Faith Or Fear

Hello, Sweet Friends! Happy Sunday!!

I get up very early on Sundays but I try not to complain.  It’s the only day of the week I have to be up before the sun so this not-even-a-little-bit-of-a-morning-girl is quite thankful.  On Sunday afternoons, I either need a good nap or lots of coffee to get through.  I just do.  I’ve learned to be ok with that and to really, really enjoy the quiet Sunday afternoons I get to lay down, heart peaceful from beautiful morning worship, and just feel Him wrap His arms around me as I take some quiet rest.  What a blessing!  Many Sunday afternoons allow that for me.

Today is not one of them.

No worries though.  I am still feeling wonderfully peaceful from this morning’s worship and even though the kids playing outside are way too noisy to allow for napping, I am happy to be up…drinking more coffee…and writing.

Besides, those sweet kids (who belong to my neighbors) are having loads of fun and I think it’s terrific that they do that often.  Even in the cold, they are outside playing with other neighbors, laughing and making the most out of whatever the parking lot and small grassy area with one tree can provide.  There are no electronic gadgets out there with them yet they’re doing just fine.  It makes me smile, remembering the days my brother and I would play outside with our neighbor friends and how we could find ways to amuse ourselves for hours upon hours.  We’re better people for the time we spent outside together.

Anyway, that was a little off topic if you’re considering the title of today’s blog so back to it!

I’ve taken quite a bit of time off blogging but I have been writing.  I recently started working on my book again and am filled with newfound enthusiasm because I finally understand what the full message of said book is supposed to be!  I’ve been writing a book on faith for about 8 years now, vacillating between spurts of invigorated composition where I know just what to say and how to say it and very, very dry, sometimes painfully long spells where nothing is really coming and I’m pretty sure I’ve wasted all the time I already poured into it.

Such is life, eh?

We all go through spurts and I’ve learned not to be too terribly weirded out by shifts in momentum.  After all, when I read some of the stuff I wrote eight years ago, I thank the Lord above it wasn’t published!  I’ve learned so much over the years and if anything, my book has been a journal of how much the Lord has revealed to me and walked me through.  I am beyond grateful for what He has taught me.

Right now, I’m in a spurt.  And I know I’m going to need to make time to keep up with the excitement for what God’s pouring into my heart while formatting comprehensible and hopefully compelling text.  But I’m also believing this spurt will bring me to the finish line.  I will finish this book.  Because God is helping me choose faith and is showing me how to help others do that too.  That’s been the purpose of my writing since day one.  God is so good and I give Him all my heart and all the glory and however long it takes to complete this work.

I’m wrapping this up, I swear.

Life brings many choices daily.  Most of them, no big deal…we make them without having to think much at all.

Others require a little more of us.

I think one of the most difficult choices we make from one day to the next is whether we choose faith or fear.  Faith unlocks doors to miracles.  Fear leaves room for the devil to run wild.  And our God, making us in His own image, gave us the power to choose either.

Sure, it doesn’t seem as easy as that; that when we’re faced with question marks leaving gaping, sucking holes of trepidation in our chests, we can simply say, “I choose faith” and be done with it.

But friends, we always…always…always can choose Him.  There will never be a day in your life when you won’t have that option.  And God is for miracles.  He is sooooooo not for fear.  He will make a way for you to walk in faith if you trust Him and allow Him to lead you into it.

So, I hope to be a published author someday…beyond the blog.  Because I believe in the message God has entrusted my heart and know that my searching, wandering heart looks a lot like the hearts around me.  I want to put encouragement into the world.  I want to instilll faith.  Never fear.  And writing is one of the ways I choose to do that.

I’d like to ask for your help though.

I have no idea how many people actually read this blog.  But I feel a strong pull to encourage others and so, I want to make a way for that to happen.  I need you to help me find those who need encouragement.  Pass along jessicamweber.com if you think they’ll find it a helpful tool in their own walk of faith.  And please invite them to post any questions or prayer concerns they have.  I am eager to carefully and prayerfully consider every single reply I would offer.  People have tons of questions about faith but most feel insecure in asking…have you ever noticed that?  My heart goes out to them because I’ve been there.  And I’m not saying, by any means, that I have all the answers…only that I want to help and submit myself to trying.  Please remember the option of submitting a question or prayer concern is available to you too…even if you’d want to do it anonymously.  Use an email address I couldn’t link to you and go for it!  You’re not deceiving me…I invite you to it!

I love reading your comments, by the way.  I just signed on and saw a beautiful comment from my mom and a favorite scripture verse from a dear friend (left as commentary to my last blog) and I felt so very encouraged.  Comments left are always a wonderful motivation for me to keep writing and now, as I push to a finish with this book, I feel I will need them more than ever.  Please don’t feel funny about what you would write.  Those of you who have already been commenting write beautifully!  I’ll bet there’s more of you who could write an encouraging comment or two but worry about what you’ll say.  Don’t.  Trust your gut on that one!  You have a way of saying something that is uniquely and beautifully you and I very much want to hear it.

Our Father is so good to provide ways for our hearts to connect.  He knew we would need that.  There’s a lot going on in our world right now.  Fear would be the easy choice.  But we love the Lord and we’re not known for taking the easy way out.  Our God is bigger and better and our choice is clear.  I’d like this blog to become an open dialogue for those choosing Him…because there’s lots of good things to be said and good things to come from having a place to do so.

Thank you, friends, for stopping by.  Please feel free to speak back.  I am always eager to meet you here where I know we’ll find heavenly inspired motivation to keep choosing faith.

Be back soon! God bless!!