I’ve been thinking a lot about the word fear. It’s an interesting word with multiple meanings. Profound reverence The noun definitions for fear describe human emotions like danger or anxiety. One definition describes a different emotion: an intense respect toward God. Not respect in an undefined deity, or the concept of some cosmic force. Not even in a human leader. Profound Reverence It refers to a “profound reverence, especially toward God.” Profound Reverance In fact, this definition of fear even … Continue reading →
Tag Archives: contributing writers
Family Camp, an idyllic location in the middle of the piney woods of East Texas where families unplug from the world and spend a week with the Lord and each other. We made plans almost a year ago to come to Family Camp. We sat on the waiting list until a few months ago, but now we are here! My family of four bursts at the seams with excitement looking at all the activities in store for us. The view … Continue reading →
How do we learn to fear? Is it ingrained in us by our parents or is there a fear gene? Maybe we get burned and become overly cautious. We can all admit fear isn’t always bad. It protects us from danger. “That lion looks hungry…” “That ledge looks narrow.” “Run, Daphne! I see a clown!” Fear insulates us from the world around us and keeps us moving when situations look grim, but it also restricts us. Maybe you’re like … Continue reading →
The dreaded F word, FEAR. It rears its ugly head often in my life even though God says, “Do not fear.” Plagued by fear of not being good enough, I have struggled with this issue due to abuse in my early childhood and young adulthood, leaving me to feel like not even God could use me. In reality, this fear manipulated me into believing Satan’s words instead of God’s. I struggled to believe God really loved me. Yes, He sent … Continue reading →
I have become a collector of hearts, but I do not collect just any hearts. They are gifts from my daughter, Danielle. Each is like a time capsule, capturing a memory from her youth. One is a foil heart. She added two colors of ink to make it extra pretty. Yet another is a heart-shaped rock she found in the garden. I still remember her squeal of delight with this discovery. She skipped to me, carrying her little rock. … Continue reading →
Read Part One here if you haven’t had a chance: Amy continues her story of God’s grace through the unburdening of a deeply guarded secret… Part One may be found here! That night, as I stood behind the couch facing my biggest fear and the single most hurtful thing I had done to my husband and my marriage, I felt the presence of the Lord. Habakkuk 3:19 NIV “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet … Continue reading →
Eating Disorder A few years ago, as I wrote about in my last post, I experienced a season of one difficult situation after another. During that time, eating became an issue. Some people stress-eat. You know them, the ones who in stressful times are always hungry or want chocolate. During my stressful season, I became a stress no-eater. In two months, I lost over fifty pounds, and an eating disorder became part of my life. I had a group of … Continue reading →
Diving into Faith: Letting Go of Fear
“Dawn, let go and jump! I’ll catch you!” I could barely hear my coach’s encouraging words above the ringing in my ears. All I could make out was the muffled sound of “Wah, wah, wah,” as he pleaded with me to take the plunge into the pool of water below. My teammates also tried coercing me, although they were not quite as patient or understanding. It was hot, and they were anxious to take a dive into the cool refreshment … Continue reading →
From Faith to Fear And Back Again
When it all falls apart “What did he say?” I turned from the newscast to the man next to me. “Crashed.” It was early fall of 2008, and I sat in Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic, watching the news in French. As my college French professor will attest, there is no more pointless undertaking than me doing anything in French. But the graph behind the newscaster told me all I needed to know: the US economy … Continue reading →
My Run-Out Faith
What sweet words I find in Isaiah 43. Words to remember as I travel through life. Or at least until life sweeps me off my feet. What do I do with these promises? When life is upside down and flames set every dream ablaze, are these words true? No Words Would Come Four miles from my home, I dragged myself into a hotel and reserved their last room. The sweet African American gentleman behind the desk asked if I … Continue reading →
