Four Years Old

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.   I John 4:18
 
It’s a birthday post!  Joyful Words is 4 years old and as I look back I’m surprised, baffled, proud and stunned; but not at all with myself!  It’s all HIS!  I’m  surprised that he’s still allowing  me to do this work, I’m baffled as to why he chose the girl whose top grade in English was a B, proud that I’ve remained obedient to his request to do this work and stunned at what he spits through my fingers onto the page.   I did a little looking back and discovered that there have been nearly 400 posts written,  and that is such a stunning testimony to the phrase, God can do anything He wants! 
 
This verse from John’s first letter sums up my primary emotion in regards to this blog…FEAR!  As I spent a few days praying and thinking about this little project that started four years ago I remember being terrified to publish the first post.  It’s gotten better over the years but honestly, there is always a wee bit of fear in my heart each time I hit that publish button on Monday and Thursday mornings.  I’m fearful that I will say something that isn’t accurate or that hurts somebody’s feelings or worse yet, I fear that I will make a fool of myself and lead nobody closer to Jesus.  Just as John said, perfect love drives out fear so I offer a prayer to all who will read and offer the work of each post as a loving gift to the Father hoping he will find it worthy. 
 
The fear isn’t such a bad thing I think.  I’ve come to discover that fear is a human thing and love is a God thing.  If I remember to write for him and not for myself and if I beg him for the right words to touch the heart of those who seek him then it’s easier to quiet the fear and hope I’ve been obedient enough to write what he’s called me to write.  This project has led me on an amazing journey and for those of you who have been reading all along I hope it has inspired your faith journey as well.  At the end of each year I ask him to make it clear when I should stop.  If he prompts me to continue I ask him to show me what to say and lead me to the parts of his word that he’d like a little light cast upon.  My end of the deal is to write as long as there are people reading and commenting.
 
I’d like to thank all of you who so lovingly share your stories and allow me to tell them here.  I thank all of you who seek to know, love and understand God and who see this blog as a wee part of that.  I’m grateful for your encouragement and sweet words.  Your comments, shares and likes are the confirmation the Father gives me to keep at it.  You’ve had a front row seat to my mistakes, my sinfulness, my parenting, teaching and my attempts at finding God in the middle of all kinds of things.  I know there are a million blogs you could be tuning in to that are more scholarly, more polished, more fancy and certainly more eloquently written but yet you come here and I pray for the words and thoughts to make that trip to this site worth the click.
 
In all honesty the thing that makes me most fearful of all is that we will become so overwhelmed and discouraged by the state of affairs in this world that we’ll throw up our hands and lose hope.  I fear folks will run out of trust and forget God is so much bigger than the things in this world that are evil and unjust.  I write with the bottom line in mind…simply spoken from a sometimes fearful heart that always by God’s grace circles back to the PERFECT LOVE that conquers all fear.  Being a disciple isn’t for sissies and it isn’t always convenient or easy but if we can laugh and support each other along the way we will be better; closer and more connected along the journey to Christ.  Happy Birthday Joyful Words and thank you for reading.
 
Blessings on your day!