"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 NIV)
"AAAHHH!” I awoke with a start in the middle
of a scream. The dream I had been in had been full of drama, death,
destruction, fear, fleeing, and seemed to have no escape. It got worse
and worse and just as it seemed I might die my mind could take no more and
woke me up. I sat up in the bed breathing hard. I could feel my heart
pounding in my chest. My hands were shaking. I got out of bed
and stumbled over my still snoring beagle on the floor near my door. I
walked out of the bedroom trying to shake the nightmare out of my
consciousness. Something seemed wrong, though. Everything still seemed
scary. The hall light was nothing but a bright blur. Hazy images
floated in front of my face. I couldn’t make out anything clearly.
Then I realized what was wrong. I hadn’t put my glasses on.
I felt my way back into the bedroom, picked up my
glasses and put them on my face. I looked down and gently stepped over
Snoopy still snoring away in doggy dreamland. I walked out into the
living room. The clock on the wall read 2:52 A.M. I walked down
the hall and checked on my sons’ room. They were both still peacefully
asleep and our other dog, Fluffy was looking at me from my son’s bed
wondering why I was up so early. I headed back to my room again.
The dream was finally fading from my consciousness. The dark night
seemed peaceful and full of God’s love again. I took my glasses back
off, thanked God for my life with both its blessings and bad dreams, and
soon fell back asleep.
Sometimes this life can seem as scary as a
nightmare, but when we put on our glasses of faith and truth our vision
becomes 20 20 again. We can see that God loves us all so much.
We can see that death is only a doorway. We can see that the fears of
life can be overcome with the power of love. May you always see
clearly then. May your heart and life be full of love.
Joseph J. Mazzella
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.