Dare to dream. Dare to believe. Dare to discover. Dare to risk. Dare to trust. Dare to be brave. Dare to fail. Dare to succeed. Dare to forge a new path. Dare to do the undone.
Courage
. [L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.
“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.” 1 John 5:4
Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born again, even when he is old?” Jesus responded in a metaphor about the wind. He wasn’t making a statement about weather patterns, but about faith. You can’t see it but you sense it, you feel it, you know it’s there. (John 3:1-21)
I think most of us would agree that Jesus resurrection from the grave bought us victory, right?
Then why do we see so many believers walking around in such defeat?
Can I propose to you that perhaps it is more an issue of faith than a debate about the atonement?
To be born again, we must believe, and that belief is what results in victory. Victory received into our lives is a result of an unshakable resolve to believe the Truth no matter the emotion or the circumstance.
If you have received Christ into your life, the victory is within you. The only weapon the enemy has is to make you think that you are defeated.
The truth is Christ is risen, He has already won and purchased a victorious life for you. Receive it, believe it!
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I rolled out of bed and straight into task mode. Making a to-do list and throwing laundry in the washer moments later. As I rushed around thinking of the homework I need to get done, I suddenly felt so anxious. What is this Lord?
This is my first acknowledgment of Him this am. Hmm… perhaps that is the problem? I wrapped up a couple of tasks and forced myself to sit down and just be still through a worship song. Not long into it, I felt John 15 beckoning. I turned to the familiar passage and quickly realized where my anxiety was coming from.
Last night’s message at church was about fear and worry. I felt convicted of pride and arrogance as I take things into my own hands. Funny how there are some BIG things that we take to God without even thinking twice, yet so many little things I think I can handle. How quickly this mindset leads me to an achey back.
The truth is I can only bear fruit when I remain in Him. I can only do all things through Him who gives me strength. So, taking Him out of the equation equals a fruitless, anxious me.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
This morning I just want to encourage you to dream BIG! So often we think that dreaming big is a selfish path to go down. This is not true at all, for when we are at our best, He is most glorified. Don’t be afraid to step out. Don’t let fear steal from you any longer, but start to take those unknown steps towards your dreams. Perhaps they are His dreams as well.
The more I create artistically, the more I begin to understand the mind of our Creator. When I paint a painting, I want to protect it. I want to display it. I want others to enjoy it. When I write, I want it to touch people deep. I want to affect people through my creations, and I believe that Creator longs for the same.
Reach deep.
How do you want to affect the world around you?
What makes you excited/mad/happy?
What parts of His heart has he burned deep within you?
2010! WE have arrived at a new year and a new decade. A whole new era of pop culture, fashion, music, and much more.
As I enter this new year, I have spent sometime praying asking the Lord what are His intentions in and through this life this year. There is one thing I cannot get away from and it is hope in my heart.
It all started about a week before Christmas. I arrived at my sisters house for Christmas break. I hadn’t seen any family since September. Aubrey, aka the crafter, bounced into her school room and came out with an envelope addressed to “Aunt Anna.” My name is great, same backwards and forwards.
I opened the envelope to find a cluttered piece of art. I mean glitter and confetti is sprinkling everywhere, there are letters all over this 3 demential piece, but one thing jumped out at me. A heart in the very center with the word “hope” written across it.
A couple weeks later I was driving home from the airport, and just felt so much hope in my heart. I couldn’t get that phrase out of my head. I got home and got busy and forgot about it. The next day I was having a quiet time. I looked on the floor next to my desk and saw a rock. It was in the shape of heart. I picked it up and guess what word was written on it? (It was one of my roommates by the way, it didn’t just appear there.:))
So this seems to be my theme for twenty ten!
My 2010 verse is Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
I pray that your heart is also filled with hope for the good things that the Father has for you this year. I pray that He is showing you what to focus on this coming year, and preparing your heart for the future and hope He has for you.
I was reading through Joshua over Christmas break, when a question struck me. Ok, so the Israelites made it to the Promised Land. Phew, now it’s time to kick back in the Land of Milk and Honey, right? Wrong! God tells them to ward of any of the -ites who encroach on the land that He has given them. Now wait a minute God, what’s this about, I asked.
He began to make a parallel for me of what this perhaps represents in our modern world. You see we (or the Israelites) are called to cultivate the land we live in. So thanks to Jesus we in the New Covenant have the opportunity to enter into our own promised land flowing with Living Water. BUT there are giants in this land. Things that sneak in to steal from our Promised Land.
Now I don’t know what your giants are or even what your Promised Land consists of, but I do know that it is worth the fight. If it is freedom, don’t let captivity sneak back in. If it is joy, beware of despair. If it is faith, watch out for fear.
Here’s the encouraging part, the weapons of our kingdom are much stronger than any weapons this world can throw our way. Take heart because..
“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ‘Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.'”
I am supposed to be doing homework, but feel so much more drawn to decorating, organizing, and getting ready for this new year. So this is why the blog is a bit abandoned!
Sorry, I do have thoughts towards 2010 and will share them soon…
Winston Churchill quotes 
Sven Goran Eriksson quote
John Maxwell quotes 
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