10/17/14 Ebola has come to Dallas, and with that reality has come fear to the masses, especially those in the surrounding areas. My daughter works at a school in Royse City, Texas that is closed today due to the threat of Ebola. The mother of two little girls who live in Royse City was a nurse to one of the nurses who contracted the disease. She has isolated herself, and her daughters, due to the threat of the disease. The thought of this deadly disease causes fear to grip our hearts! The “what ifs” begin to spill from our lips and disquiet our peace. In allowing the “what ifs” to form in our mind and come out of our hearts through mere words, fear and doubt can spread fear to others much faster than the disease itself! We meditate on the “what ifs” and allow fear to conquer the depths of our very trust in God! Psalms 18:4 The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. Look at the scripture above: 4a. The pangs of death surrounded me. Have we not heard of this dreadful disease and how many lives have been taken? 4b. And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. You may be shaking your head and wondering, “What does that have to do with me?”What have we flooded our minds with? The news on Ebola? The “what ifs”! When we meditate on the “what ifs”, we fail to trust God! This, dear ones, is ungodliness. We are to be responsibly informed, but we are not to be afraid! When Jesus was brought before the people, Pilate asked them, “Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” The Bible states, they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barrabas!” Now Barrabas was a robber. John 18:39b, 40. Isn’t it interesting that the people could have saved Jesus life had they not chosen the “robber” over Jesus? It is interesting, as well, that we, many times, choose the “robber” over Jesus! Jesus said, speaking of Satan: “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.” John 10:10 Why do we choose to believe the thief’s words, and allow him to rob our peace and steal our joy? Why do we entertain fear instead of trusting God? Why is it so much easier to believe the negative than the positive? Our action, as Christians, is to impart the peace we have within unto others. We are to help calm the storms, encourage, inspire, and comfort the unbeliever, and each other. We are to allow the Holy Spirit, who lives within the heart of a Christian, to be imparted to those whose lives we touch! What are the issues which are coming from the words of our lips today? What are the issues in your heart today? Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 A fool’s lips inter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows, A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. Proverbs 18: 6-8 He who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. Proverbs 17: 20b He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. Proverbs 17: 27 & 28 Joy