Excerpts from Tattooed by Jesus and My Thoughts… Chapter One: “For years I freaked out to see roach, lying on its back, batting the air with squirming legs. Why do creatures live? Where do they go when they die? When will I die? The deepest parts of my soul asked these questions for as long as I can remember. My fear of death began with my very first memory.” Fear paralysis. Fear causes us to disconnect. Fear sucks us into an introvert state of mind, and Fear brings torment. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. Fear of death. Fear of killing words. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. At three years old and I am already emotionally tired. In need of safety and comfort. A realization of needing someone to save me. A need to protect my mom from death. Wishes became a form of prayer to an unknow God. I curl up by the window and hide my eyes. Matthew 6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body; so, then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! I developed a defensive mode. My only escape, I love the sun. It warms me, inside and out. I’m not scared when Mr. Sun shines bright in the sky. Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world in them He has placed a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. Fear brings the “what ifs” I grew up thinking like an adult and not a child. Survival thinking through a jungle of fear, swinging on emotions, searching for the very thing I need most, a Savior. Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also (Jesus) Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying, death is swallowed up in VICTORY! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. As a child I hid my eyes from the world. Running from the darkness within my own soul. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now, lift my eyes, up over the hills of this world and all its woes for I know where my help comes from. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. In this fallen world, I look unto to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. In the midst of a world of darkness and sin, Jesus has risen from the dead! Yes, I see Jesus, exalted above the heavens. I see Jesus, high and lifted up and His train fills the temple. I can hear the angles cry; Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of host: the whole earth is full of His glory! My eyes have seen the King of Glory!