Many of you know it but I’m putting it out there for the world to see…I AM AFRAID OF CATS! Ok, so I said it! Now you might not understand my fear and may even laugh at my fear but for me, it is very real! I’ve tried to figure out where it came from, if I had a bad experience as a child or what, but nothing comes to mind. You can’t imagine the number of times I’ve been asked where that began. All I know is that I get extremely uncomfortable when a cat is near!
I’ve been the brunt of all kinds of cruel jokes where people thought it was funny and tried to get me to pet or hold a cat! I even had a friend in seminary who was a cat lover. She was taking a Counseling class and her assignment was to find someone with a phobia and try to help them overcome it. I warned my friend in advance that I would be a guinea pig for her but not to count on succeeding in helping me to go from my fear of cats to liking cats! Sure enough, she had to find someone else to prove her point! All I can remember is that she put me in a room with a cat that was on steroids or something and that cat ran circles around the room as I sat petrified on a couch. After seconds, I was a nervous wreck and told her this experiment was over!
Fear is something that we all deal with in one way or another. Long Hollow Women did a survey and the number one thing women said they struggled with was fear. Many women struggle to the point that fear really keeps them from being and doing all that God wants them to do.
This Sunday night is our largest Women’s Event of the year. Dare to Move is an event you don’t want to miss because we are going to be discussing this very topic. Our speaker, Angie Smith has dealt with fear. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Angie about her book.
What Women Fear acclaimed writer and speaker Angie Smith admits, “Fear is a major part of my testimony” as she talks openly about significant struggles she has experienced. Giving a voice to the problem, she says, “I truly believe every single one of us struggles with some type of fear, whether it’s fear of flying or fear of being ‘found out.’ Maybe you don’t worry about dying, but you get sick thinking about the fact that you might fail.”
Instead of suggesting that those who love the Lord would never fear, Angie blends her own experiences with those of men and women throughout Scripture to help us start dealing more effectively with these true, human emotions.
Whether it’s a constant What if? type of worry, being afraid of abandonment or betrayal, fear of trusting God’s plan, or many others encountered in the rhythm of our daily lives, Angie walks you through stories of others who have simultaneously loved God and struggled with faith.”
It’s going to be a big night and you don’t want to miss it! Come fellowship, worship, laugh and be challenged with other women to Dare to Move beyond our fears to experience the freedom that Christ has for us.
~2 Timothy 1:7
Find out more details and purchase your ticket here. This is a great opportunity to invite friends both churched and unchurched! It is going to be incredible! Will you help us get out the word by sharing on your Facebook and Twitter? If you would like tickets to sell, contact me at Julie.woodruff@longhollow.com.
Julie