Brother is Boston Bound

My little brother, Danny, has officially left to Boston. 

He will be attending Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary to pursue a Master's in Divinity. 

I told him the night before he left as we cuddled with our dog Minnie, that he shouldn't cry. He has been given an awesome opportunity not many people get to experience and to just enjoy it. Especially the drive - even though its 32 hours. As he left that morning, we hugged and I wished him well. Once he drove off I couldn't help but go to my room, praise God and CRY tears of joy! Witnessing such an opportunity being given to an immediate family member just blows my mind. God is SO good and faithful! Danny will do well in the name of Jesus.

Two years ago we experienced a similar scenario when our older brother Joel married DeeAnn and left home into their own home. Now, two years later, Danny leaves the nest that Mami & Papi created for us about 28 years ago when they married. As much as we prepare for these life-changing experiences, it will always be difficult to adapt - at first. Yet reminding ourselves that we serve a constant God (Hebrews 13:8) that is in control of each situation and change brings peace and comfort.

Danny,

The time has come for you to finally spread your wings and leave the nest Mom and Dad built for you 22 years ago. We did it all together. We went through the same schools together having to sit alone and together at lunch because we were new. We always ordered the same thing at restaurants (Subway, Red Robin, Royal Inn, you name it). We always knew when a random person walked by that we found them attractive and called each other out on it. Knowing I won’t have someone to do that with anymore saddens me but not as sad as knowing all the chores you are leaving behind for me to do. I can say we have an amazing irreplaceable bond. I am incredibly proud of your accomplishments and wish you the absolute best in Boston. I love you and miss you!

Love,

Abby

Danny leaving home.

Danny's new home for the next 3 years.

The Fear Factor: Feeding Fear

Fear:  An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, threat, dread, dismay, or panic.

Since 2012 I FEARED to sleep with the light off. How did this happen? I used to be the type of person that would walk into a dark room like no one's business. Well, God shook me one night and revealed the dark side of the spiritual world and instead of taking it in and moving forward, I began to fear. Fear had trapped me for TWO years but fear was originally designed to keep us safe.  It is an internal alarm system that goes off when real life or death situations arise. If you read in one of my previous post's titled "I'm Going To Worship You Forever…" after that night I was unable to sleep without a light.

After months of this I could tell I was not resting at night. It was as if my body was resting but my mind kept working - so I still felt extremely tired in the morning. It's safe to say I had not rested appropriately for the past two years. God did not create us to live this way - in fear.
Up until a few weeks ago, a close family member approached me about the nightlight and that it was time to face reality, practice my faith and sleep in the dark. I somehow gathered the courage to do so and told God, "I don't think I can do this…but I want to find rest only in You…" His Word reminds us that there is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18).

Psalm 91 also reminds us to not fear because we are safe in God's abiding presence.

1 Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,

2 can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust."

3 He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.

4 He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.

5 You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day

6 or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.

7 A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed.

I can testify that the first night I slept in the dark without fear I rested like no time ever before. I was overjoyed with sleeping in the dark the following night and have been since. What I found funny is that while I slept peacefully in the dark, everything was off - lights, cell phone, laptop... I woke up with over 20 text messages. The joys of group text messaging. 

Fear can blind, paralyze and separate us from God's fullness in our lives. Faith, opens our eyes to whom God really is. That is why you can't let anything or anyone separate you from His love. Always guard your heart from everything and always forgive and ask for forgiveness. That's the way we can worship in Truth. Although my experience may seem like a silly example of fear there are plenty of things people fear. It is vital to understand how fear works both negatively and positively.

Constructive Fear:

*Protects/alarms us

*Pushes us to new heights

*Propels us forward

*Shows growth

*Shows healing

Damaging Fear:

*Keeps you stagnant and stuck

*Causes phobias, anxiety, illness and depression

*Makes you doubtful and distrusting/lack of faith

*Prolongs healing and growth

*Not how God created us to live

*Sees the bad in situations, not the good

“Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable.”  -Harry Emerson Fosdick

I pray that if you struggle with fear that it will no longer hinder you and the plans for your life, in the name of Jesus, Amen.