Playing off of Psalm 139 I have a good friend who quips that she is “fearfully made.” I don’t think of myself as a fearful person, but if I’m honest, I am much more fearful than I care to admit. Fear and worry go hand in hand. When I was single I worried I would never find the right man to marry. After Larry and I were engaged, I worried I might lose him like I’d lost my mother. When we had children, every article in the paper about some tragedy involving a child wrenched my heart. Many fear the loss of a job, a medical report or some pending procedure. World tragedies flash before our eyes on the news. But not all fears are monumental. We worry about paying bills, growing old or the disappointments of those we love. On and on, small things, big things, worry and fears nibble and devour our peace and joy if we let them. (Read More)

“The longer I live the more convinced I am that a loving God will not turn people of different faiths away from heaven. A loving God just would not turn away a Buddhist, Hindu or any other faith because they are not Christian,” asserted the very bright wife of a retired protestant clergyman sitting beside me. We were sharing dinner as invited guests at a large gathering. (Read More)

“I just feel so sad,” a lovely Christian lady confided. Her sadness came from having to witness a close family member’s disappointments and losses. She also felt responsible for every family member’s welfare. “What if an aged uncle didn’t take his medicine on time?” She peppered her concerns with statements of faith, “I know God is faithful, His load is light,” but her countenance showed her faith had not yet lightened her heavy load. (Read More)

After talking with a friend who said she was experiencing some darts of discouragement and guilt from her past, I thought about the darts I had been hit with too. We are admonished to take up the shield of faith so we will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one (Ephes. 6:16).

I picture myself leaving my quiet time of renewing my faith with an armload of helium balloons filled with love, joy, peace, patience, hope… And often before ten minutes pass a dart flies out of nowhere and POP, one or more of my balloons hangs limp. I feel as deflated as my hanging balloons. (Read More)