We are probably more apt to be scared into sinning rather than being scared sinless.

Did you ever wonder if being scared is a sin?   I don’t mean the action you take because you were afraid, I mean the fear itself.  Depending on the version you use, some variation of “Do not fear” is written somewhere between over 100 times to over 300 times.   I read once that it is written 345 times, one for each day of the year…admittedly I have not counted the instances, but I cannot find definitive proof of that.

Is being scared an open invitation for the enemy to wreak havoc in our lives? There have been times I’ve made good decisions because I was afraid…and times I was too dumb to know to be afraid, and God took care of me. Don’t ignore warning signs, and don’t ignore your “gut.”

Fear lies.  Fear silences.  Fear sins. It paralyzes, it can be a stumbling block. It can also make us take a second look and perhaps make better choices. Which leads me to the questions: What exactly does the Bible mean by “fear?” And how do we not be scared when, in reality, we are?

Posts from around the southeast
(Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee)

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Cades Cove Foggy Daybreak, Great Smoky Mountains

When I hear people happily boast, “I ran 2 miles and burned 175 calories!” I can’t get too excited for them.  I gather they don’t realize two miles is a long distance to burn off a banana and three almonds.  

If someone is offensive and rude until you get a little miffed…and they say, “You’re just letting the devil get to you!” I gather they are probably more correct than they realize.

When you are sitting at a red light, on a motorcycle, no less, and you pick your nose, and then your teeth with the same finger, I gather you don’t realize someone just may be subjected to seeing that in their rearview mirror.

If you go to the restroom and don’t wash your hands, people notice. And remember. And mention it to others.  I can’t even gather my thoughts on this one.

If an eleven-year-old goes to the dentist for the very first time, and he casually mentions to her mother that some teeth will have to be pulled, when he wheels in a monstrous, scary looking machine and doesn’t explain that he is only taking X-rays and not pulling teeth, there just may be a meltdown in his dental chair.  I obviously thought..I mean… that poor child just may have gathered the dentist intended to rip her teeth out with that big machine, that’s why I was…I mean SHE was wailing, “But my teeth aren’t even loose!” 

Great Smoky Mountain Fog

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I started blogging over 12 years ago on AOL Journals. I’ve had at least one open blog since that time, but I haven’t given blogging much attention this year. Since starting this challenge, I have been visiting other bloggers who are participating, and I’ve noticed a few things.

When I click a link to read a post, I sometimes can’t find the entry I wanted to read because there are so many sections, menus, and links on the page. When I noticed this, I made changes on my own blog so that it is easier to find my current post.

Many people moderate comments. I wonder if they get harassing comments? Or too much spam? I don’t like spammers!

There are zillions of blogs (not all active)….millions of writers (also not all active) and I guess that’s the “why” for my last point…

There’s doesn’t seem to be a lot of interaction. I am still social media “friends” with bloggers I met from AOL Journals. It was a real community of people from all over the world. Hopefully, that is still happening and I just haven’t landed there yet.