Courage in a King

Because irony shows up in more ways than one - verbal, dramatic and situational, life requires us to have courage in places we might not think we need it. One man that was greatly affected by this was King George VI.

Have you seen the King's Speech?  It was a wonderfully made movie regarding his struggle with a speech impediment, or more commonly known as studdering.

It made his life incredibly hard and personally embarrassing to even speak to his fellow British countrymen.

Here's a little background story on his life:



Did you know studdering is one of the leading causes of bullying?

Let's stand together and stand up for what we believe in...to live passionately, making certain everyone is treated fairly and equitably, to live courageously, and to love unconditionally.

Are you ready to stand up for what you believe in? Wear it!

Live for God....Literally

Right now, at this very moment, I am sitting in a hospital with WiFi, in the waiting room, waiting for bad news.

A friend is fighting for her life.

Life.

Not because I expect the worst, but the worst has come. I am here because a friend was suffering, and in our humanness, we often do too little too late.

Life.

I've been there. I know. Asking, "Why?" Better yet, it usually sounds something like this; "Why me?" There are many times in my life when life seemed so unfair.

Life. What does it mean to you? Is it precious? Is it transient? Is it something you hold so valuable, that you live full out every day with everything you have in you that you make others WANT to live?

Right now, my friend is going to die within a few minutes because....she had a broken heart, a hard life, and while she loved God, and God loves her, this isn't enough. Why? We continually put ourselves in a place of pain, in that we cling to other humans, those that cannot possibly help us, or love us for who we are nearly enough.

Yet we rely on them so much, and although we keep experiencing the pain, we still reach out for human help. God is the I AM, not a WILL BE. He said that He is the I AM that I AM. There is no negotiating that, but when the stuff of life happens, and you see friend connected to multiple wires, as the result of a drug overdose, what does it all mean?

Humans are NEVER enough, nor could they EVER be enough. God has the most amazing plan for you.

The Why

The first question we ask as humans, that is nearly a mental prompting, is "Why?" It seems that we can NEVER escape "Why" ever. 

We want to know, why WE have pain. We don't think about others, it automatically turns inward. This is why is it SO important that we go to God first. It has been said that it takes courage to come to someone and tell them what is happening when it's a deep and painful issue. 

I know that it is, I have been there. However, it is more courageous to just skip the human beings and reach out to God, the Almighty Powerful One. I am not saying, don't get help. 

There is nothing wrong with getting counseling, but you have to be careful with that too. Not everyone you talk to will give you wise or Godly counsel. Let me share with you what I mean. 

When my parents split, they were separated for a year, and I had absolutely no closure. To top it off, it was my Senior year in high school,  I was working with the Youth Minister from my church because I had no one I could talk to. I was in a tough place, and I just kept burying my pain, and as for my closest circle of friends, their parents were all still married. 

When I sought help, (at that age you better believe good counseling is wise), his words to me were: "Look, I'm very busy right now, and I talk to people like you all day long. So, if you want to kill yourself, go ahead, and take a pencil and shove it into that vein in your wrist and let it bleed. Okay?" 

Not a real man of the cloth in my opinion, but humans aren't really capable of giving the answer that they should because most of the time, they just say, "Awww it''s okay", or "Let's have a party to forget about it." I don't think so.

God's Word is clear, and the great news is that He has given us NOT the Spirit of Fear, but of a sound mind. What could be better than that?  (2  Timothy 1:7)

There isn't one thing I can think of. I don't know that humans are even capable of a true, deeper love, that is without merit. It's so hard to find, and in all reality, humans are always giving expecting something in return. Just once, I would love to see a person pour out so much love on another, that the person is just changed by it. 

God sent His Son to die for us, pouring His blood out to save us, and if that isn't love, I don't know what is. God gives life, so we don't have to give up ours, for any reason. Turn to God first, pray, and talk to Him the same way you talk to your friends. 

If you talk to someone, seek Godly wisdom and Counsel. What God has to offer you is so much better than what any human could ever offer. 

Live Courageously....

PS-Need someone to talk to? You can CONTACT US! 

Moses, a Courageous Leader

Moses was no doubt a courageous leader, and above all, he stood for what was right no matter what.

When God asked him to do things that didn't  make sense, he did them anyhow. When God told him to talk to people, he did and didn't ask WHY.

Moses was one of the few that God directed to lead, and despite the climate, he followed through.

So, why is it that although he led the Israelites, they still didn't  listen? Why didn't they do what he asked them to do?

Moses had a life worth studying, and he is a great example of what we should be today, whether God is leading us to or away from something. Let's talk about your possible path across the Red Sea.

God Calls Each of Us to be a Courageous Leader 

There is no doubt that each of us has a gift, a true calling, a high calling  at best. It's always a high calling when God is involved. While some may disagree, it's always about what we measure against  God's Word, and nothing less. 

Moses was courageous, not always because he led the people of Israel  into territory they had to fight for, but because Moses did what God asked him to, even if he believed he wasn't equipped. At one point Moses told God that he wasn't an eloquent speaker, and his brother Aaron was to go to the Pharoah and ask that the people be freed. 

He did, but it would have been a more powerful story in our minds had Moses just asked God for the words to say. Right? In our humanness, we forget that God doesn't need our help, nor does he need for us to lean on other human beings. 

God sends us those that he knows will be strong for us, prayer partners and more. God is interested inn our ability to stand in faith, and not feel that we have to be alone in any battle or journey we face. Did you know that you have no reason to fear? 

What is your Red Sea that you MUST cross? 

While it may seem as though there is no light at the end of the tunnel, there really is. All you need to do is step out on faith, Even if you feel as though there is only just enough light for the step you are on! 

When you have fear, get courage, and then you will know that it's time for you to FEAR NOT.

Live courageously!

Abraham Lincoln a Courageous Man

As we look at profiles of courageous leaders, it's no surprise that Abraham Lincoln would be at the top of the list. Lincoln is known as a leader for many different reasons, and he has no doubt been the topic of conversation this past year as the movie that came out was all the rage about Lincoln and his life.

When the movie starts out, it hits home what he was all about, and when talking with the African American soldiers, he knew that he still stood behind abolishing slavery no matter what. Why? Because the men he spoke to were just like you and me, and they were fighting just the same as white men.

It took courage to stand up for what he believed in, and make no mistake that what he believed was on target with our God stands for and created us for. To help our fellow man, and to live life courageously.

Abraham Lincoln Among Courageous Leaders of All Time 

While Abraham Lincoln was courageous for taking a stand against slavery, for what other reasons was he considered a courageous leader? 

Lincoln was a family man, and was dedicated to having his young son around almost all of the time, even when he was out and about trying to find more men to side with him against slavery. He read as many books as he could so that he could learn. 

He begged his mother for books to read because he grew up poor, and at that time he was believed to be among those that wouldn't get opportunities like the other children. 

No matter what happened, nothing seemed to phase Lincoln, and as a result of determination to learn and read, he was becoming more educated by the minute. If you have never seen his list of failures until he got to where he wanted to be, then now would be a great time to take a look at it. 

List of Failures of Abraham Lincoln

List of Lincoln's failures

A common list of the failures of Abraham Lincoln (along with a few successes) is:

1831 - Lost his job

1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature

1833 - Failed in business

1834 - Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)

1835 - Sweetheart died

1836 - Had nervous breakdown

1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker

1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress

1846 - Elected to Congress (success)

1848 - Lost re-nomination

1849 - Rejected for land officer position

1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate

1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President

1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate

1860 - Elected President (success)

Now that you have read this list, how does it make you see things differently? The truth is, "Abraham Lincoln" is one of the best examples you could ever follow. Make it a point to study the folks that we are talking about to have a solid idea of how to pattern your life. 

Be proud of the fact that you wish to live courageously, and let others know by wearing it too! Be sure to check back for the next profile of courageous leaders, and CLICK HERE to learn how you can wear your courage today!