You long to be pursued in love. So do I. “How are you… really? What do you need? What are you hoping for? How can I pray for you?” When someone expresses genuine personal interest in you, it is healing. When you open up to grace, it is life-giving. But somewhere along the line we…
It was a defining moment when I faced my fear of failing and looking foolish in the most important purpose of my life. Before I tell you that story let’s chat a bit about success and failure. We all want to be a success. We want to make a positive difference for God and for…
Brennan Manning insisted “the God-revelation of Jesus” removes fear and worry. Yet, he also admitted to a fear of abandonment going back to his childhood. Worse, at the end of his life, in his memoir All is Grace, Manning confessed: “I’ve been a priest, then an ex-priest. Husband, then ex-husband. Amazed crowds one night and…
When the Lord in his Word says, “Fear not” he’s not judging us for having worries or fears! He’s actually inviting us to feel, talk, and pray. He’s opening his arms to us in love. We share a meditation on Luke 12:32 to experience the love of Christ and the Father.
Into my thirties I was under pressure to perform, be ideal, help everyone, and control outcomes. It added up to lots of anxiety! I needed a lot of empathy from others and retraining of my mind and body. I did deep soul work in my own psychotherapy. And I started learning how to actually live each…
In the first Advent God keeps saying, “Fear not!” It’s a word we need to hear today too. Zechariah and Elizabeth were told that after decades of waiting they’d finally have a child in their old age. (Luke 1:5-25) But “Don’t fear being disappointed again.” Mary was a young, unmarried woman who was impregnated with…
This conversation on “When It’s Good to Fail” starts at our kitchen table. It’s about our fear of launching this Podcast and failing! We draw out each others feelings and offer empathy. Then I (Bill) make a comment that surprises both of us: “Failure can be good!”
We all want to experience more peace and we all go about it the wrong way: we withdraw from difficult things. But this weakens us. If you or someone you love struggles with anxiety then you know exactly how this works. When you keep avoiding a situation you’re afraid or stressed by it provides momentary relief,…
What do you do when you’re afraid? What helps you to face your fears and endure pain? Recently I faced fear and pain when I went through a colonoscopy without sedation or anesthesia. The nurses kept trying to talk me into letting them give me medicine. The doctor said the pain level would be close…
One year ago today I realized a lifelong dream and finished the Boston Marathon. One hour ago today for tens of thousands of runners and over a million friends and family their dream became a nightmare. I’ve already received messages from people who are concerned for me. Thankfully, I did not run the Boston Marathon this…