Join me today as I welcome author Kathleen L. Maher, as she shares encouragement for the week as well as information about a giveaway. -Davalynn Spencer
By Kathleen L. Maher @Mahereenie
Fear is a liar. As the popular song goes, “It will rob your rest, steal your happiness.”
In my Civil War novel The Abolitionist’s Daughter, each character entertains a lie that causes them to fear. The hero’s twin brother manipulates the hero to try to avoid what he fears most.
Fear of what others might do, or fail to do, can create a controlling response. Fear can cause a friend to turn into a fiend or a bosom brother into a loathsome bother when we allow our fears to bully us and others.
But what is the antidote to fear? Is it courage? Is it faith, or even strength? What if I told you scripture prescribes love as the ultimate weapon against dread? 1 John 4:18 KJV says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.“
Faith is very good, and so are courage and strength. But when it comes to grabbing fear by the throat and choking off its ability to control, it is love that has the ultimate power. Love that trusts our loved ones enough to make the right decision. Love that puts others’ needs ahead of our own.
Sometimes we don’t know how to love like that. It is then that we must receive the Heavenly Love that never tires.
Corrie ten Boom, the woman whose great faith sustained her through the Holocaust, once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Jesus’ love will sort the truth from the lie. He is, after all, the way, the TRUTH, and the life.
~
Fear is a liar. Share on XKathleen is giving away a copy of one of her books, winner to be drawn by random.org on Sept. 26 (winner’s choice of print or e-book, US residents only).
To enter, please give an answer in the comments section below to the following question: Has fear ever kept you from accomplishing something you wanted to do? Did you overcome? Why/why not?
In addition, Kathleen is running a Rafflecopter grand-prize giveaway for her blog tour with several prizes, including a $50 Ammy gift card, one of each of my books, and a Christmas goodie basket. Winners for the Rafflecopter will be drawn by Thanksgiving, with several chances to enter. (US residents only.) Thanks for entering! (Click on either Rafflecopter link.)
The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Kathleen L. Maher
The crusading daughter of a Washington politician comes between twin brothers as the country plunges toward Civil War. Horsemen from Virginia, the twins would defend their livelihood from her meddling kind. When love ignites, friends become enemies. Can the very girl who divided bosom brothers unite them again?
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher
SarahAnn Winnifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing with pioneering doctors. Rufus Sedgwick, relocating his English estate, seeks help for his ailing Mum. Christmas reveals the secret wish of both hearts—for love.
Kathleen L. Maher has had an infatuation with books and fictional heroes ever since her preschool crush, Peter Rabbit. She has a novella releasing with BARBOUR in the 2018 Victorian Christmas Brides collection, featuring her hometown of Elmira, New York. Her debut historical, Bachelor Buttons, blends her Irish heritage and love of the American Civil War. She won the 2012 ACFW Genesis contest for her Civil War story, releasing this summer under a new title The Abolitionist’s Daughter. Kathleen shares an old farmhouse in upstate New York with her husband, children, and a small zoo of rescued animals.
Follow Kathleen:
on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/
on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mahereenie
and on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenlmaher
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Thank you so much for having me on your beautiful blog Davalynn. I look forward to interacting with readers this week.
It’s a pleasure to have you, Kathleen! Thanks for sharing your insight.
Thank you for sharing Kathleen’s post. I have been participating in a discussion about fear with the launch team for The Brave Heart Of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin.
In response to Kathleen’s question about whether fear has ever kept me from doing something. The answer is yes. And I still feel guilty to this day.
When I was a sophomore in high school my father asked me to go clean house for someone he knew. I was terrified to be alone at the house without any of my family members. So I went to my Granny’s house and told her how I felt. She hugged me and said she would talk to my Dad and explain how I was feeling.
My Dad told me I no longer had to do that task. He also said he was disappointed I did not trust him enough to know he would never put me in danger. I shed a lot of tears that day and night.
The reason I was so fearful is I had been raped two years before by my uncle. It was the same situation. My aunt was expected to come home the next day so my uncle asked if I could come straighten up the house. He snuck up behind me and threw me on the bed.
It has taken me thirty years to no longer have anxiety attacks when someone sneaks up behind me.
I am sorry I missed the date for the giveaway. I would love to read The Abolitionist’s Daughter since I love reading historical fiction. I also post my reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Pinterest and Twitter.
That’s heartbreaking, and your fear was certainly justified. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I Can’t imagine the Lord would want you to feel guilty in that situation at all. Someone should’ve been protecting you and they failed. That sort of fear is more caution for what can and did happen. But even that the Lord guided you through. In time.
You didn’t miss the giveaway at all! I will enter you gladly. ?
Thank you , Kathy, for your kind words. They mean a lot to me.
Kathy – you haven’t missed the giveaway date. Opportunity is through Sept. 26. Thanks so much for sharing such a deep fear and how you have overcome it.
Thank you,Davalynn. I am glad I didn’t miss the giveaway.
I think everyone has struggled with fear at some point in their life. With me, it’s a fear of failure, of not being good enough at something or for others. After being told over and over you need to change and can’t do anything like it should be done, you definitely start doubting yourself. I’m slowly building my confidence back up. ?
Joy – this is a life-altering fear and one I think many deal with because of things heard during childhood. So glad to hear you’re building your confidence up!
Joy, I have this fear also. I think it is based in my childhood and striving to earn my father’s approval. It seems even as adults my sisters and I are caught in this trap.
Joy, I’m sorry someone stole your confidence like that. I know one thing you’re very good at is encouraging others! You have encouraged me today!
Blessings,
Kathy
Fear stopped me at first from enjoying our move to Texas. It was hard to make new friends, find a new church, New doctors etc. God gave me peace and strength and we enjoyed the four years we lived there.
Great example, Maryann. It’s often hard to press through those transitional periods, but God is faithful.
Isn’t that profound Mary Ann. The enemy can’t stop God’s will in our lives, but he can try to sap our enjoyment of it. I’m so glad to hear you overcame!
Thanks for coming by. I’m going to be dry in the winter shortly. good luck!
First of all, thank you to everyone who came out and left a comment. I appreciate your thoughts and willingness to share on a difficult subject.
It is my pleasure to announce the winner of the contest for choice of my books and format… Congratulations to Mary Ann. Random.org selected you. I will be in contact.
Thank you Davalynn for having me as your guest the past couple of days. You are a gracious hostess.
It was a pleasure having you, Kathleen!
Fear, Wow, It has kept me from doing things I would like to do. I guess I have not totally overcome this totally. Worry I guess for the most part and past hurts or verbal abuse by others for seeming to have a dream or a vision.
Yes, Linda, fear is a formidable enemy. I agree with Kathleen’s observation that the love of Christ is the antidote. Never let go of the dream He gives you. Press in to Him until all you hear is His voice calling your name.
Thank you for the Encouragement Davalynn! I need to step out of my comfort zone most times and allow my love toward others to not be hindered by my fear of rejection or what others may think. My vision is to write (Kathleen I think that the story might be playing out) So while I am excited, I am trying not to let fear get the best of me. While I don’t know the ending… God sure does and I can depend on him to see me through on this one. I had been allowing fear to keep me from writing the story, from being sure in myself and allowing the unknown future to hinder me. OK Ladies, no more of that… I have a lot to do but later this week i need to work on a writing schedule and find things to put up that encourage me more so… I do so appreciate you both