Love Is A Verb Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring Love Alive

I'm excited to announce my first contribution to a book anthology, Love Is A Verb Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring Love Alive. The book project, by Gary Chapman & James Stuart Bell, is published by Bethany House.

You can order the book at http://www.amazon.com, which is available October 1, 2011. You can take a quick look at the jacket cover by scrolling down this site.

As I write my own novels, I'll continue to write short stories and devotionals for other anthologies. I'm learning anthologies are a great way to gain writing experience and to get your name out in the public. Did you know you can even do book signings for anthologies? Wow! How neat is that?

In the next month or so, I'll announce my upcoming contribution in another anthology due out in December, 2011.

Until next time . . . let us give God the glory.

Count Our Blessings And Rid Life of Fearfulness

Since I've struggled with unholy fear all my life, I knew God was showing me enough was enough, when a caring person said this about my fearfulness, "Don't even mention you are fearful, get rid of it. It is sin."

At that moment, I prayed that God would show me HOW to rid my life of fear. When I am tempted to fear, how do I overcome and be NOT carried away by it? What do I replace fear with?

God's answer to my first question came soon after when I reread 1 John 4:15-19. My eyes opened to how I could apply the verses to my life. Notice verses 16 & 18.

". . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

And

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Do we see? After understanding these verses, if I continue to hold onto fearfulness, I am in danger of calling God a liar.

God answered my second question by way of a song, "When Upon Life's Billows," by Johnson Oatman.

First Stanza:
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Am I still tempted to fear? Yes. When the beginnings of fearfulness rise inside me, I quote from the verse above, ". . . perfect love cast out fear . . ." Right after, I name the blessings God has given to me, and fear is replaced with a sense of calm and peace.

I understand God's perfect love casts out our fears. It is so simple, but it took me being weary of my fears and someone that cared enough to point out my fault.

How does this apply to the loss of a child, especially to suicide? Fearfulness escalated in my life after Joshua died. Now, it's my job to work at staying free from the bondage of fear.

My prayer today: Thank you, Lord, for a love so great, that you sent your son, Jesus, to die on the cross and free us from our sins. In Jesus name, Amen.

Until next time . . . Being thankful is for things God gives to us; but a heart of praise is giving thanks for who he is.