I heard Him call my nameand I responded.“Come out on to the water,”He said, “and walk to Me.”I stepped out of the boat,onto the raging sea.Looking into His face, I startedwalking to Him. Suddenly,a loud crack of thunderbroke my gazeand I noticed the crashingof the waves and felt the gale.It began to rain harder.I could …
After Watching “The X-Files”
At ten, I slept on the couch for weeks,turned the TV low, watched imagesflash late into the night, and listened to infomercialsfor company and comfort after I spooked myselfwatching an X-Files episodeabout an abductee returned to his home.In the opening shot, he stood in a field,his arms stiff, his fingers and lips blue,his skin as …
Dave and the Girl
I remember several horrific incidents occurring during my teens. There was the murder trial that seemed to bring the ills of deep, dark Appalachia to our little town. Three young men, "men" being a misnomer, bludgeoned a 17-year old girl to death for no clear or acceptable reason, leaving her along the railroad tracks. As …
“I’m Ready to Go.”
Lines, no, cracks in the walls— all of them, and the ceiling too; the kind that morph while you stare, unaware, drifting back and forth from what was and what can be. I started packing this morning, slowly, still rigid with fear that it will all start folding in on me again, drowning my voice, …
Disturber of the Peace
Written by Steven Barto, B.S. Psych. WE HAVE HEARD OF many names for Satan. He started as Lucifer—his name is derived from the Hebrew word (helel), which means "brightness." In Latin, it means "shining one, light-bearer." This is also the Latin name for the planet Venus, the morning star in the ancient Roman era, often …
Mental Illness and the Christian
Most of us know someone who is in counseling, on medication, or who has even taken or attempted to take his or her own life as a result of mental illness. Among the many topics high on the list that trouble Christians today, mental health would most likely be at or near the top. Ed …
Jesus Calling
EXCERPT FROM JESUS CALLING ©2004 Sarah Young February 17 I AM THE RISEN ONE who shines upon you always. You worship a living Deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. Your relationship with Me is meant to be vibrant and challenging, as I invade more and more areas of your life. Do not fear change, for …
What Stops You?
FEAR. Now there’s a terrible four-letter word. Some will tell you that fear is necessary for survival. How else will you know if something is harmful or fatal to you? I propose the correct word here is caution. Not fear. You see, fear will stop you dead in your tracks. Fear will lie to you. …
Life’s Poetry
I sit. Heart in hand. I create. Some of you may turn away from the blood. The red spilling over. It’s OK if you do. Sometimes it scares me too, but still I hold it. Palms out. I’m giving you what frightens me. This is me saying, yes, I’m still here. I give you my …
Jesus Calling
EXCERPT FROM JESUS CALLING ©2014 Sarah Young July 19 Bring Me all your feelings, even the ones you wish you didn't have. Fear and anxiety still plague you. Feelings per se are not sinful, but they can be temptations to sin. Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the …