​8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[a]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Dear Worried Friend,
          Recently, I had friends for lunch and we were discussing the topic, “What you don’t know about me.”  One sweet friend confided to the group that she spends hours at night fretting about things that may or may not happen in the future.  I get it.  On some level we all have anxiety about the unknown--what might happen someday.  That word “someday” is the real culprit.  It results from our failure to live in the now. Another way the devil steals our joy is when you and I focus on a current problem and give it way too much power.  We put that issue front and center in our mind.  We allow it to grow so big that we can’t see everything else around it.   When we worry about the future or blow a problem out of proportion in the now, we miss the joy that Jesus promised to each of us.  Jesus affirmed that in this world you will have tribulation, BUT, be of good cheer. 
          Friends, I implore you, don’t allow satan to suck up all of your joy. He will devour you if you allow those anxious thoughts free reign in your mind.  Choose joy.  Make up your mind to find little bits of good in this world.  When it is raining in your life and in your mind, raining fear, raining anxiety, raining doubt, choose to look for the rainbow.  Tiny miracles happen every day. When dark thoughts loom, memorize a life-affirming scripture.  Call a friend and ask for prayer.  Your emotional balance is at stake.  Do not suffer alone.  Reach out.  I promise you that joy will come knocking at the door of your mind longing to come in and stay.  It is okay to welcome joy. Tell satan to get behind you, you are trusting God for a sunny day.      Linda

​Hello Dear One,
          I care about you.  I understand your struggles and your fears.  My pain may be different from yours, but we all go through difficult times and we need someone to listen to us.  Listen beneath the words.  Don’t be fooled by smiling faces.  You can’t see a breaking heart, but you can hear it.    You can’t love people without listening to them.  Last year hate crimes in America spiked 17%.  That is unacceptable!   Love your neighbor of a different social status, race, religion, or sexual orientation.   Linger beside them to hear their struggles.  Don’t try to fix their problem or minimize their pain.  Just link arms and walk with them. That’s loving your neighbor.  Seriously, what the world needs now is love!  Not just for some, but for everyone.  Not just a cliché’ or silly words to a song, God mandates it!
                                                         Linda