I just returned from a three-day trip with my family to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where we lived for six years. It was a break my husband and I both needed. We visited with friends and former co-workers, attended Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, swam in the hotel pool, and had some very chilly picnics.
While I was away, the Catholic Writers Guild awarded Trusting God with St. Therese their Seal of Approval. So I plan to begin pitching my book to Catholic bookstores now as well.
If you own a bookstore or know someone who does, please contact me. I would love to make my book more widely available to readers who may not spend much time on the internet.
From Fear to Faith
Now, let me tell you about an excellent book I just finished reading, From Fear to Faith: A Worrier’s Guide to Discovering Peace by Gary Zimak. Gary writes for people who may not have had a very deep faith-life in the past. Writing in a folksy tone, he emphasizes that having a personal relationship with Jesus and His mother Mary is the key to overcoming your fears.
In this book, Gary teaches readers the difference between worrying and prudential preparation, how fear “gives us the opportunity to invite Jesus more deeply into our hearts,” and the meaning of the fear of the Lord. He uses down-to-earth examples from his life, as well as numerous stories from the Gospels to illustrate his points. Here is one of my favorite sections:
Do you sometimes feel unworthy to grow close to Jesus because you’re too much of a sinner? Are you discouraged because of your weak faith? Do you believe that it’s impossible to have a close personal relationship with Him because you’re not good enough? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, Jesus’ words ['Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do...'] should be very comforting to you. He wants to have a personal relationship with the unworthy, the weak and the sinners (that’s all of us!).”
Gary uses the story of the Wedding at Cana to show how Mary watches out for her children. She anticipates our needs, leading us away from fear and towards more perfect faith. “She knows how to find Jesus, even when we don’t.”
Besides a summary of the main points and questions for reflection, each chapter ends with a prayer. Even though I have been on a journey of trust for a couple of years now, I found myself sincerely praying many of these, as I look for God to lead me ever closer to Him.
From Fear to Faith is a quick and easy read. With Christmas coming up, is there anyone on your list who needs to hear more about God’s trustworthiness, but is not ready for the depth of Trusting God with St. Therese? Do you have a teenager who is a worry-wart? A co-worker who goes to Church on Sunday, but has yet to embrace the Gospel in a more meaningful way? Or perhaps you tried reading Trusting God and found it just too much at this point in your life. From Fear to Faith is an excellent tool for not only overcoming worries, but also for learning to live each day with and for Christ.
Gary Zimak is the host of Following the Truth on BlogTalkRadio. You can discover more about Gary, his apostolate and his books, at Followingthetruth.com.
Connie Rossini
The post From Fear to Faith by Gary Zimak appeared first on Contemplative Homeschool.
