Be Courageous

"We were made to be courageous, we were made to lead the way, we could be the generation that finally breaks the chains."  The opening lines of this Casting Crowns song spoke to the depths of who I am.  God made us in His image and set us free because of His unconditional love for us; who are we to abandon His call for us to be courageous?  

Casting Crowns song Courageous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM

We were made to be courageous for His name's sake.  We are called to be His children, to spread His word, and show others His love, and yet, everyday I find this to be a battle within myself.  Christ in me longs to be courageous, to take a stand, to abandon my discouragement, and move forward in His name, but the humanity in side of me pulls so hard in the opposite direction.  Matthew 26:41 states, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Our human desires tell us that doing what the Lord has called us to do might just be too hard or that His plans for us can wait.  


We make excuses saying that other people aren't ready to hear what we have to say, when in actuality, we just are not ready to see how they might respond.  If spreading His love and word were easy, there would be no need for this call to be courageous; but there is a call, and there is a need, because the task at hand may not always be the easiest.  


Some will berate us for our beliefs, many will resist what we have to say, but everyone needs to hear it; it could literally save their life.  It is our duty as Christians to abandon fear, to stand strong, and be courageous knowing that the Lord will use what we have to say according to His plan.  We have to go out on that limb, and take a chance by telling people about Him, about the very thing that means the most to us.  It will be scary at first, but look Who we have on our side, supporting and loving us through it all.  Through Him we can find the courage to share the gospel, and though it might not always go the way we had planned, we must remember that the results are in God's hands.  Do your part, be courageous, and He will surely take it from there. 


Verse:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
~Joshua 1:9


He is with us wherever we go, whether it be out sharing the Gospel or to your next shift at work.  Everything can be used for His glory if we simply stand tall and courageous, living a life clearly made whole by the blood of the Lamb.  Live it out people, its time to put your faith at the forefront of your life; let others in on this God you live for, on this Good News that has saved your life.  The world will be better because of it; be courageous! 

Be Different

Sorry I missed the blog last week, but I was on an amazing mission trip to Chicago with the youth of Grace Lutheran Church.  The trip was a Holy Spirit-led week of service in the name of Christ that changed lives, opened hearts, and deepened relationships with Christ.  It was through this trip that God gave me the words for this week's blog.


As Christians we are called to be set apart, to be different.  This is not to say that we are perfect and don't make mistakes, because we do, but it is to say that we should be striving, yearning, and desiring to better ourselves in the name of Christ.  We should be working each day to become more like Christ and less like ourselves, to have a heart of selfless service rather than selfish greed.  We must make a conscious effort to give our all to God, who gave it all for us.  I realize that this  is yet another one of those things which may be easier said than done, but with God on our sides helping us to achieve this goal, nothing is impossible.  


It is crucial to wake up each day and recognize God for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in your life.  He desires to grow closer to you, and it is only through prayer, and effort through everything that we will be able to achieve these things.  The Christian life is not easy; as a matter of fact, on the mission trip I heard a speaker say that if life is easy and comfortable then Satan has you right where He wants you.  The closer we get to God, the more the devil works to pull us away; if you don't feel that pull, then maybe it is time to consider where you are at in your relationship with Christ.  


Verse: 
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
~Luke 6:27-28


We must strive to be different, to be set apart, to be willing to give it up for God knowing that our reward will far outweigh anything we could experience here on Earth.  Being different is not an attempt at perfection, but rather recognizing our imperfection and realizing our absolute need for a Savior; it is knowing we need His forgiveness, redemption, mercy, and love every step of the way, but acting upon these things in gratitude for what He has given us.  It is being different, acting differently, reacting differently, and loving differently.  We are called to each of these things in His name and His will.  Do these things and others will notice, hear, see, and believe the difference in you, and this could be the difference maker on their views of Christianity, or if they choose to accept Christ.


Be different!


Also, for those of you who haven't seen this video, it is of Kelsey Collins and myself singing Hold Us Together by Matt Maher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsrommjo1_g

One Nation Under God

Today, Independence Day 2011, as we remember all those who have served and are currently serving, and thank them for this freedom they have provided our country, we must also acknowledge our loving Father who is the Giver of all life and freedoms.  He has given us the freedom to live this life the way we choose to; yes, He has the best plan for each of our lives, but He allows us to use our own free will to get there.  From day one, life is a series of choices, decisions, and options that we pick between; some good, some bad, but eventually if we allow Him in, He will lead us to the very best possible life for us.  Before I close this blog with a Psalm I read today, I just want us to keep in the forefront of our minds that little line in the pledge that declares we are a nation under God.  We began this way, and I so long for us to remain that way.  He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and there is none like Him.  We could not ask for a better Ruler to serve than our mighty God!


Here is the Psalm I found to be fitting today (specifically verse 12), and I hope you all do as well!



1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
      it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
 ² Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
      make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
 ³ Sing a new song of praise to him;
      play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
 ⁴ For the word of the Lord holds true,
      and we can trust everything he does.
 ⁵ He loves whatever is just and good;
      the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
 ⁶ The Lord merely spoke,
      and the heavens were created.
   He breathed the word,
      and all the stars were born.
 ⁷ He assigned the sea its boundaries
      and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
 ⁸ Let the whole world fear the Lord,
      and let everyone stand in awe of him.
 ⁹ For when he spoke, the world began!
      It appeared at his command.
 ¹⁰ The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
      and thwarts all their schemes.
 ¹¹ But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
      his intentions can never be shaken.
 ¹² What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
      whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
 ¹³ The Lord looks down from heaven
      and sees the whole human race.
 ¹⁴ From his throne he observes
      all who live on the earth.
 ¹⁵ He made their hearts,
      so he understands everything they do.
 ¹⁶ The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
      nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
 ¹⁷ Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
      for all its strength, it cannot save you.
 ¹⁸ But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
      those who rely on his unfailing love.
 ¹⁹ He rescues them from death
      and keeps them alive in times of famine.
 ²⁰ We put our hope in the Lord.
      He is our help and our shield.
 ²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
      for we trust in his holy name.
 ²² Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
      for our hope is in you alone.
~Psalm 33