When you really listen to people, what emotion most often dwells at the surface of their difficulties? I hear fear. This is one reason why Max Lucado’s newest book, Fearless, is so important for people to read and discuss. Even the subtitle gives hope: Imagine Your Life without Fear.As a spiritual director, the fears I hear many times are not even recognized right away. In fact, some people will even deny their emotions are fear based. I know this personally since I am a regular practitioner of denying fear in my own life.Lucado’s book helps us to name the fears that drive us and exposing them to the light of God. Once we recognized and face that emotion, it is easier to let go, returning to trusting God to handle the situation.Lucado lists fears such as fear of not mattering, of disappointing God and overwhelming challenges. His easy readable writing style pulls in the reader to identify their own circumstances, then allowing God to once again take over. He reassures us that God … [Read more...]

Jesus Calling If you could write down the words Jesus speaks to you, what would they be? Sarah Young has written a unique 365 day devotional called Jesus Calling. In her faith walk, she intentionally began to open her heart more and “began to listen to what He was saying.” Young writes, “I had been writing in prayer journals for years but that was one-way communication; I did all the talking, I knew that God communicated with me with the Bible, but I yearned for more. I decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever I believed He was saying… my journaling had changed from monologue to dialogue.” Each day in this devotional is written as if Jesus Himself was speaking. The gift size book has one or two paragraphs daily with a message tied to a Scripture. The author encourages the reader to read each entry slowly and to keep a journal to record any thoughts you receive as you listen to God. Having a daily devotion time is a foundational practice for … [Read more...]