A Day of Refreshment

At the end of each busy and tiring week, most of us look forward to the weekend for some time of recouping and relaxing. Sundays became important to our family from early on in marriage. We decided to set aside Sunday mornings for attending worship service with fellow Christians, and as much as possible to avoid work and keep Sunday as a day of rest. Even though Sunday is considered to be the final day of the weekend in American culture, it is also shown on the calendar to be the first day of the week. Over the years, we’ve experienced the benefits of following through with our commitment to worship service and rest on Sundays and have enjoyed those days as special times of refreshment for starting a new week.

This afternoon I made chocolate ice cream for the first time and we enjoyed it together with special friends who were visiting. What a wonderful visit and a refreshing and yummy treat! A few months ago, I purchased a Pampered Chef Ice Cream Maker and over the summer have put it to use numerous times by making different flavors of ice cream. I’m not a Pampered Chef sales consultant…but I do like their products and highly recommend the Ice Cream Maker! Below, I’ll share the ice cream recipes that I’ve used which are now tried-and-true. Maybe some of you will enjoy them too!

***Chocolate Ice Cream*** ***in the making!***

VANILLA ICE CREAM

INGREDIENTS

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
½ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Place the bowl of the ice cream maker into the freezer on the coldest setting for at least 24 hours.
Combine ingredients and whisk for 1 minute, or until the sugar is dissolved. Place bowl in refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until mixture reaches 45F (7C).
Remove the bowl from the freezer and attach the assembled clear lid to the bowl.
Set the timer for 20 minutes. Once the paddle starts rotating, pour the cream mixture into the bowl.
When the Ice Cream Maker stops turning, check for doneness. The mixture should be a soft-serve consistency. If needed, add more time until desired consistency is reached.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Follow directions for vanilla ice cream and add 1/2 cup of chocolate syrup to the mixture. Set the Ice Cream Maker timer for 25 to 30 minutes.

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

INGREDIENTS

1 lb fresh strawberries, cleaned and hulled
3/4 cup sugar, divided
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
⅛ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

Place the bowl of the Ice Cream Maker into the freezer on the coldest setting for at least 24 hours.
Coarsely chop the strawberries and combine with ½ cup of the sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.
Pour the strawberries into a small colander and use a large spoon or spatula to press out as much liquid as possible. Add the strawberries to the cream mixture and stir to combine.
Remove the Ice Cream Maker bowl from the freezer and attach the assembled clear lid to the bowl.
Set the timer for 30 minutes. Once the paddle starts rotating, pour the mixture into the bowl.
When the Ice Cream Maker stops turning, check the doneness. The mixture should be a soft-serve consistency. If needed, add more time until desired consistency is reached.

BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM

INGREDIENTS

1 pint fresh blueberries
¾ cup sugar, divided
1 tbsp water
2 cups heavy whipping cream
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup whole milk

DIRECTIONS

Place the bowl of the Ice Cream Maker into the freezer on the coldest setting for at least 24 hours.
In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, ½ cup of the sugar, and the water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and chill the mixture for 2 hours.
In a large bowl, combine the remaining sugar, cream, buttermilk, and milk. Whisk for 1 minute, or until the sugar is dissolved. Place the mixture into the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until the mixture reaches 45°F (7°C).
Add the blueberry mixture to the cream mixture and whisk to combine. Remove the bowl of the Ice Cream Maker from the freezer and attach the assembled clear lid to the bowl. Set the timer for 25 minutes. Once the paddle starts rotating, pour the mixture into the bowl.
When the Ice Cream Maker stops turning, check the doneness. The mixture should be a soft-serve consistency. If needed, add more time until the desired consistency is reached.

FROZEN CUSTARD

INGREDIENTS

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
¾ cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Place the bowl of the Ice Cream Maker into the freezer on the coldest setting for at least 24 hours.
Combine the cream, milk, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat.
Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly add 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks to temper the eggs. Slowly add the egg mixture back into the hot cream. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches 165°F (75°C).
Remove the pan from the heat, add the vanilla, and pour the mixture into a clean bowl. Cover the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until it reaches 45°F (7°C).
Remove the Ice Cream Maker bowl from the freezer and attach the assembled clear lid to the bowl.
Set the timer for 20 minutes. Once the paddle starts rotating, pour the mixture into the bowl.
When the Ice Cream Maker stops turning, check the doneness. The mixture should be a soft-serve consistency. If needed, add more time until desired consistency is reached.

HOPE NUGGET: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Stirring up a Hornet’s Nest

My first time picking blackberries with my granddaughters ended with an experience that I’ll never forget. The sun was bright in the hot afternoon last Saturday here in southwestern Pennsylvania. We were prepared with our supply of sunscreen, water bottles, bicycles, wagon and berry buckets and headed out onto the trail.

We had previously scouted out some good patches of berries near one of the trail’s access points which we knew would be easy to reach while pulling the wagon with little girls. With plans to host a family birthday party picnic the next day, our goal was to pick 3 quarts of berries which we’d use to prepare a special and refreshing fruit drink that our family enjoys.

**For each 12 ounce can of Sprite or 7UP, add 1/2 cup of blackberry mixture & ice**

We arrived at our spot and stepped off the trail down into the weeds and brush where the berry bushes were growing. With 4 adults picking, it shouldn’t take long for us to gather the needed amount of berries. We had finished picking in the first patch and had moved on to the second. Fortunately, the girls had already tired by this point, so were back up on the bike trail with their mom and uncle and away from the berry bushes. Their dad (my son) and I were pushing on to finish gathering the remaining berries from this final patch of the day.

In order to reach the berries which are farther back on the bushes, it’s necessary to step blindly into the weeds and brush, not fully knowing what’s beneath. After years of berry picking, we’re used to dealing with sometimes difficult conditions and often come away with various bug bites and scratches from the sharp thorns. This time though would be different than usual. I took one step, then another, then another until I felt the first stinging pain on my elbow. I thought that it must have been one big mean fly to hurt so much and swatted at it while telling my son that I had just gotten bit.

Meanwhile, whatever had just bit me, was now buzzing and circling at my face and zooming in over and over. Before I knew it, there were more “flies,” which I would soon realize were hornets. They were swarming now and aggressively attacking, and as I was instinctively backing away from them and getting more stings, I heard the voice of my son telling me to get out of there and to start running. If it wasn’t for him being closeby and swatting the bees away from my back and legs and arms, I would have likely ended up with more stings than the five I received.

**Just some interesting information about the differences** (**steroids)

It was a pretty painful experience. One which I’d never had before that day. Three days later, I was still feeling the pain and effects of the stings. In the hours that followed, I thought of how sin operates in our lives. How we take one step in towards it, not realizing what’s below our feet or what’s ahead in the next move we make. How with each step forward, we gain confidence when nothing bad occurs. It seems safe enough. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, the stings begin, one after the other, ferocious and painful, until we succumb to them or run from them, sometimes needing the hand of a friend to pull us away or to fight for us.

Years ago, while teaching a middle school Sunday School class, one of the kids shared a saying with me that I’ve never forgotten: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” The biblical definition for sin is: rebellion against God or transgression of the law of God. Sin hurts. It is painful. It has consequences, sometimes terrible consequences. Don’t stay in it. Run from it. As fast as you can. Turn to God in repentance. He is waiting for you.

HOPE NUGGET: O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!” For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! [Psalm 38]

Unmerited Blessings

After picking fresh blueberries this week, I decided today to use some to make homemade waffles. My sweet granddaughters and I enjoyed pulling out the Charlie Brown & Snoopy Waffle Maker box and preparing waffles in the shapes of Peanuts characters. Food always seems to taste better when it’s fun to prepare and when it looks appealing!

**Grammy & the girls picked blueberries and made waffles!!!**

The waffle maker brought back a memory from a few years ago. I had received an unexpected package in the mail and remember wondering what it could be. Upon opening the box, I was surprised by the gift of the waffle maker. It was a thoughtful and kind gesture from a young man who had become a special friend to our family. He knew that I was a big fan of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts characters, so he’d taken the time to shop for a gift that he knew I’d enjoy and that I would put to use.

Not only do we like the Peanuts characters, but our family likes homemade waffles too! It’s a special gift for those reasons, but is also special in a way that our friend probably doesn’t even realize…each time it is used it reminds us of the special young man who God brought into our lives. A young man who, even though from another country and another culture, and who speaks Chinese as his primary language, has crossed those barriers and shared the blessing of his life and his family with ours. Why? To build friendships, to show love and kindness to us.

God did that, and so much more for us. He crossed barriers to reach us. He left his sinless heavenly home to enter this sin-filled earth so that a bridge could be made. A bridge that was built with the cross of Christ. On the cross, Christ, once and for all, removed the barrier between God and sinful man. He made it possible for man to have a relationship with God. A possibility, a choice, made available to man from a holy and loving God. Through grace, He has provided this gift to all, to any who will receive. It is the will of God that none should perish, but that all should come to Him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Will you receive the gift that He is offering you today?

HOPE NUGGET: But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

The Faith of a Child

When he was just a month old, my husband and I dedicated our second-born son to the Lord before the congregation of Neighborhood Assembly of God Church in Okinawa Japan. In the ceremony conducted by our pastor, Charles W. Butterfield, we made a commitment that we were serious about fulfilling….to raise our son in the Christian faith and to do our best to teach Him to love, serve and follow Jesus.

Fast forward seven years to Blue Springs Assembly of God Church in Missouri. Our little “spitfire,” as Pastor Jeff Kelderman referred to him, was now seeking permission from us to be baptized. He had witnessed others make the commitment to follow Christ and subsequently confess their faith publicly through baptism. Our tradition of faith holds to what is called “believer’s baptism,” baptism which is based on one’s profession of faith in Christ. Our little guy, without any prompting, had made that profession. He was now persistent in his desire to be baptized. We knew that he was young, but after his continual requests, we spoke to Pastor Jeff who saw no reason to hold him back.

Parenthood is extremely challenging. It’s scary and stressful and exhausting. Flawed parents raising flawed children. But it’s worth it. Every moment. Thanks be to God, parenting is also very rewarding. When you catch a glimpse of your child in his room with his little hands raised in the air and eyes closed while worshipping God to a Michael W. Smith song or when as a third grader, he asks to sing a worship song in front of the church congregation, you whisper a prayer of thanks to God. When you have the privilege of watching him become a godly man who, with his wife, are raising their two little girls in the Christian faith, you thank God for His faithfulness to His promises.

We realized early on as parents that even young children are able to comprehend simple and sometimes deeper truths of the Bible and that we should not underestimate them. God has a way of speaking to their hearts and He certainly has the ability to impart faith in them. There is no greater responsibility for Christian parents than to teach their children the word of God and to keep the Christian faith the priority of the home and of their lives. Children are capable of learning and understanding the things of God so much so that Jesus even presented them as examples of the type of faith that adults should have. In Matthew 18:3, He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

HOPE NUGGET: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. [Proverbs 22:6]

Stepping Out in Faith

Nearly 2 months ago, I tentatively stepped out in faith and created a blog. I would like to say that I boldly stepped out in faith, but that wouldn’t be true. I’m not sure when the idea first came to mind, but I awoke one morning, and then another, and then another, with the inspiration for the theme of the blog. Another time-consuming venture that I would get myself into. Even when trying to ignore the idea, I couldn’t shake the thought that I should begin the process. So after some research into how to set up a blog and in spite of my reluctance, I finally took the steps to join.

I had grown increasingly frustrated and disheartened with the negativity that I was seeing and hearing from media sources, in the news, on social media, and in conversations. Bickering and arguing. One-upping. Name-calling. Snarky comments. Criticism and finger-pointing. Rudeness. Attempts to prove one’s cleverness. And no, not just from politicians. From Christ-followers, at least from those who referred to themselves as such. And from some: the affirmation of sin, by means of agreement.

I’d had more than enough. My focus needed to be on the hope of Christ. The hope that no matter who’s in office in our great land that Jesus is still The King. The hope that no matter what laws are passed, whether they are righteous or moral or immoral, that my righteousness comes from God through faith. The hope that as the numbers of those who remain true to the teachings and cause of Christ appear to diminish, that greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world.

Sometimes when God prompts you to take on a new responsibility or challenge, it is for your own benefit. Sometimes it’s for the benefit of others. Sometimes it’s both. I just knew that I was in need of encouragement and hope. Discouragement had set in, along with disappointments and frustrations. In my intro post, I wrote that it can be easy to lose sight of hope. I knew that if I felt this way that I wasn’t alone. There were others out there just like me.

**🎵 “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim…” 🎵**

So, as long as I receive inspiration to write blog posts, I’ll be committed to the responsibility. I’ll seek to offer hope – through encouragement, through truth, through the Scriptures. I’ll seek to help other Christians to do the same. I’ll especially seek to glorify and honor God through my words.

Hope nugget: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [Colossians 3: 1-2]

Mentored by Music

Music has always been an important part of my life. In the early years of my Christian walk, during the mid 80s to early 90s, Christian worship music had a significant spiritual impact on me. Through Christian radio, I was introduced to Petra, Keith Green, Rich Mullins, Michael W. Smith, Audio Adrenaline, 2nd Chapter of Acts and DC Talk. I had not grown up in the church, so was familiar with only the more well-known hymns that just about everyone knew. The style of Christian music offered by popular contemporary artists at that time was very appealing to one like me who enjoyed listening to 70s rock.

You could say that I was mentored by the lyrics to “Awesome God,” “The Battle Belongs to the Lord,” “The Easter Song,” and “You are the One.” Through those songs and others like them, sermons were preached and the word of God began to be imbedded into my heart through lyrics which were often taken directly from the Scriptures. Some of the most meaningful worship experiences that I’ve ever had occurred while listening to or singing Christian worship songs.

**Special friends and I at a recent Casting Crowns / Zach Williams concert**

Since those early Christian years of my life, I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate a wider spectrum of spiritual music, from Gregorian chants to gospel to Christian rap to more contemporary styles of worship music. David Wesley’s beautifully arranged and wonderfully performed “Evolution of Worship Music” video, beginning with “Be Thou My Vision” from 560 and ending with “Do It Again” from 2017 is an 8 minute a cappella medley with samples of worship music from the past 1500 years. It is a great example of the styles of Christian music from the earliest known to the contemporary music of today. “Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

Evolution of Worship Music, David Wesley: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=2SaBhN2idbM

Hope nugget: Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! [Psalm 150: 1-6]

Rubus Fruticosis

Within steps of our front door, a beautiful wooded hiking / biking trail can be easily accessed. Yesterday morning as my husband and I bicycled down that trail in search of shiny ripened blackberries, we took in the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. With each rotation of the bikes’ wheels, our senses were stimulated by the constant and quickly-changing sights and sounds. Nature’s amazing scenery laid out before us. The rustling of brush made by an unknown hidden creature, the splash of a startled frog into the stream, the chirping, squawking and songs of birds – never a moment of silence. The universe declaring God’s majesty. Declaring it boldly and beautifully.

The Coal & Coke Trail, Scottdale PA
Beauty along the trail

Wildlife ahead…fawn
A snapper crossing the trail

First blackberries of the season
Blackberry Jam – Christmas gift prep in July

Since childhood, blackberry picking has been a favorite hobby, a hobby which we’ve continued to enjoy into adulthood and which we’ve passed on to our sons. On this blackberry-picking day in the July heat, which turned out to be one of the hottest days so far this year in southwestern Pennsylvania, our buckets were slowly filled with the succulent dark purple-black berries. During the 7-mile, nearly 3-hour journey, as the sun’s rays bore down upon us, the same rays which had turned our berries from green to red to ripe, the Lord of all creation declared His majesty. The words of the psalmist filled my mind, my heart, and my being and song lyrics fell from my lips:

“Lord of all creation, Of water, earth and sky. The Heavens are Your Tabernacle, Glory to the Lord on high. God of wonders, beyond our galaxy. You are holy, holy. The universe declares Your majesty. You are holy, holy.” (Lyrics by Steve Hindalong and Marc Byrd)

Hope Nugget: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=seSl-h6WMD8 [God of Wonders, Third Day]

Work Heartily as for The Lord

One of the most admirable qualities that I appreciate about my husband is his strong work ethic. In our nearly 35 years of marriage, I’ve been blessed with a man who’s been an exceptionally hard worker. The term “laziness” cannot be used to describe him. Whether it be in his military service, at his company as a communications technician, at our home, volunteering at our church or helping others, he has consistently been committed to hard work. He has always been a wonderful example to me and our sons of one who in “whatever work he finds to do, does it with all of his might” [Ecclesiastes 9:10].

The Bible is straight-forward in teaching that laziness is sin. Dozens of verses referring to laziness, slothfulness, idleness and hard work can be found throughout the scriptures. Christians often focus on the “big ugly sins,” those sins that others commit, those sins that we usually avoid. We neglect to recognize or to turn from our own sin of idleness. “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” [Proverbs 13:4]. God has indeed blessed our family and we have benefitted in countless ways due to my husband’s faithfulness to the Christian principle of hard work.

When I see idleness in others, particularly in men, it is very unappealing and unattractive. It seems that God views it that way too. The terms “sloth,” “sluggard,” “idle,” and “lazy” are all referred to in scripture, none positively. “Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks” [Ecclesiastes 10:18]. “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” [Proverbs 13:4]. “Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger” [Proverbs 19:15]. “The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway” [Proverbs 15:19].

Laziness is sinful. It dishonors God. The world is watching. Our neighbors are watching. Christians should embrace a work ethic that surpasses that of others inside and outside of our place of employment. The quality of our work should be excellent with an attitude to match. We should give more than what is expected or required. We should go above and beyond, and in so doing, work heartily as unto the Lord, not for men. By doing so, we are witnessing of our faith in Christ and bringing honor and glory to His Name.

Hope nugget: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ [Colossians 3: 23-24].

Our beautiful vegetable garden, the handiwork of God and Mr. H, July 2019

The Least is the Greatest

When the names of Jerry Sandusky, Jeffrey Epstein, Theodore McCarrick or Larry Nassar are mentioned, what comes to mind? What feelings do those names evoke?

Terrible abuses of children have taken place within the walls of the church, on a university campus, in a doctor’s office, in Hollywood, on a Caribbean island.

Unfortunately, abuses against children have not been limited to just those places or only while in the presence of those specific men. Every day across our land, thousands of children are harmed physically, emotionally and sexually by adults – by both men and women. Abuses perpetrated against the most innocent and defenseless among us. A horrific travesty. A war against children.

It is easy to become disheartened when hearing disturbing news stories day in and day out… Sex trafficking, Abortion, Pedophilia, Abuse, Neglect, Violence. How did we get here? How has our society fallen to such lows? Why are there such assaults against children? Is this a culture of violence and of death?

We know that mankind is fallen and that every generation has been sinful. There are though some obvious differences between the past and where we are now. Violence is widespread. Sin is openly flaunted and paraded. All over the media. On television. On the internet. Women are objectified. Men are presented as helpless fools. The family unit has broken down. Women “shout their abortions.” According to polls, euthanasia is acceptable to most Americans. Life has been devalued.

Yet, we are desensitized to much of it. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong.

Is there still hope? Is it possible to right these wrongs? At the mention of the names listed above, most of us responded appropriately with disgust and anger. And rightly so. That is a sign of hope. A sign that not all is lost. A sign that there are plenty of us who still value life, who still know right from wrong, who will still fight against injustices.

Life is good. It matters. All lives matter. We must view each person’s life as valuable. We have a responsibility to protect and defend life, especially of those who are the weakest and most innocent.

God places a high value on life. “Thou shall not kill” is one of the Ten Commandments, along with commandments for how to treat others. The Bible teaches that we were created in God’s image and for a purpose. We learn that God values our lives so much that He went above and beyond to save us from ourselves, from sin. He did so by sacrificing the life of His precious Son. That’s how much He values life. That’s how much He values us.

Let’s be champions for life. Let’s value life. Let’s protect and defend our children, the most innocent and defenseless among us. Let’s help children to find safety in their homes, in their schools, in their churches, in their mother’s wombs. Let’s not allow injustices to harm or destroy them. Let’s be active in embracing our God-given responsibility to care for them.

Hope nugget: An argument started among them [the disciples] as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” (Luke 9: 46-48)

Fear Not

“Fear, he is a liar. He will take your breath, stop you in your steps. Fear, he is a liar, he will rob your rest, steal your happiness.”

The truths written down in lyrics to Zach Williams’ song “Fear Is a Liar” strike a chord with me – he has taken my breath and he has stopped me in my steps. There have been times when fear has kept me awake at night. I have allowed fear to dictate some of my choices, some of my responses to situations, some of my interactions with others, and at times to steal my happiness. I admit that too often I have allowed fear to control me.

I clearly remember a period of time as a child when entering my room at bedtime – my routine was to flick the lightswitch on the wall to ‘off’ and then take a running leap into my bed before whatever evil was lurking beneath could reach out and grab hold of my leg. I was an expert at diving swiftly into the bed and under the covers. A child’s unfounded fears and irrational thoughts. The fear of situations that never came to pass or which had no possibility of becoming reality.

Now as an adult, the choice is mine: I can live in fear, giving it the ability to rule my life or at least moments of it…or I can choose to cast out my fears by surrendering them to God. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Entirely. Even though our irrational fears as children tend to become more rational as adults, residing in fear is an unfortunate waste of life for far too many. When we spend time living in fear, our mind is shut off to the goodness of God and His many blessings, instead with our focus on those fears which usually never come to pass.

I’ve heard it said that “fear not” is the most repeated command in the Bible. Christians can be sure that God desires much more for us than to live in fear. He understands that the uncertainties and troubles of life can leave us anxious and fearful. His word tells us over and over again that we can trust Him, that we need not be afraid. His word tells us that “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Resting in God’s perfect love will help to dispel our fears.

Hope nugget: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) *read remainder of chapter