From the Book Shelf ~ Running Scared

Recommending Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Edward Welch. It was required reading for a biblical counseling class, and I'm ever glad it was! Welch is writing from experience and wisdom. A brief excerpt from the preface:

Like most writing projects, this book is aimed squarely at myself. Although I can be angry or melancholy, I am a fear specialist. In this I have found that I am not alone. Not everyone is a fear specialist, but there is no doubt that every single person who ever lived is personally familiar with fear. It is an inescapable feature of earthly life. To deny it is...well...to deny it.

Welch discusses how natural fear and worry can be and shows us how to recognize it. He says there are themes that run through our fears, and he gives instruction on how to face them. Danger and vulnerability are key aspects, and this is where spiritual realities come to light. Welch shows us how to turn to God when fear and worry prevail, how we can find freedom and have peace reign in our hearts and minds.

I have only one negative about the book--I don't particularly like the cover design. Kind of petty, I realize. I had seen the book before, but I was put off by the cover. That was not a good decision. I would have missed Welch's deep insight. Goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. I should have looked beyond the cover because anything written by Ed Welch is a treasure trove of wise counsel. However, I would recommend a new cover design on the next edition. :-)

I Will Bless the Lord

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice. 

O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1-3 

Image Created by Montypeter 

via Freepik.com permission

Button Up Your Lip

Button up your lip securely

'gainst the words that bring a tear.

Be swift with Words of COMFORT,

Words of PRAISE, and Words of CHEER.

~ unknown 

Image ~ The First Grief, Daniel Ridgway Knight 1839-1924 

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Thankful Thursday ~ We Can Go Peacefully

We found a dead cat on our porch yesterday. Where it came from, we do not know. Why it chose our porch for its last breath, we do not know. It appeared to have died peacefully, though, perhaps full of years.

Death eventually comes to all of us. I'm thankful that we can die peacefully, if not full of years. Peacefully. We can, but not all do. It's best to be prepared for it, to give it some thought.

Some fight death because they don't know what comes next. Even if they think nothing comes next, there's the uncertainty that drifts through the mind, like fog on a moonless night, stroking the tombstones through the cemetery.

What if they are wrong? I'm sure they don't want to be. They aren't prepared to be wrong. What causes people to cling to hopelessness? Death is not dying. The body, yes. The soul, no.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going" (John 14:1-4).

Those who follow Jesus know where they are going when they die. He awaits them. Is He awaiting you?

The one who doubted said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to Him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:5-6).

Peacefully, through the door that leads to eternity.

Children's Books for Easter

Sharing a delightful website with you today for those of you who have an influence with children, which is just about everyone! It's the Read Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie. It was introduced to me by a friend who has several children at home of all ages. It's been very helpful as I think about books for my grandchildren.

Sarah is very enthusiastic about reading aloud and has a podcast that will draw you into the adventures and benefits of reading aloud to children. Sometimes she interviews the authors, which is always an interesting discussion.

Sarah's latest podcast is a discussion about books for Easter in which she has recommendations for differing age groups. Our grands will be coming for a visit the week after Easter, so I'm looking for something that will encourage their faith and reinforce God's love for them.

To go to Sarah's website, just click on the book image. I've linked it to her current podcast, but do explore the site while you're there!

A Thought on Suffering

A comment was made in class discussion forum today that many struggle with God's goodness in the face of their suffering. I offered a few thoughts in that regard....

Sometimes the suffering is so great, and our minds are so bewildered, that we struggle with making any kind of sense as to how it squares with God's goodness. And sometimes we tend to do the defining of what God's goodness is and means...to us. This is one area where I think the '5 love languages' have lead us astray. We tend to interpret God's goodness and love toward us with how we want to be shown that love, and whether or not we'll accept it as such.

I think suffering is a watershed experience. What has gone on before in our heart and mind about God has much to do with how we respond/react to it. It's much to our benefit to understand suffering before it befalls us. But then again, sometimes we have no inclination that we need to know.

I understood just enough to know that in my own "momentary affliction," I was wrestling with God. The one thing that I understood was that I didn't understand. It's more difficult for those who shadowbox their misunderstandings. I think some sufferings make us angry and hurt so deeply because they are so painful, and we despise them. It is only God who can mend a broken heart. I am so very thankful that He pulled me closer and closer to Himself as I was searching for reality.

I think the one thing that I did know and that kept me hopeful was that God is love. That is the first thing children learn about God, if they learn about Him. For those of you who have children, bless and benefit them with an understanding of God's great love. They will need it when it is their turn to face suffering. I couldn't get away from that truth, even though I didn't understand how it fit. It took me a few years to see more clearly, but I understand so much more about God in the aftermath.

So very thankful that God continues to redeem and rescue!

Image ~ The Sick Girl, Michael Ancher 1849-1927

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

From the Book Shelf ~ Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness

Recommending a book to you today that I read in the past that was a great benefit to me as I was going through a time of struggle. It has recently been updated with more current and relevant examples and retitled just a bit. It was required reading in a class I just completed on depression and anxiety, and it was good to read through and absorb once again, to refresh my mind and heart.

Ed Welch knows depression, and his winsome way of walking us through it, either for ourselves or for understanding someone we love, is rich in the grace of the gospel. The outstanding takeaway for me was that we need to consider the reality of God, because it is at the intersection of one's belief and daily life that responses to trials meet. An understanding of Jesus' compassion, of God's attention to needs, and of His goodness are all essential. Welch builds upon these foundational truths to help those who suffer in this way to look up from the stubborn darkness of depression.

Welch explains the scope of depression and gives direction to those who are caught in its despair, as well as direction to those who want to help them find a way out. He presses the point throughout the book that how one thinks about God is the key issue from moving from hopelessness to hopefulness.

Ed Welch is a licensed psychologist and biblical counselor for Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF). To watch a brief youtube video clip of Welch discussing depression, you can click here.