I sat by my window. It was a trial this summer with many days in distress and concern. I would love to tell you I handled it so spiritually but at times that is not the case. I cried. I prayed. I talked to the whole tribe of medical people but of course the most important thing is that I went to the Lord and God’s Word.

My heart was longing to have courage but I really wasn’t sure what Courage looks like. So, to the Bible I went. Then I went to prayer. I told God I don’t really know what courage means and asked him to help me some.

In the many weeks I was housebound I began to read about men and women in the Bible who took had Courage and as I read I realized that none of these people had courage of their own. They had Courage WITH them. Courage is not only a verb but it is also one of the very definitions of God himself. Courage much like grace, mercy, and love are not earned they are GIVEN and who is the giver of all thing? God of course, through Jesus!

People who have Godly Courage have it because the Holy One saw fit to send His Son to be born, live, die, and rise again, and then send His very on Spirit to live in us and give Holy gifts!. Courage is God’s gift to us as His children.

Oh, don’t get the idea that Courage is not especially beautiful. This gift might be torn and tattered. It might be beaten and bleeding. It might be weeping until dawn. Courage is the opposite of Fear. Fear is never a gift from God. He does not give fear. Fear tells you God is NOT with you. Fear says you are weak and frail and alone.

I sit by my window. I am gaining my strength as summer is drifting away with a thunder in the heavens.

I sit by my widow. God’s presence abides as faithful and as sweet as ever and I have found his gift of Courage.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

I used to make promises lightly.
I used to lie to my very own soul.
A soup of flesh and bones.
When all those promises ravaged me you were the only one I told.
Back then I had to bleed to feel.
Yet my own blood could not save me.
It is only by the blood of Jesus Christ that you my Father gave me.

I would rather walk through this world now like a horse with blinders on.

I am skittish  or am I angry? Either way  I can no longer abide without speaking.

I detest the culture that is so invasive and ravages souls.

I detest the bullies, the political vomit, the religious misinformation being preached.

I hear with my eyes shut the cries of our young screaming out in terrifying confusion.

I hear the elderly silenced of their vast contribution of wisdom.

I hear with my eyes shut the deafening bombs of war, abortion  and other useless dying.

Evil, greed, jealousy, envy, bitter, joy, peace, kindness, entitlement, shame, lies, prosperity, poverty, mentally ill, diseased, disrespect,  fitness, news media, hollywood, sexual violence, addiction, self  righteousness, murder, sodomy, rape, divorce, scammers, hackers, government intrusions, book banning, history, gossip, lynching, canceled, abortion, pollution, domestic violence, sex traffic, degrading others, lack of productivity, drugs of choice rampant, man bashing, body bashing, gay, straight, conspiracy theories, censorship, thinking your kid is better, judging when you know nothing about the person…

You may say I am overreacting but I disagree…But here I leave you with Truth.

 

“We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.…”  2 Corinthians 4:9 

Jesus said, …” I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father…and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [b]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33