Welcome to those of your stopping in from Jenny’s devotion with Proverbs 31 Ministries! You came to the right spot today. We are giving away five copies of her novel, Just Between You and Me, and – are you ready for this? – a Baked Goods Dreambox from Zingerman’s (courtesy of Thomas Nelson Publishers)!
In Just Between You and Me, Maggie Montgomery has a rather voracious sweet tooth and were she not a figment of Jenny B. Jones’ imagination, she would be the first to enter our giveaway today. However, since she is excluded from our contest, as am I, you should take advantage of the better odds and enter! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post or sign up for our free monthly newsletter. One lucky winner will walk away with the gift basket and a copy of Jenny’s novel. Four other winners will each receive a copy of Just Between You and Me.
Zingerman’s Baked Goods Dreambox: “It’s a big foot and a half long pine crate stuffed to bursting with testaments to the temple of sweetness: our incredible nosher-sized Sourcream Coffeecake, two Ginger Scones, a Magic Brownie, a Dulce de Leche Buenos Aires Brownie and a Pecan Blondie, a Ginger Jump-Up Cookie, a Big Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, a nosher-sized Pecan Pie, a jar of American Spoon Cherry Berry Spoon Fruit, Mandelbread Jewish Biscotti, Washington State Fireweed Honey and one of our homemade Zzang!® Chocolate Bars.”
***Note: this dream 
box feeds 14 to 16 people, so be prepared to throw a party…or go into sugar shock. Or you could just send it to me. That’s a perfectly acceptable alternative.
And now, a few words from the lovely and talented Jenny B. Jones:
Just Between You and Me deals with the issue of fear–from phobias to the big, deep emotional things that can put the “pause” button on a life. One of my fears is flying. I hate it. I love hanging out in airports, but as for getting on a plane, I’d rather not. Despite the fact that I know who holds my life in His hands, I still have yet to get on a plane without being certain my life is about to end 30,000 feet in the air. Four years ago, I was on my way to a conference. It was a horrible flight. My friend Erin and I were praying for our lives. Literally. Out loud. Erin went with the 23rd Psalm. I went with some sort of begging-whining-made-up-on-the-spot thing. While flying doesn’t bring out the best in me, it also doesn’t seem to stop me from traveling. But it does ensure that my brain will be nonstop with panicked thoughts. On a recent trip, I jotted a few down. Thought I’d share.
Totally nervous. Somebody needs to take me out with a tranq gun. You know, the kind they use on rabid baboons who escape from the zoo.I need to workout. If I live, I’m gonna do that. And be kinder to strangers. And floss every day. And smile more. And read some classics. Okay, maybe just floss on the even days.
Yea, though I descend on American Airlines, I will fear no evil. . . but this turbulence is scaring the heck out of me.
Dear God, even though I’ve eaten enough this week to feed a small country, and now would be a good time to die calorie-wise so I don’t have to run all this off. . . it would be super cool if that didn’t happen.
Would I assist in an evacuation since I’m sitting on the exit row? SURE! (Was that believable? Because there is no way. It is every short girl for herself. Dude, if we go down, all rules are off, and I will go all Jackie Chan on you.)
Before a flight, I always eat whatever I want in case it’s my last meal. And it ain’t no salad, you know what I’m saying?
What was that noise?
The woman behind me has tuberculosis. I know it.
Seriously, what WAS that noise?
The pressure in my air conditioning vent could part the Red Sea.
I should advertise my books in SkyMall catalog. Right next to the FitFlops and the Nighttime Bunion Regulator.
Wow. The plane is really shaking. No wait. That’s me.
Okay, so flying is my big nail-biting fear. What about you?
Leave a comment. Share your fear. And enter to win enough sweets to give your dentist nightmares for a decade!
About Ariel Lawhon
Ariel Lawhon is the co-founder of She Reads, novelist, blogger, and life-long reader. She lives in Texas with her husband and four young sons (aka The Wild Rumpus). Ariel believes that Story is the shortest distance to the human heart.
Great job.
The dark!! I hate it so much. What a fun giveaway, thanks!!
Both sound delicious… ; )
Ooops… my biggest fear is probably open heights. I detest climbing up too high in the bleachers. I start getting dizzy. No fun.
I have a fear of heights. I don’t feel afraid when flying, but put me in a car climbing a mountain road or walk a trail where you can look down quite a ways and my heart pounds!
Mmmm! That box looks delicious! (well, maybe not the ‘box’ but the stuff inside…)
My biggest fear is Failure. I never knew it until recently, but I’ve started to see how often I will not try something or only stick to things I know I’m good at because I am afraid to fail. The only good side to this fear is that, for the most part, I work really hard at the things I do so I don’t fail, but I get so mad at myself when I do poorly at things.
OK, now that the deep part is out of my system – I’m also afraid of creatures that touch me when I’m swimming in lakes or oceans. Oooh, it just gives me the heebie-jeebies to think about it!
Big black ugly hairs growing out of my chin.. or that my eyebrows will grow together and I’ll be too busy with life to notice. Really. When I auditioned for Survivor I said that if I could only bring one thing with me I would bring tweezers.
Even with a cell phone and GPS I’m afraid of driving after dark. Add some rain or unfamiliar road and my anxiety level rises. So far my fear hasn’t kept me from going anywhere I really have to go, but I sometimes I decline invitations because I’ll be on the road after dark. On a long (or short) road trip after dark, I would probably consume that whole dream box of goodies to help ease my anxiety.
I have a fear of heights, as well. During this upcoming Spring/Summer my fiance will be getting me on a plane for the first time. Part of me looks forward to a new adventure, the part of me..is scared and will be doing a lot of praying. All,I have to do is remind myself that GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!
Sorry..it should read “I have a fear of flying, as well”. I have a fear of heights,too.. that with time and patience, is getting better. God bless!
Wow! I’m getting out of the boat. And when I win, I’ll invite you all to my “out of the boat” party.
Jenny: Loved the devo. Was so excited to read you faced your Goliath moment with trust in God! And wow….He did “The Amazing”!!! That is awesome! Rejoicing with you!!! Woooooeeeeeeeee!
Oh yes, flying is one of my not-so-favorite things to do as well. However, going to a writer’s conference (She Speaks) in 2007 got me to take a HUGE step of faith and get on an airplane without hubby. (I got on with a girlfriend!) I still do not like flying, but I do it…..looking unto Him!
Congratulations!
Giving glory to God,
Sharon
Sometimes decisions I need to make can paralyze me–do I?, should I? How do I know for sure? Thanks for the devotional this morning that helps me sort through with the Word and put things in the proper perspective.
My fear is heights. Definitely don’t like traveling on narrow roads with a steep drop.
Congratulations on taking that leap of faith!
I hate flying too. I am constantly praying the whole way until the plane lands.
I too have a dream of becoming a writer. In the past, every time I get started on a new idea, I lose my steam. It is fear of failure. Your story inspired me to trust God and take that leap of faith.
Flying – especially lately with everything going on. Thanks for the chance to win!
I guess my biggest fear is lighthouses. I went up in one has a child and it scared me…a lot. Now I dont go in them and cant look when my family does! weird fear…
my fear comes from self doubt..i know GODS promise of an abundant life and i want it but the fear starts to pop up in the way of what if i fail.then that coupled with procrastination is a for sure recipe for going no where in a hurry.needless to say i’m encouraged by your story!!!thanks for sharing your fears!!!!!!also the basket looks delightful!!!
Thank you for writing this — it has inspired me to let go of my fear; I also plan on sharing this with my husband in case he has a fear he hasn’t been able to let go of. Thank you!
My biggest fear is drowning, specifically in my car, being trapped underwater. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I grew up on a small island and to get anywhere had to travel over several bridges.
My fear is for some reason working out. I have all the necessary commercial-grade equipment in my basement, the Wii fit plus program, and an entire program of diet and exercise from a recent purchase of an info-mercial…but I just dread getting started. And so I don’t! I think maybe I’m afraid that if I suceed, I will have to keep going and it will be hard. And my life already is such a challenge…and yet such a gift. So, I should take my love of life and turn that into the reason to get on that treadmill or punch that “virtual” punching bag, right? Hopefully that will happen! Today would be nice. No, today would be great.
Chocolate can calm any of my fears. I love to read & this is such a cool giveaway. Thanks
I fought breast cancer this summer and am now cancer free. Through that experience I realized again how crucial it was that our children know God – the only reason I made it through. My fear is that I am not doing enough to instill that faith within them.
You have no idea how this message touched me. I have wanted to write a book for what seems like forever. Unfortunately, I have put that ambition aside along with a few others… reading your blog today has stirred up some things I need to bring to the Lord.
Thank you… ; )
Funny how our fears and dreams are often linked closely isn’t it? Thanks for sharing your David moment. The timing is incredible as I am making some big changes to pursue my dream to enter the missions field. My fear is not accomplishing God’s will for my life. I am now seriously craving some sweets and to read more of your humor and encouragement. You are a blessing, write on!
Great devotion. My secret ambition? To write also. My biggest fear? Failure. I am the classic first child overachiever and struggle with finding contentment in my situations and satisfaction in my success. Thanks for the encouragement!
My biggest fear is having to go back to work full time. I love being a stay at home grandma!!!
I was cracking up reading this! So funny, but so true – we all have our fears. But God is so much bigger than any of them!
Thank you for writing this, it was exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the time I needed to hear it! My biggest fear is failing-not just myself but others too. I’ve been agonizing over quiting my job and going for it with a new opportunity that has presented itself. I recently realized the main reason I haven’t quit yet is fear of disappointing my co-workers. Once that thought surfaced, I knew it wasn’t a reason to stay. I’m now inspired to God my complete trust.
I hope I win, I love your writing style and really want to read your book!
my biggest fear is that my kids will wrestle in adulthood because of my mistakes in their childhood
Ooohh, I tend to have big fears. But the crazy part is that I am very faithful to God’s call on my life. In the past two years I’ve gone through several big changes. I wouldn’t have stepped out to do them alone but I knew with God anything is possible!
Thanks for the great giveaway!!!
God’s blessings,
Sarah
My biggest fear is that I will disappoint those that rely on me so much. I can only let that fear go and trust that where I fail them God will not. I embrace Jeremiah 29:11.
Although I’ve gotten much better about facing my fears (but my biggest fear is still not pleasing the people around me), I work with a friend who is really struggling with fear and a lot of insecurities. I appreciate your devotion today, not only for myself, but also for the wisdom that I can use to help my friend. Thank you.
Thank You for for this morning daily devotion! I have alot of fears,but the one that is with me now is rejection and coming out of my comfort zone.
Especially with public speaking with this new business opp. that GOD has showed me.
Thank you so much for that devotion today! Obviously, you couldn’t have known what that meant to me. My husband and I have been praying about a major decision and today is the day… God just used you as confirmation that we are making the correct decision and I will be giving my resignation notice to my job today. This is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. I’m a ‘play-it-safe’ girl. We definitely need the income with my husband being a full-time student (to be in seminary in the fall) and us having 6 children. The new job is commission only and something I never would have pursued on my own! Though we both feel this is God’s direction for our lives; it’s still very scary to step out in faith and quit something so safe for something so uncertain. Once again, thank you for the devotion on fear…I definitely needed that today!
I appreciated your sharing about your fears. I know that fears of my own prevent me from taking certain risks in life. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading your book.
Sounds like there are alot of us out there with numerous fears! I feel like I am similar to you in the fear department-flying, heights, dying, … I don’t dwell on any of them, I DO enjoy life, but I wish I could just let go and live.
Thank you for your humor and your wonderful writing!
Fran
Until reading this…I’d never put much thought into what my fears were. I am in a “comfortable” place…but am going anywhere. Being able to identify what fears are holding me back is no small thing…but it is a start. I’m afraid to let others see the “real” me…I’m afraid to let others see how really disorganized I am and how messy my home really is 99.9% of the time…that I am weak.
I recently went skiing with my children…for the first time in 25 years… and realized then that I AM afraid to ski!
I fear the future…the media makes it all look so bleak which just starts my mind racing with fears for my children’s well- being.
Thanks for the chance to win such a wonderful prize.
Until reading this…I’d never put much thought into what my fears were. I am in a “comfortable” place…but am going anywhere. Being able to identify what fears are holding me back is no small thing…but it is a start. I’m afraid to let others see the “real” me…I’m afraid to let others see how really disorganized I am and how messy my home really is 99.9% of the time…that I am weak.
I recently went skiing with my children…for the first time in 25 years… and realized then that I AM afraid to ski! (heart pounding, dizzy, nauseous fear)
Your notes from flying gave me a much needed laugh this morning. Thank you sooo much!!!
I’d have to say one of my biggest fears is heights. We went on a cruise last fall, and we went rock climbing on the ship. As I’m scaling the wall, I thought to myself, “Why I am I doing this? I don’t like being up high, and I’m climbing a wall on the top of a cruise ship? Not to mention this is really hard!” I couldn’t look out at the ocean. As soon as I got to the top, I rang the bell and scurried back down as quickly as I could!
Kim
This is an awesome read as we all have fears. Ever since I got seriously ill from food contamination (nasty parasite) that has taken 3 years to finally get on the better side of my biggest fear is a fear of dying and leaving my family behind. However God has been gracious,loving and patient with me during this time. My faith has grown, I speak out more about my faith and most days I get the better end of the fear.
Even if I don’t win a copy I will have to get one as this book sounds amazing.
Congratulations & thank God he loves us so much to give us David moments
My fear is that I will not ever get myself into a position of knowing the call of God on my life, and not be able to trust Him enough to accomplish that call in me. Thanks for your devotional – very encouraging!
I am afraid of bees. I don’t like the sound of them, and I do not like the feel of their stingers. I am also slightly allergic, so that scares me too. I am also afraid of being falsely accused – crazy huh?
Your book sounds great! I think I will suggest it for our book club!
Thanks, Sally
We all have our fears, they hold us back from our dreams and from what God wants from us.. Let’s push onward! Looking forward to reading the book!
Wow, I just started writing after 9 years of FEAR and 15 rejection letters.
:)
Thank you so very much for this. I didn’t’ realize how big the FEAR really was. I definitely need this book! Pick me, pick me!
My fears include one of my children getting seriously hurt or dying, or me dying and leaving them behind with no mother. I also have a fear of heights & flying.
I fear becoming comfortable. It’s too easy to “sit back” and enjoy life. I don’t want to wait and see I want to live and see.