Courage for Christ

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

 

The definition of courage is a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear. The first thing that jumps out at me from that definition is "without showing fear." The bible is a little more specific. Let's not just not show fear, but let's get rid of ALL fear:

 

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control."

2 Timothy 1:7

 

When I hear the words, "Courage for Christ" I immediately think of persecution. That is diffidently a situation where you would need courage for Christ. But lately, the Lord has shown me something. He said, "My courage is not just for them, its for you." I find myself in situations where I don't know what to do. I hear the Lord's voice. I know when I am in a place or situation where I'm not supposed to be. I hear God speak, I'm supposed to obey. Obedience is the key to living out your faith. It takes courage. For example: God says, go pray for that person. But God... In all situations (or at least the ones I have been in) all my reasons to not do what God is telling me to do are all excuses. The root of my excuses is fear.

Another thing I think about when I hear those words is the passage in Ephesians about The Armor of God:

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Ephesians 6:10-18

 

This passage is so packed with truth! But my most favorite part it the part where it says, "after you have done everything, to stand." That is a true picture of courage to me. To stand no matter what. God's courage is not temporary. Then the first verse that I put in this post says to stand firm in the faith. So when there is nothing else you can do, when all hope seems lost, you stand, in faith.

 

When you are reading the first verse (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) you are probably getting the picture of this mighty warrior for the Lord. He is always on guard, standing firm in faith, having courage, being strong, and then at the very end of this verse it says do everything in love. We can't overlook this part. It is very important. All throughout the bible we see God's love on his people, and then we see that love reflecting off of his people onto others. Put on love. It is a very important thing. Love your enemy. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love God. Love others more than yourself. The list goes on and on and on. It may seem overwhelming at times, but when it gets overwhelming we remember that God loved us through all the confusion, through all the pain and all the hurt. No matter what, he loved us.

 

Today have:

Courage for Christ

Hit the ground running...

  We are all going through something. We are all going through different seasons. The Lord brings us through all different seasons. Our faith is tested, but Jesus never lets go. No matter how many mistakes we make. No matter what we are going through, he is always faithful. Something that is so beautiful about Christianity is that Jesus never disappoints. I mean, really, think about it. When has Jesus ever broken His promises to you? My answer is never. Not once. Now, He never ever said that is would be easy. He never said we wouldn't have troubles. He actually said we would go through trails. But He promises that HE is worth it! This season I am going through is well... how do I explain it... bittersweet. It has been such a time of seeing. Seeing His miracles, seeing His promises come true, seeing Him work. It has been a time of hearing. Hearing His voice speak, hearing direction from Him. Then also we have had small trials. Just little things here and there that the enemy tries to distract us with. Also maybe a few big blows here and there. But The Lord has promised- this is a season of Joy! After a bigger blow the Lord has shown me something. The main verse that He has shown me this is Hebrews 12:1-2. It is talking about throwing off everything that hinders, and just running the race Christ has for you. He started to put this verse on my heart a couple of months ago, but it is now starting to take shape. God spoke through a really close friend of mine in a mighty way. We were just talking about the situations that we personally have been going through. Basically what she said was this: "Don't look back, just run." We may go through hard things, but God is always there. Helping us, loving us, encouraging us. He is crying the same tears that we are crying. His heart hurts for the same things our does. Why? Because we are His children. But one of the specific things was, we don't need to sit in the ashes. Because God will bring beauty from the ashes we don't have to worry. But we also can't just mope around. Feeling sorry for our selves. No. We have to get up and run the race he has for us. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. But how can he perfect it if we are just sitting around? No. He gives us a hug and then sets us back on our feet and says "RUN!" Then Satin likes to put something on the side of the road. Something shiny, something that will get our attention. But NO! Keep RUNNING! He says "Don't look back. I hold your past in my hands, but I also hold your future. RUN!" He is showing us all this amazing stuff! We have to keep running towards that stuff. Not looking at the distractions the enemy puts in place. No. Look straight ahead. I will set my face like flint towards HIM! (Isaiah 50:7) We won't look back like Lot's wife and be turned into a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26) (YIKES!) NO! We will throw off everything that hinders. EVERYTHING! Not just some things here and there, EVERYTHING! And we will run the race Christ has for us...

   "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"
Hebrews 12:1-2

We will hold unswervingly to HIM! Because HE is faithful...

  "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23

 God tells us to live by faith. Who do you see living by faith?... not many people, right. As we see all along in the bible the Israelites did not obey God very much. They had disbelief, they didn't live by faith, but they lived with fear. What did that result in? If they didn't believe, they didn't see, because they believed by their sight. For example take the promise land. So many had disbelief, and what was the result? Their generation did not get in the promise land. God still promised it to their people, and he still gave it to them, but he gave it to the next generation because of the disobedience and disbelief of that generation. But what if we did live by faith? What would happen then...

I will step forward and receive the promise!

I will hit the ground running. Running towards HIM and HIS promises. Never looking back.

Don't look back, just run!

Memorial Box Monday: Memories

I personaly love memories! Isn't that what Memorial Box Monday is about? Looking back at all the memories we have, looking back on the GOD memories. If you have read my blog for a while, you will probably remeber we moved in July, so this last weekend, we went back to help our old neighbors move. These neighbors are truly like family to us, and their story of faith is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! So, as I went down to the pond, and the tree house, and our fort one last time, I remembed all the shared MEMORIES. I think back to all the hours spent there, all the memories made there. Looking back on the MEMORIES today...

"Normal"

Wow, is all I can say. Our last few weeks have been challenging. God is truly testing our faith. It sometimes seems that we are getting nothing done with home school. We were having a particular hard day when I was in my parents room trying to calm down and control my thoughts when I said out loud, "God, why can't I just be "normal" and go to public school like other kids?" Then I turned around and looked at the reflection of me in my parents mirror, and laughed. How many times had I asked God to make me not "normal," not like the other people around me. How many times have I told others that we do not need to be like other people, we are God's servants. We are aliens to this world. Not the "normal" ones. I asked God a few weeks ago, "test me Lord", and he is testing me. We so have to remember not to confirm to the patterns of this world. To be different, not "normal." It says in James that part on true religion is to not confirm to the patterns of this world. It says many times in the bible that we are aliens to this world. We are God's faithful servants, and servants are humble. Being tested in my faith in this season of my life! Remembering to not be "normal."

2012 Study

One year, four different seasons, four different topics, one bible, different translations, one truth, one true God, one goal.

Love ~ Winter

Joy ~ Spring

Faith ~ Summer

Obedience ~ Fall

David
David had great Love for his people, he would weep when his enemy's died, David had Joy, expressed by his dancing and writing of Psalms, David's Faith was not shaken when he fought against a giant, David obeyed the Lord, he had obedience, when the prophets told him the word God sent to David through them and he did his best to listen and obey.

The Goal
To study about these topics and put it to action in our lives.



I encourage you to do your own study with the Lord, discipline yourself to do that, journal about it, and put it to action in your own lives. Let's make 2012 a Godly year, the answer to doing that? Read your bible, and obey God!

Memorial Box Monday: Faith for a Friend

This is a story of faith and friendship, which only God can do


In 2007 we moved back to a little town in the south, where only almighty God would lead us back to. I remeber being lonley, and girl of 8, just moved into a big house which seemed empty. Preparing to go to a new school (we did not homeschool at the time). I was looking out a window in the dining room, watching the big yellow school drop off a girl about my age. A gleam of hope was in my heart. Maybe a friend...

For the next week I would rush to my bed room window to see the girl get off and walk home. One day I was doing just this when my Dad whispered behind me, "Why don't you go talk to her." I was lonley for a friend, as I had left mine behind, and sweet friends they still are. (I was just texting with one today)! How many days had it been since I had seen them? It seemed like years, when it was not yet a month.

So the first day of school came. I was starting in the middle of the year. So nautraly I would be nervous to start a new school, but even more so in the middle of the year. A couple days before I had met the school couseler, and my teacher, Mrs.Barker. One of our life long friends taught in teh same grade at the school, so it was comforting to have her near.

After lunch we drove to the school, Mrs.Barker led me down the hall to the music room, where the class was just finishing up. The class walked out of the room in a single file line, and one of the boys said, "hey is this the new girl you were telling us about?" I blushed and walked behind Mrs.Barker back to the class room. I got on pretty well.

Allot of nights I would cry for a friend. Mom and Dad would comfort me. I got to know my neighbor, and the other neighbor boy who I considered annoying at the time (sorry Sam). Now he is a very good friend.

The neighbor girl, well I'm just tell the short story. She hurt me very badly for breaking the forming friendship, and teasing, and other things I am not going to share. She was not the friend God intended for me. I have forgiven her, though it was very hard.

About a year later, after starting to homeschool after a not so good first few months in the third grade. I was still crying for a friend. Mom whispered, "pray." Dad whispered, "pray." God whispered, "pray."

So I started praying, and sure enough, two very dear friends, yes TWO, not one but TWO very, very dear friends came along. And our friendship is still strong today. They are christian girls, sisters. Hannah and Grace. My Mom invited the girls and there family to lunch one day and it went from there! I had faith that God would bring me friends. I had too, or I wouldn't of meant my prayers. My Mom and Dad had faith, and God was FAITHFUL!!!

Love you two! And all you:
Emily, Ellie, Sam, The Pauls, The Tuckers, and more...

We had Faith, and God was FAITHFUL!!!