The storm and the Rock

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the flood came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matt.7:24-27)

When we were at the beach last week, we experienced a taste of this parable.  Our very first night,  Hurricane Isaias blew through. Now maybe you're wondering why on earth we'd head to the beach right before a hurricane was coming?  Well, for one thing, we had rented the house, and we desperately wanted to get down there and enjoy it. But we also figured, how bad could this storm really be? After all, Isaias was "just" a level One hurricane and wasn't expected to make a direct hit on the particular beach where we were staying. 

Let me just say--we clearly underestimated the power of a hurricane. That night none of us slept (except the baby--who quite literally "slept like a baby").  The whole house shook, swayed, and creaked. Even our beds were moving. Whipping wind and rain slashed the house, and lighting and thunder periodically ripped and rumbled.  The next morning, all of us said the same thing: throughout the night we each worried and waited for the house to collapse at any moment. For the record, it was not a fun evening. 

But the house stood firm. 

Yes, it swayed and shook with the blasting winds and rain. But despite the ferocity of the storm, our friend's well built home stood strong. That next morning, we looked but couldn't find even one crack or bit of damage--the house remained completely snug and safe.  This house might have been built right next to the ocean, but it clearly rested on rock, not on sand. 

Notice that Jesus didn't say, if you build your house, your life, on His words, then you'll be spared the storms of life. No, storms will come; storms are an inevitable part of everyone of our lives. But if we build our lives on His Word, meaning we read His Word, believe His Word, and obey His Word, those storms can do their worst, but they will not destroy us. Yes, we may shake and shudder, but we will not succumb. Yes, we may grow faint and weary, but we will not fail. Because He will not fail. Never, ever. 

Right now the world feels like it's shaking and shuddering. Many of us have grown discouraged and worn out with the battles, the divisiveness, the isolation, the uncertainty, the upheaval, the vitriol. I know I sure have. I've hit the wall more than once and thought, "How long, Lord? How long?" And perhaps we worry that maybe this time the storms will finally be too much, that maybe these storms will overcome us or God's kingdom.

But Almighty God and His Word are eternal, changeless, and unconquerable. Jesus has defeated and decimated our greatest enemies of satan, sin, and death, so He can and will surely conquer any storms that come into our lives. No matter the shaking and roaring, the Lion of Judah will prevail. His Word will prevail. His Kingdom will prevail. And because we are in Him, we will ultimately prevail. 

As James Bryant Smith says, "You are one in whom Christ dwells and delights. And you live in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God.  His Kingdom is not in trouble, and neither are you."  

Thank You, Jesus, for being our Rock. Thank You that we can build our lives upon You and Your eternal Word. Thank You that no matter what storms rage against us, Your Kingdom will prevail and stand strong. And thank You that in You, our Rock, we, too, will prevail and will one day live with You forever in glory. 

To God be the glory.

 

        

Savoring a few of summer's simple joys

         It's August 12th--what???  Where on earth did summer go?  Surely it's mid-June at the latest. Sigh. Covid has created some sort of weird time warp: while we were living them, the days often felt long and slow...and yet, at the same time, those same days streaked by in an astounding blur.  Oh my, no matter how I tried to savor each day and to redeem the time, it still feels as if the lovely, languid days of summer have slipped through my grasp far too quickly. But note to self--it's still August. There's still time. There are still mountains of fresh tomatoes, blueberries, and watermelons to be eaten. Ice cream still melts deliciously in the heat and in your mouth. And all those books on our desks still beckon and urge us to put aside some of those endless daily tasks in order to simply sit and read. The to-do lists will always be there...summer will not. So just for a while, forget about the laundry or the errands or the whatever that all seem so urgent, and taste of summer's joys. As for me, I'll be opening a book in just a moment. 

        But before I do, I wanted to briefly share a bit about last week. For the first time in nine years, our family abandoned the mountains for a week at the beach. We rented a wonderful beach house from one of our good friends, and oh my, it was wonderful!  In the coming days, I hope to write about several very simple things I learned (or relearned) from our time at the beach. But here's the first and simplest lesson--there's not much better in this life than sitting in the sun, listening to and watching the pounding waves, and reading a good book. Seriously. This must be one of life's greatest pleasures. Warm sun on your face, feet digging in the sand, people you love all around you, salty clean air filling your lungs, and your nose in a book that captivates or inspires or encourages or just plain old entertains. Isn't it funny how life's greatest treasures are often the simplest and freest. 

        For the record, here's what I read. First, I finished up one book I've been reading for a while called The Splendid and the Vile. It's about Winston Churchill's first year as Prime Minister of Great Britain which also coincided with the German's horrific, nearly nightly bombing of London. And here's the thing--reading history like this reminds us that we've been through worse--much, much worst--than we're going through now. As Lawson said in his introduction to this magnificent book, "...I  quickly came to realize that it is one thing to say ‘carry on,’ and quite another to do it." Churchill and the British people lived it out. "Carry on" wasn't slogan; it was a day to day, lived out reality in the midst of unspeakable pain and difficulty. Such courage and strength in the face of so much destruction, death and deprivation. And we complain about not being able to go to the gym. Geez.  I say this not to shame us, but to spur us on--Press on!  Don't quit!  If they could do it under infinitely worse conditions, then surely we can as well. 

        Secondly, I started reading a book my daughter recommended (she's a fellow World War II buff) called  Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre. It's about the founding of the SAS--Britain's secret special forces who were dropped behind the Nazi's lines to sabotage their airplanes and supplies. I haven't finished it yet, but it's also inspiring and remarkable. How do we ever begin to thank the "greatest generation" who suffered, endured, and gave so much that we might enjoy freedom?  I wonder what those brave men and women would say to some of our younger generation today who are obsessed with "micro-aggressions" and claims of feeling "unsafe" by certain speakers on their college campuses?  Goodness, come on people. We're better than this!  How about we stop being so completely consumed with criticizing everything about the past (C.S. Lewis calls it "chronological snobbery") and instead try learning a little something from the past. No, those in the past weren't perfect...because they were all sinners, just like every single one of us!  But boy, they have a lot to teach us about sacrifice, honor, character, and endurance. 

         Finally, I also read a fabulous new book by Mark Buchanan called God Walk.  The subtitle says it beautifully, "Moving at the Speed of your Soul." It's about walking with God (duh) as a spiritual practice. And I can't remember the last time a book resonated with me so deeply. I guess part of that has to do with the fact that I love to walk (especially with Mr. Bingley).  But the Bible is chock full of references to walking and walking faithfully (or, sadly, not).  While we were at the beach, I put this into practice, as I walked miles every morning and nearly always sensed God's sweet, peaceful, and joyful presence walking with me. Truly a tiny foretaste of heaven. I carry this memory with me even now as I sit here in our den in Raleigh writing this. Thank You, Father. 

          That's it for now. Just a simple encouragement to savor these final weeks of summer--it's not too late.  God in His grace has given us August to enjoy His bounty. Don't miss it.  And secondly, an encouragement to put aside that endless to-do list, sit down, and read. As our older daughter said in the middle of our beach week, "I've fallen in love with reading again."  She had been waylaid by busyness, baby, work and internet scrolling and had forgotten the free, easy, yet wondrous joy of reading.  But she rediscovered that joy and now carries it with her. Again, summer still lingers so don't miss these opportunities to open a good book.  

          Our Lord, after all, surely loves reading and the written word. How do we know? Well, He revealed Himself to us in His written Word--the Bible--and He saved and redeemed us by our Savior--the Living Word. There's something profoundly glorious about a book...most of all, about The Book: God's supernatural Word. If you haven't read God's very words that He wants to speak to you today, stop right now. Go open His Word, the Bible.  Be filled and fed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He's waiting to speak to you and encourage you.  

         Thank You, Lord, for summer. Thank You for Your beautiful creation and magnificent oceans and beaches. Thank You for allowing us to walk with You everyday.  Thank You for the simple joys of reading.  And thank You for Your written Word--the Bible--and for our glorious Living Word--the Lord Jesus.  To God be the glory.  

Open your mouth, open your eyes!

In case you're in need of a little joy burst today--

"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see--

how good God is. 

Blessed are you who run to Him." Ps.34:8 The Message)

       "O Lord, all my ancestors were justified in their trust in You. Rid my heart of all pointless anxieties and paralyzing fears. Give me a cheerful and buoyant spirit, and peace in doing your will; for Christ's sake. Amen" (Prayer for this morning from John Baille's A Diary of Private Prayer.)
        Anybody else need a wee bit of reminding that our God is all-good, all-wise, all-gracious, all-kind, all-loving, and sovereign and in control of all, all, all things?  Well, hello, HE IS! 
        We're so prone to myopically squint and see only the messed up, divisive, uncertain, generally terrible things around us. And yes, there's a gracious plenty of that to go around. But, goodness gracious, this little picture of my precious granddaughter totally enjoying and delighting in her lunch (yes, she comes by her love of food naturally!  Our whole family loves, loves, loves to eat!) reminded me to open my eyes and look around at all of God's relentless goodness. It's everywhere, because He's everywhere. 
         The blue heron sitting regally in the middle of Crabtree Creek. The scent of gardenias. The laugher of a dear friend. The relaxation of a hot bath. The joy of reading that great book. The softness of silk. The happy songs of early morning birds. The sweetness of a homegrown tomato or ripe blueberries or warm bread or chocolate anything. The sound of a favorite song. The strong beauty of a majestic tree.The gift of home. The grin of a baby.
        Open up your eyes and look around. Linger and savor. Slow down and notice. Taste and see. Oh please, please taste and see...
        And then worship the Author, the Creator, the Chef, the Sustainer of every single good--every oh so, so good--gift in your life.
        Yes, there's still Covid and rancor and injustice and on and on...but over and above it all,  there is Jesus. Emmanuel--God with us. And because He is with  us, in us, for us we will ultimately be okay.  Or really, infinitely more than okay, because ahead is glory beyond anything we can begin to imagine. And all the sweetest, best gifts of this world are only the tiniest foretaste of the eternal and joyous glory ahead.
         So let's choose to live this day with hope and joy.  Let's ask our Father to "rid our hearts of all pointless anxieties and paralyzing fears." (After all, does your anxiety help? Seriously, when has worrying and wringing our hands ever really benefitted us or anybody else?)  Instead, by His grace and for His glory, let's ask Him to "give us a cheerful and buoyant spirit and peace in doing your will, for Christ's sake."
         Today, let's open wide our mouths and taste, open wide our eyes and see, how good God is...and then share His goodness with someone else. Surely there's a person around you who needs to hear, who needs to be reminded of our good, good Father. "Blessed are you who run to Him." We're coming, Abba, we're coming!
          To God be the glory. 

Lord of all hope...people of hope

            How about a little dose of hope?  Not the world's "hope so" kind of hope, but real, honest-to-goodness, God-created, God-sustaining, indefatigable hope. Happily, these aren't my paltry words, but the Lord's words in a brief verse that I decided to memorize way back in March when this whole Covid marathon began. 
           Little did any of us dream how prolonged, how difficult, how frustrating, how discouraging this marathon would prove to be. Nor could we have dreamt all the tragedies, division, anger, tension, violence that would be unleashed during these long, hard months.  So this little nugget from the Lord has come to mean more and more to me, and I pray it will strengthen and encourage your heart as well.  It's simple, but profound--
        "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
        He is the God of hope. That is who He is.
        He is the one who can and will fill us to overflowing with all (not some, not a little bit, not a modicum, but all) joy and peace in believing.  Oh how we all need joy and peace--and He's got them in overflowing, unlimited abundance.
        His Holy Spirit that dwells within us will empower us to abound in hope. Oh yes, we need His power! His power that raised Jesus from the dead!  That's some serious power and that's the power that will fill us and enable us to experience and live in abounding, God-created, God-sustaining, God-strengthening hope.
        Moreover, we all know that His hope never ever disappoints, never ever fails, even in the midst of the worst suffering, the most terrible tragedies, the most impossible dilemmas. Again, don't take my word for it, but His:  "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Rom.5:3-5)
        So here's my simple message today--we can and should be a people of hope, because we follow a Lord of hope. No matter what our circumstances may look like right now, we have the hope of Almighty God which cannot disappoint and will not be defeated. Might we look to Him and be filled with overflowing hope! 
         I'll close with some powerful words on hope I read the other day from a ministry that serves parents and families called Axis--
        "Experts warn a second surge of COVID-19 deaths are imminent. Racial tensions continue to dominate the news cycle. Economic insecurity is trickling down into every sphere of life. It seems everything these days is up for grabs. Despair, darkness, and depression are dominating the cultural landscape and our interior lives. And yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to be people of hope in a hurting world, which, in hard times like these can only seem like “foolishness to the Greeks.” But is it?
        If there is one lasting legacy you can leave with your children during this kairos moment in their lives, it might be this: We are a people of hope. But hope and good old-fashioned optimism are radically different things. While optimism is focused on a good future outcome or a pleasant change in our current circumstances, hope is a quiet confidence in the present based on what God in Christ has done in the past. As long-time missionary and theologian Leslie Newbigin once wrote, “I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.” Amen to that.
        For Newbigin and for us, hope is defiance in the face of fear. It is the often courageous task of staring reality in the face and still claiming that though evil, suffering, and death remain, they have already been defeated. Hope is standing in the valley of dry bones and daring to believe God will breathe life into them once again. Hope is mustering the courage to go to the tomb in the early hours before dawn, just in case. Hope is living as resurrection people in a dying world. Hope is joining God right here and right now in the renewal of all things. If Hell is hopelessness, then maybe a little bit of heaven is the realization that all over this tired old world, 'hope springs eternal.'"
         Thank You, Lord, that in You, we have true, lasting, powerful, transformative, never-ending hope. Because our hope is grounded in the glorious reality that You rose from the dead, and You are alive, Lord Jesus. Father, we don't know what the future holds, but we know that You hold the future. And we know the very end of the story...and You win. And because You win, we win, so our trust  and our hope is in You.
        Today, by the power of your Holy Spirit, would you fill us with your hope and then use us to pour out that hope upon every person that we meet. Might we be not just glad receivers of your hope, but generous givers of your hope.  Oh how this weary world needs your hope, Lord. In your grace and by your power, please use us. We praise You that You are the Lord of all hope so we can be a people of hope. In Your mighty name we pray. Amen.
        To God be the glory. 

"Nose to the sunrise"

        This will be simple and short, but maybe you, like me, needed this little reminder.  So here it is--
        This morning, our daughter texted our family a quote on our family group text that is one of my all-time favorites. She's always loved it too, and, boy, today was a day I needed to hear it again. Its's from the C.S. Lewis book, Voyage of the Dawn Treader. These are the words of the plucky, courageous, faithful little mouse, Reepicheep:
        "My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world into some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise."
        In a word, don't quit. Persevere in loving God and loving others. Persist in trusting the Lord...in reading His Word...in obeying Him...in following Him, step by step by step all the way until He brings you to your Heavenly Home, to "Aslan's country." Lock your gaze on Him and keep walking. Keep going...He's promised He will get you there, not somehow but triumphantly.
        And how will we do that? Glad you asked!:
        Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
        Romans 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."
        Rely on Him. Ask Him, Depend upon Him. Look to Him. Consider Him. Trust Him. It's not about us or what we can do...it's all about Him and what He can and will do in us and through us.
        Thank You, Lord, that You always meet us right where we are--and today, I simply needed to be reminded not to quit. Not to give in to weariness or worry.  Not to let my focus wander, but to keep my eyes on the prize--on You. On glory. On the King of Kings who is with us here in the trenches and will be with  us forever in our perfect, joyful, glorious Heavenly Home. 
         As Tim Keller recently wrote when sharing about his battle with pancreatic cancer, "Running the race set before me with joy, because Jesus ran an infinitely harder race with joy, for me." 
         Yes, Lord, yes!  Keep us running our races with joy, one day at a time. For every day that  You choose to give us, keep us focused, keep us following hard after you, keep us faithful. All the way to the finish line.
         We're not gonna quit.  Even if it means sinking with our "noses to the sunrise," let's keep on. Our Father is going to get us there...and He'll be with  us every step of the way. So run...paddle...swim...or even sink with joy.
         To God be the glory.
         

What will you choose?

       These past months have been hard, so hard on so many levels. For many of us, the fall began with the unimaginable loss of the precious daughter of dear friends. And then COVID with all it's fear, destruction, and death.  Then terrible racial injustice exposed and the tragedy, the ugliness that this horrific sin still endures and divides. Oh forgive us and help us, Lord Jesus. And then the vitriol, the bitterness, the political divisiveness that threatens to literally tear this nation that we love apart.
         The continuing weight of it all, the ongoing isolation and loneliness from quarantine, the bone-deep sadness and perplexity and fear...Abba, we're weary and uncertain and look to You for hope, for deliverance, for strength, for redemption. Help us, show  us, lead us, revive us again, Father. Yes, we don't know what to do but our eyes are on You. (II Chron.20:12)
       But then I open our Heavenly Father's eternal Word, and His God-exhaled words breathe hope, sustenance, faith, and peace into my heart. He renews my mind and restores my perspective, and I realize afresh that He is in control. He is our Peace. He is the reconciling Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. And He is the conquering Lion of Judah who destroys sin, hatred, bitterness, death and despair and rises triumphant over it all for us, for you, for me.
         "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Col.3:12-15)
         Jesus is our Hope. He is our Way-maker. He is our Strength. He is our living Word, and He's given us His written Word that will transform our hearts, renew our minds, and redeem our culture.
         So the question is, how then will we live?  Will we fall back in despair or will we trustingly follow our Savior wherever He leads?  Will we give in to the negativity of the culture around us or will we choose to be salt and light? Will we choose the path of bitterness and recrimination or will we choose the path of forgiveness and restoration? Will we be led by fear or will we be led by faith?  Will we quietly blend in with the darkness or will we boldly shine the light and love of Christ?
         We choose. You choose. I choose. Yes, the darkness around us is thick, indeed, but the tiniest, weakest little flicker of candlelight will obliterate the darkness around it. We can be that light. Because remember--it's not our light...it's the unconquerable, unending, unfailing Light of the World that shine through us. We're not the source--He is. And because He is the Light, we know that His "light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5) 
           Maybe we need to stop trying so hard to shine, and simply choose, as His beloved, to have Him do the shining. We just need to obey...and that means forgive as He has forgiven us.  To forbear, to show compassion, to be kind, and above all, to love.
          We don't have to have it all figured out...just love as He's loved us.  Just shine His light. We don't have all the answers...but we have Jesus and He does.
          I'll close with the lyrics to a new song by Rascal Flatts--"How They Remember You"--that in many ways, says it all. The first time I heard it the other day, the tears flowed. I encourage you to go listen to it and remember that we all have the choice to be the love and light of Christ in this world.

Sprayed my name on a water tower
Carved it in an old cottonwood tree
Signed a bunch of high school yearbooks
So they wouldn't forget about me
It wasn't 'til I saw my daddy's name in stone I knew
It ain't a question of if they will
It's how they remember you

Did you stand or did you fall?
Build a bridge or build a wall
Hide your love or give it all
What did you do? What did you do?
Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die?
What did you choose? What did you choose?
When it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

When you're down to your last dollar
Will you give or will you take?
When the stiff wind blows the hardest
Will you bend or will you break? (Will you break?)
You're gonna leave a legacy, no matter what you do
It ain't a question of if they will
It's how they remember you

Did you stand or did you fall?
Build a bridge or build a wall
Hide your love or give it all
What did you do? What did you do?
Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die
What did you choose? What did you choose?
When it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

         Oh Father, help us to build bridges rather than walls; to love rather than to hide; to refuse to quit but by Your grace and for Your glory, to keep trying, keep giving, keep forgiving, keep helping, keep encouraging, keep loving, keep shining.  When they remember us, might they simply see You.
        To You--the Light of the World--be all the glory.

Not fear but power, love, and self-control

        "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Tim.1:7)
        Lord, I know this intellectually, but help me to live it out experientially.
        I haven't been able to put my finger on it exactly, but as I've pondered it, it seems that I'm battling a vague and deep-seated sense of fear and anxiety over all that has been happening in our world. First the corona virus and all the uncertainty, isolation, division and destruction that this virus wrought on our world . And then, all that has surrounded the tragic, terrible death of George Floyd...the wounds that have split open, the ugly racism that has been exposed, the anger, the sorrow, the suffering, the vitriolic divisions. It's been both heartbreaking and convicting. It's engendered both lament but also fear. What will the future hold? Where will this end?  What if we respond in the wrong way? What are we to do to help make a difference? What does it mean to be salt and light in this situation? 
        I don't know...but my Savior does. He knows what it means to walk right into pain, division, and difficulty and bring healing, hope, grace, and light. He steps right into the brokenness. He never shies away from the hard conversations.
        As Jesus prepared to go to Calvary for our sins, He--who was and is fully God--knew full well the incalculable weight of all the sin that would soon be laid upon Him and the infinite amount of suffering He would endure.  And yet, we're told, "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51). Or as some translations put it, He "set His face like flint." Such steely, unwavering determination to go straight into the horrific, cosmic battle for our souls which would cost Jesus His life...but would give us ours. Oh thank You, Lord Jesus.
        So when we ponder Jesus and His suffering for us, when we "consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself" for us, how can we grow weary or fainthearted? (Heb.12:3) How can we shirk the hard conversations? How can we seek to avoid all discomfort and pain in our desire for self-protection and self-preservation? How can we choose comfortable isolation over uncomfortable loving? How can we succumb to fear of the future when He calls us to reject our fear and act on our faith in Him. To act on our faith in the One who holds the future in His nail-scarred hands and promises that He is with us always, even to the end of the earth
        Yes, I know these things intellectually, but yet that stubborn fear wants to wrap it's icy tentacles around my heart. 
        To my fearful "what if, what if, what if?," the answer is "But God..." 
        But God's Word promises that the Lord has given "us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
        That "spirit of fear" I claim to feel?  It's not from the Lord who has given us His Spirit to dwell within us.  No, that fear is not from Him, so I, so we, need to reject and refuse it and instead act in accordance with the Spirit of power, love, and self-control that our heavenly Father has given us.
         By the power of the Holy Spirit, away with you fear--you ugly, destructive, paralyzing, unloving, unbelieving, joy-sucking, peace-destroying fear.
         Instead, by God's grace and for His glory, might we act in obedience to the gentle yet powerful promptings of His Holy Spirit--to trust, to love, to forgive, to sacrifice, to be salt and light, and to live with joy, hope, and gratitude in our hearts, words, and actions.  We can't, but He can. 
        Thank You, Father, for Your unfailing, unchanging Word. Thank You for our saving, living Savior. And thank You for the indwelling, empowering Holy Spirit. Help us this day and everyday to be led by faith, not by fear. You've promised us that we have Your Spirit of power, love, and self-control, so please enable us walk in step with the Spirit, by Your grace, for Your glory.
        To God be the glory.