When Fear & Faith Collide

“He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.” Job 36:32 NIV

My fear has become a monument in the form of an overstuffed notebook. Article after article about lighting facts, hoarded as if in knowing, I will be safer. When a bolt of lightning, traveling through a clear, blue sky killed my dad, my fear spiraled out of control. I pulled my kids off soccer fields, refused to use the electric appliances, or take a shower during a storm. Talking on the phone is forbidden.

As a child, my dad held me in his lap, explaining what a beautiful display lightning gives of the power of God. Lightning striking two of my parents’ homes erased any fascination he managed to encourage. Following his death, fear and faith collided, and lightning became a terrible thing rather than a display of God’s power.

Living on the side of a mountain at 7200 feet puts us in danger of lightning strikes to our home and forest fires. The beautiful view drew us, and we never considered the storms.

An in-depth study of scripture convinced me that only God controls the lightning, but I still cannot see its beauty. I control nothing beyond my own reactions, but God’s sovereignty rules over all. I can accept that God took my father to heaven via a lightning bolt, but I don’t take chances by being out in a storm.

I have heard it said that God’s man, at the center of God’s will, is immortal until God is finished with him. Trusting an all-powerful God can free me from concern for self. Stepping out of my comfort zone can grow and mature my faith. Sensible precautions aren’t wrong. It is wrong to cower in fear over something only God controls.

John says perfect love casts out fear, so my fear cripples my faith. Stormy times in life cause me to depend on God in new ways, and lightning storms should do the same. I must submit my fear to God and leave it there. I must trust God completely, no matter my circumstances.

Fear weakens; faith strengthens. Just as the lightning comes from His fingers, so do the events of our lives. When I refuse to give in to fear, God can show me His power.

© Copyright Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, July 7, 2013 & August 17, 2017

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normagailwrites/

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Storms and Sunrises by Jamin Baldwin

I woke to cloudy skies and pouring rain for the second day in a row. With a groan I rolled over and pulled the blanket over my eyes.

Another dreary day.

I could feel my mood darken at the thought of another damp, chilly day. Its Spring! Where are the blue skies and singing birds?

Glancing out the window I continued my mental tantrum, when I felt a small check in my heart.

There is no such thing as a dull sunrise.

You might not see it through the gloom, but it doesn't mean it isn't just as bright, just as majestic as it always is.

The key is to wait out the storm and know in your soul that the Sun rose. Even through all the rain you can still see the light. Even through all the gloom you can tell that its morning.

The Bible says "the righteous will shine forth like the Sun in the Kingdom of The Father."

It isn't enough to not complain about the storms and darkness in our lives, but we, as the Children of Light, are supposed to be the sun for others to see.

Be the light that shines through someones dark rain clouds. Be the light that awakes them from their sleep to let them know that morning has finally dawned. Be the Light of hope and let them know, though the storm is raging, the Sun has risen and the storm cannot outlast the Sun.

Enjoy the Sunrise, Be the light.

In addition to writing historical novellas and poetry, Jamin Baldwin is also a song writer and sings at her local church. She has been a volunteer as a Sunday school teacher and the VBS decorating coordinator for the past three years. With her Irish/Native American roots firmly planted in SE Ohio, Jamin enjoys the simple life on her small farm with her husband. Where she homeschools their three small children. Her writing styles range from inspirational to romance. Seeking plots and ideas for her novellas that stray outside the ordinary. Yet, drawing inspiration from every day life.

Clouds

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

Job 37:16

Thin gray clouds hovered just below the peaks of the mountains, making me wonder if a forest fire was in progress. One sniff of the air convinced me it was that rare phenomena in the Southwest, moisture.

Clouds floating past the large picture windows of my mountain home always grab my attention. At almost 7200 feet in altitude, I see a lot of them. At times they start out dark gray and full of moisture which never materializes. Sometimes, they are big and fluffy, but the promised rain still fails to materialize. Beautiful, yet disappointing.

My father-in-law was a great appreciator of clouds, finding shapes in them which he would point out to anyone willing to listen. Living in The Netherlands for half of his life, part of it during the Nazi occupation of WWII, he had seen plenty of clouds, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps the blue skies of the Southwest made him appreciate clouds more because they are not always the harbingers of storms.

When we moved to the mountains we thought the sun would set quickly, causing us to miss the brilliant colors of the evening sky. Wrong! The altitude seems to allow for more interesting cloud formations, streaked with amazing colors every day. My favorite was the pink thunderstorm one summer evening, far across the valley, catching the last rays of the setting sun.

Life is full of clouds, a sudden job change, unexpected illness, a broken relationship, or an untimely death. We can’t choose the kind of clouds that enter our lives. Sometimes clouds bring frightening storms we can’t escape and we cry out for help. Clouds can forewarn of storms, but their absence may not always portend a perfect day. They affect our mood and sometimes change our plans.

One thing is certain, clouds will come. The only thing more certain than clouds is the love and care of my heavenly Father. He promises to stand by my side through the storms, just as He rejoices with me in the good times.

Developing the habit of appreciating clouds makes me more open to the working of God in my life, and less fearful of the storms. Looking for God in the clouds and storms of life enables me to trust Him for the sunshine to come. Clouds may hide the sky, but God is always there.

© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 26, 2015

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

The Prayer Box

In The Prayer Box, Lisa Wingate tells the story of a storm-tossed girl who runs away to a storm-tossed community hoping for a way to heal. I loved lots of things about this book. 

First, it takes place in North Carolina, home for me. And it’s the outer banks, which I’ve always wanted to visit, but still haven’t made that trip. 

Second, I love the symbolism woven throughout. 

Third, the concept of prayer boxes is a beautiful thing. One character keeps a box full of written prayers for every year of her life after meeting Christ. 

Fourth, the story of an elderly woman teaches much to the younger woman. I love it when generations mix for the benefit of all.

Fifth, people help people. In today’s crazy-busy world, we’ve lost the art of seeing people and moving to meet their needs. This week, I’ve experienced this first-hand as I recovered from surgery. People I never expected to give me a second thought have offered help and prayers and concern for me and not only is this encouraging, but it can be life-changing. The Prayer Box artfully displays this phenomena through engaging characters who make me want to “see” others more and better and then reach out with a helping hand. 

What if we all did this today? Let’s do! And pick up a copy of Lisa Wingate's The Prayer Box while you're at it. Better yet, share a copy with someone else! You can find it here. To learn more about Lisa, visit her website.

When was the last time somebody offered you a helping hand at a serious point of need? When was the last time you did this for somebody else?

God Remembered

And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him…And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood…Then the Lord shut him in…But God remembered Noah…” Genesis 7:5, 7, 16 & 8:1

Several years ago, my husband was without a job. I needed major surgery. Our three-year-old daughter needed surgery. It was a time of uncertainty.

We were following the Lord, serving Him and giving faithfully, but times of trouble still came. I remember so clearly when my husband walked through the door with a box of his things at lunchtime and said he was going back to clean out his office. His boss had told him he was no longer needed. We had two small children and we weren’t certain what we were going to do.

We were blessed that my husband had been meticulous about saving, but we didn’t know how long the money would have to last. Having big medical bills on top of the usual expenses didn’t help any.

A favorite Bible study leader of mine calls times like this “Noah’s Ark experiences.” Yes, Noah and his family were all safe within the ark while “all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens opened…” The waters raged without and rose above the mountain tops and it was probably not exactly smooth sailing. It must have been downright frightening at times.

Sometimes we are allowed to go through rough storms in life and there is nothing to do but ride it out trusting in the promises of God.

I am certain a part of the comfort Noah’s family had was remembering God, Himself, had shut the door. They knew He had put them into the ark and trusted He would save them. They really didn’t have much choice.

Sometimes we do have the choice of whether or not to trust God to bring us safely through our storms. We can get ourselves in real messes when we decide to go it on our own.

We have to learn that when God shuts the door, He isn’t shutting us in and Himself out. He is in there with us. After several months God brought us out of our storm and provided everything we needed in the midst of it.

What storm are you facing?

This world is full of uncertainties, but we can be certain God is with us. He will remember us. Whatever your situation, choose to believe God is right there with you and will bring you through safely.

© Copyright, Norma Thurston Holtman August 9, 2011

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, released in April 2014. She led women’s Bible studies for over 21 years. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/