, but the joyful celebration I once felt is just not there this year.

I know there are different ways to deal with the at times almost suffocating and over powering grief that sweeps across me, my favorite way is to just crawl up in my Father God’s lap and let Him hold me and soothe my pain.  Reading His Word and praying is a wonderful way to find the solace you need. I am going to share a few scriptures that the Lord brought to me, usually late into the night, when my sons are sleep and the house is way too quiet. I have been a Christian since I was five years old and at the age of ten I started reading the Bible through from cover to cover, and I am still amazed that no matter how many times you read it certain scriptures don’t register with you until the exact moment you need them. GOD is great like that!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. This is the one that He brought to mind when I was on the way to the hospital during the time Mom’s hip was broken in the nursing home. I was crying and telling Him I felt that I couldn’t take anymore, then this precious scripture came to mind. 

Joel 2:25-29 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. ²⁶ And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. ²⁷ And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. ²⁸ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: ²⁹ And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. I came across this scripture on March 22; this wasn’t long before Carlton began to get worse. This proves that GOD is always looking out for us, sometimes we are forewarned when trouble is coming, but most times, GOD wants us to live in the confidence He provides His children: unwavering faith!

Jeremiah 31:25-26 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. ²⁶ Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.  This was another of those restless night’s scriptures. I know when you are going through hard places there are times when you can’t rest or sleep but GOD has promised us it will come! Another scripture about this is Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

There are so many more scriptures I could share that have been my saving grace during this time, but this one has been the most special to me; 

Isaiah 54:4-7 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. ⁵ For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. ⁶ For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. ⁷ For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. ⁸ In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. The day I found this scripture I felt like I was drowning and this was like a lifesaver being tossed to me. I won’t go into details but it was a particularly trying day and the Lord knew I needed to be reminded of His great love for me. 

When I married Carlton I had only worked a few years, and when the boys came along He wanted me to stay at home with them and we stepped out in faith believing GOD would supply our needs, (and of course HE DID).  So I basically went from my daddy’s provision to Carlton’s and when Carlton left for Heaven it was very scary for me, a woman with no college degree, to think about providing for myself and my sons. I do pride myself on the fact of being a quick study, so, when the Lord reminded me of this scripture I immediately realized the error of my thoughts. Just as HE the put the words, GOD’S GOT THIS, in my spirit the day Carlton was diagnosed with cancer for the second time; they are even more true to me now that HE is proving to me daily that HE does in fact have everything that I need, precisely at the moment I need it! GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Below you will find a poem I wrote a few days ago, I don’t mind you sharing it but please leave my name on it, as it was written especially with my dear, sweet Carlton in mind. 

CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

Christmas was our favorite time of year,

The joy, the laughter, the spreading of cheer.

Loving the story how Jesus came down;

Singing the carols, oh, what a beautiful sound.

We loved the presents, receiving and giving.

The happiness of the season made life worth the living.

We thought we would celebrate this year just the same;

Until the day you heard Jesus calling your name.

This year Christmas for us will be lonely and blue; 

but I'm glad that's not the way things are for you.

I know that you are happy in Heaven above;

the beautiful place that is filled with GOD's love.

What joy you must feel to look on Jesus face,

and to say thank you for His saving grace.

Your first Christmas in Heaven must be glorious and grand,

and I can't wait for the day I join you in that land.

© Teresa S Mathews 2015

Yep, these were just a tad long for him! 

He was happy with every present but he did love chocolate!
Christmas 2014

Christmas 2011

Big, Squishy Hug Christmas 2010

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2013

Our last Christmas together 2014

Merry Christmas From the OWG Crew;

Carrie, Diana, Noela, Bonnie and Teresa!!

In Everything Give Thanks

Lord, thank you for everything that has come my way; 

some of it's not so good but thank you anyway.

Thank you for the troubles that I have gone through day to day; 

without them I might have forgotten to take the time to stop and pray.

Thank you for the sickness my loved ones have gone through;

Thank you that you've used it to build my faith in You. 

                            

Thank you for the many times I felt so all alone;

it was in those dreary times I've knelt before your throne.

Thank Lord for keeping me through the trials along the way;

Thank you for holding me in your hand every single night and day;

Thank you for the times when I felt I couldn't go one step further on;    

'cause it was in those darkest times that you gave me a beautiful song.

Thank you Lord for all the things that have brought me pain and tears;      

For it's in my brokenness of spirit, that I find You so very near. 

There's not a thing that comes my way that you can't see me through;    

So I will lift my hands unto your Name and give eternal praise to you.  

© Teresa S. Mathews 11-24-2014

We are truly thankful for the gift of your friendship!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Carrie, Diana, Bonnie, Noela and Teresa

Abba Father by Teresa S. Mathews

This week has been so exhausting for our family after receiving the word that Carlton again has to fight cancer. The last fifteen years we have rejoiced and given GOD glory for him continuing to be cancer free. This was a blow we were not expecting, but we are still praising GOD and giving him glory that He will once again provide the grace and strength for Carlton to be an overcomer.

While praying and seeking GOD this week He reminded me that He wants us to turn to Him in our times of need. He is our mighty GOD and the awesome creator of all but most importantly He is our Abba Father. Abba is an Aramaic word that loosely translates to "Daddy".

So when the cares of life are too hard for you or the path you have to walk is too rocky just call out to Daddy and let Him reach down with His strong arms and pick you up and hold you close and tell you "my child everything is going to be ok I will carry you through this!"

ABBA FATHER

I'm tired of walking this rough and rocky way.

I am so worn out; I just need a quiet place to stay.

I need to be held in your strong and tender arms; 

I need to know you are keeping me safe from all harm.

Cares of life and trials have knocked me to the ground;      

but I know in you and only you, my strength can be found.

When the road seems the longest and the path ahead is bleak;  

you hold out your arms to me; you are the refuge that I seek.

You pick me up and you carry me when I can't go on; 

you tell me that you love me and that I am your own.

You are my Abba Father, my great and mighty king,

I love you and I adore you, for you are my everything. 

Thank you Heavenly Father for being the best Daddy of all!

© Teresa S Mathews 

You Will Never Be Forgotten by Teresa S. Mathews

You Will Never be Forgotten

You forgot about your fears and quickly grabbed your gun,                                 
and into the thick of the battle you did bravely run.

Never once did you stop to think about all of the dangers,                                   
you were there to protect us, whether family, friends or strangers.

Fighting for your country to remain proud and free                                       
wanting each and every one of us to keep our liberty.

Fighting with bold courage never thinking of the cost;                                      
never giving up even if it meant your life would be lost.

Thank you for your bravery and dying for this great land,                                   
you will forever be remembered as a selfless woman or man.

May your families be forever proud of the sacrifice you made;                         
may you live long in their hearts and your memories never fade.

"You will not be forgotten" are the words we humbly say;                   
remembering the sacrifice you made for us that day.

Because of your valor Old Glory is free to proudly wave                                  
o'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

© Teresa S. Mathews 2014

May Their Bravery Always Be Remembered

Thanks to http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=85893&picture=memorial-day-tribute for use of this picture.

Jesus Our Savior by Teresa S. Mathews

Jesus Our Savior 

The sights, the sounds, the horrors 

Seeing His precious blood being shed.

How can the ones that praised His name

Be the ones that are now wanting him dead?

Hearing him cry out to his Father,

Why have you forsaken me?

It broke my heart as he closed his eyes, 

Drew his last breath and died upon that tree.

They carried him away to a cold dark tomb,

And sealed him there for good.

How can he arise in three short days?

Maybe we misunderstood.

The crying, the pain, the restlessness

How long will this torment last?

Please God how can we take this,

When will this sorrow pass?

Three days now are gone

It’s the first day of the week,

We are headed for the tomb

Our Lord’s burial place we seek.

There in the distance it can be seen

The stone has been rolled away. 

Two angels shining brightly now proclaim

He’s not here He Is Risen Today!

No longer is He sealed in that cold dark tomb

The Risen Lord is He

King of kings and Lord of Lords

He Will Reign for Eternity.
©Teresa S. Mathews

Both of these beautiful pictures were provided by http://www.crosscards.com/facebookcovers