Tag Archives | Fear

Hope in Our Darkest Places

He found himself in The Garden of Gethsemane. It is the night before He is going to be crucified. The cross awaits, His torture and punishment for crimes He did not commit. It will be His act of love, carried out through His obedience, even to death. Yet, this night, Jesus wants another way. And He pleads to the Father. Do you know this place? It is the place where it’s always nighttime and you’re terrified, where the darkness of lies and hopelessness […]

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A Father’s Day Reflection

It’s 4am and I’m awake. My mind is moving, attempting to ponder everything that this week has brought before me. Although the diagnosis was favorable and I have amazing confidence in my doctor, there’s still something that stirs my soul. I think it has to do with the reckoning of my own mortality. Our mortality. People hate the word cancer. Most avoid saying it. And it is awful. But I won’t give it the pleasure of my fear. For fear […]

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A Marriage Worth Fighting For

Somewhere along the way, my wife and I let someone else define what our marriage should look like. Those one-size-fits-all definitions created dramatic expectations that grew from a seed of hope into a weed of perfection that threatened to choke out the possibility of us ever bearing fruit. I was conditioned to believe that if every dish was cleaned, if every meal was cooked, if every bill was paid, then we would have a great marriage. On the other hand, my wife expected me to […]

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What Are You Afraid Of?

The wind howls, rushing in from every direction. As the rain pelts you in the face, you furiously wipe your eyes trying to maintain direction. You’re battling the storm. The fear within. The sea is angry and the waves begin breaking over the bow. Your vessel begins taking on water as the intensity of the squall rises. It feels like God is asleep. He’s left you to drown. Through your fear and desperation you cry out, “God, Do you care […]

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Have Your Dreams Died?

Have you ever been called out about your passions? Has someone ever questioned your dreams? If not, you’re probably not dreaming. That’s understandable—and not uncommon. Maybe somewhere in your past, someone or something hurt you so badly that you’ve forgotten how to dream. If you’ve allowed others’ judgment to take root within you and paralyze you with fear; Please – take heart. My 3-year old reminded me this week about why we dream in the first place. I occasionally play […]

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What My Dad and Baseball Taught Me About Writing

Night has fallen and bright lights illuminate the field before me. Beyond them, the dark of night. The stands are filled with family, friends and fans cheering the two crosstown rivals facing off in the season finale. I stand in the on-deck circle as the importance of the upcoming inning flashes through my head. It’s the bottom of the last inning and we’re trailing by one run. This is our last chance. We need two runs or game over. Standing […]

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Monday Matters: Abundant Courage

On this week’s Monday Matters, I’m sharing encouragement from one of my favorite people, Deborah “Debbie” Sheneman. Debbie lives outside Atlanta, Georgia with her husband of 32 years, Allen.  She has two grown children and is known as Gigi to her four precious grandchildren. Debbie has an unbelievable testimony of faith which includes losing her 11-year old son in a hunting accident 28 years ago; only months after she accepted Christ into her life. Despite the countless questions and real […]

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