Stories and reflections on faith and fear
Sometimes I feel guilty about my fear. As a Christian, I have heard the declarations over fear and the claims that it is a sin. I've read all of the verses in scripture that say, "Do not fear." I know that fear, like laziness or greed, is a vice. But is it opposed to faith?
Today I want to share a podcast interview that has been one of the best messages on fear I have ever heard. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me!
Doing hard things makes us stronger. The more I have been stretched, the bigger I can dream. I used to confine my dreams to my backyard, but now there is possibility. Because I know I can do anything for an hour.
When I'm done crying, I blink out the tears, wipe my eyes, and move on feeling stronger instead of weaker.
I believe the danger in identifying with a mental disorder is that we can begin to embrace our thoughts as though they were not disordered--as thought they were a healthy, normal part of us that don't need to be challenged.
In James, the "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (1:27).
What if being safe and listening the CDC guidelines is not an act of fear at all but an act of love?
Sometimes we feel like the world is falling apart. Like the disciples panicking in the storm, we look at the waves and wind and wonder when the boat will sink.
The problem is that waste is a part of our daily lives. We can't go to a party or a restaurant without receiving plastics and styrofoams. This is an issue that is constantly creating cognitive dissonance in me.
First... If you missed last week, I'm hoping to write a series on things that I have been trying to do to practice what I believe. I want to share these thoughts and ideas with you, not only to have a space to keep me accountable, but also to have a discussion about the best... Continue Reading →
