called by a new name

We live in a world provoked by fear...

I have heard it said that you either operate in faith or fear, one or the other. The presence of fear is not the greatest issue. However, it is what one decides in the presence of fear that determines the future.

Faith in others leaves one striving for acceptance and craving more understanding. Faith in self leaves one devastated, lost and empty. Faith in a dream leaves one hopeless when the dream is not achieved.

An encounter with the Almighty leaves one...
Forever changed.

Abram became Abraham... Father of the Nations.
Jacob became Israel... God's Servant.
Simon became Peter, after meeting Jesus, God in the flesh.
Saul became Paul after encountering the resurrected Lord.

But it was not merely a calling of a new name.
It was a mark, a proclamation by God... a rebirth,  a restart.

What would you do with a new chance? ...one new start at the life you were sure you left in disrepair?

Faith.

That's all it takes.
One step,
A plunge with the fear at your back...
One step and the past is behind you.

You see, the fear, it was just the push to take you there... to that point of surrender and realization that you could not do it on your own.

Don't worry, you weren't the first to think that you could do it on your own. And you certainly weren't the first to fail or make mistakes.

But you can be the first at a lot of things.

Pioneers march forward in the face of insurmountable fear. They don't pioneer for their own sake either... it's always to lead others.

So, go ahead...
Don't be afraid.
Chase those dreams,
But never forget the One who authored them.
And, certainly, don't ever forget to constantly turn to Him for counsel.

Exposure

|Exposure|
Can be a scary thing...
whether it's a wound or the hidden mess of a room.

Darkness seems daunting, but the minute a small light comes in contact with it, it doesn't seem as much of a match.

I'm learning.
Learning things the hard way.
Maybe the hard way is the only way it will sink in and create lasting impact.

"And darkness is fading in, and darkness is real "

Sometimes darkness seems so real.

Yet I know that it creeps around with an intimidating stare, waiting for an opportune moment to barge in. 

I have found that exposing lies is hard but so worth it. Whether the lie is something small or something rooted in past hurts and regrets, the result is the same if you choose to give it power. 

Some of my favorite movies have been superhero movies for the reason that they hold timeless truths. When I think of lies and how the enemy tries to intimidate I think of the Wolverine film. I think of how the bad guy spent his life trying to gather the equipment and resources to recreate something like Wolverine in order to defeat him and hold the power. I am reminded of how the enemy tries to manipulate in order to defeat creation. Then, in the movie, the last battle reveals the real enemy... shriveled and still striving for power, stripped down to reveal an ugly reality: self-seeking will end in misery. And all along he wore a large metal suit that made him seem truly omnipotent and indestructible... 

I know my God has the victory. I simply need to take time to remind myself of the truth and to take minutes from His perspective to see that it is all going to be alright.