courage

Courage

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord!   Psalm 31:24

Someone once asked Charlie Kirk what is the most important value quality to live by. His reply – courage.

He would then explain that without courage, one is paralyzed. Instead of acting in the moment, one freezes. Instead of moving forward as a person, one continues down the path toward immaturity.

With courage, one defeats fear with action. With courage, one precedes to love their enemy rather than fall victim to their abuse. With courage, one faces truth with the willingness to bend. Courage is the backbone that allows all other virtues to shine.

As Christ-followers, we have God’s assurance that HE is always with us (Mt. 28:20). As we lean on the Holy Spirit, we learn to trust HIS counsel. We learn to follow HIS lead. We learn to deny ourself and allow HIS presence be magnified through us.

We learn by living on the foundation of truth. When corrected, we have the courage to change our convictions. We are open to acknowledge we don’t have the answer at times. But we do know who does. HIS name is Jesus. Our courage is built on HIM. HIS faith lives in us and gives us the strength we need in the appropriate time.

Do not fear is a line that God’s messengers kept reminding others when dealing with a difficult situation. Jesus himself stated the same when dealing with truth matters. Instead of being captured by fear’s emotional jailhouse, we need to exercise courage. As children of God, we have the faith of Jesus to help us breakthrough.

Sometimes we just need someone to remind us to take courage into the arena of life. Consider this your reminder.      

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: (* indicates audio version at Apple Books)

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Coward or Conquer

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Revelations 21:7-8

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

One day, we who are thirsty for righteousness will receive Godly satisfaction. HE has promised us eternal life with full honors of membership in HIS family. But until then, we are being trained for leadership as servants of the living God.

The apostle John writes certain behavior is going to be eliminated from the surrounding culture when God reestablishes HIS throne room on earth. I listed these characteristics below compared with their favorable opposite.

                Unacceptable                             Recommended

                Cowardly                                   Courageous

                Faithless                                     Loyal

                Detestable                                  Honorable

                Murderers                                  Life-Givers

                Sexually Immoral                     Sexually Virtuous

                Sorcerers                                  God Supporters

                Idolaters                                  Triune God Worshiper

                Liars                                         Truth Bearers    

The Holy Spirit is now working with Christ-followers preparing them for eternity. In God’s house, HIS family emulates characteristics of their Father. These recommended traits are the outer expression of an inner heart. As God lives in you, HE is working in you and through you as you move through your daily routines.

The more you learn who God IS and allow HIM entrance into your heart and mind, the more you will display HIS characteristics in your life. Question: Who doesn’t want to be more like the most successful, enjoyable, loving Being in the universe? Answer: Only those who haven’t been properly introduced to HIM.

The more you capture HIS vision for humanity, the more enthralled you become with HIS work.

The more you discover HIS vision for you, the more engaged you become with matching your work within HIS mission.

The more you participate with HIS work, the more intrigued you become with serving others for HIS glory.

Your surrounding world becomes a mini Kingdom of God. You rejoice living under HIS favor. You gladly enhance the lives of those around you. You begin to better understand HIS way to govern people. You understand the importance of marriage, family, and community. You learn to balance the value of the individual and society. You slowly take on more responsibility to improve the world around you.

Yes, courage is required to fully live out HIS ways. Society may cancel you. Your unengaged friends will leave you. Your tiny world may even shrink tinier. But God is with you. HE will carry you and support you as you support HIM. HE will direct your steps and bring people into your world to help you march with HIM in HIS work. HE will show you and lead you to become a conqueror.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Appeasing the Crowd

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , , ,

Mark 15:15

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. (ESV)

Do you need courage to stand up against the crowd?

When you know what is right and you give in to the noise and threats of others, you discover your slackness of character. Here Pilate weighed the consequences and found it politically easier to satisfy the crowd’s desire rather than do what is right. Why trouble yourself over one person’s life he may have thought? Don’t the power players teach you to carefully choose your fights? What do I have to gain if I choose to do what is right in this case? (He probably murmured to himself). 

Most likely, many of us have been there where the bully threatens one into submission. Rather than fight for what is right, we roll over and succumb to the more traveled road. Yet in hindsight, we know the best route would have been to stand up and face the evil rather than run from it.

Yes, it takes courage to face our adversaries. When we discover our lack, we shamefully accept the situation without putting up resistance. In the process we also discover a weakness of our humanity and quickly try to cover the matter up rather than expose our shortcomings to the world. The moment of truth has arrived.

Our Triune God knows our weaknesses. If we had the godly character in place, the matter would have been differently handled. But in that moment of truth, we discovered something lacking in ourselves and the real you is exposed.

Life is a learning process preparing you and I for eternity. Moments like this slap us in the face and wake us up to the matter. Either we change or we shall continue to repeat the situation over and over again until the pain becomes unbearable, and our lives become intolerable.

However, when we accept Jesus as Lord, HIS Spirit begins the process of living in you. You slowly take on the characteristics of your Creator. Yes, you were made in the image of God. You were also destined to live life like HE did when he visited planet some 2,000 years ago.

The Holy Spirit wants to fully empower you to reflect the strength and character of Jesus Christ. As you walk along with HIM, you will discover the power of faith, truth, and love. You will become embolden with HIS characteristics. Then one day, you will find yourself in a similar situation and you will boldly stand up to the truth, do what is right, and afterwards marvel at your conduct giving thanks to God. The circumstantial outcome may or may not be the same, but you will be at peace and fully prepared to handle the consequences just like your Teacher, Jesus Christ.

So, if you need courage to stand up against the crowd, you now know where to find it.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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