The word for me this year is courage.  I think of the lion, and the tin man.  I have had words in the past.  The truth is courage is at the level I am at in life.  Some may say just have faith and courage in what you are doing.  The key is most of us are at different levels in life.  The level I find myself at requires a lot of extra courage for me.

I believe as a Pastor in faith, healing, and God’s Word. It is easy to say we believe but harder to live out that at times.  When we are faced with the challenges in life they come at our level.  The next 12 months will be the greatest exercise of faith to this date of my life.

We have started to expand our ministry efforts in many ways.

We are expanding our businesses as well.

We are making life changing decisions.

These all come with risk, reward, and it takes courage.

We are almost done with making our vision board.  I know there is nothing impossible with God but often we see through our own faults.  It is Christ living through us this year that will allow us to accomplish these tasks.  We cannot due it alone that is why it takes courage to know that whatever the risk the reward of following God’s plan and purpose for our lives is worth it.

Just the hope of being able to help another person know Christ, know how priceless they are, and their purpose is worth it all.  I pray that in all we do we can have an impact in a positive way on the lives of others.  When life if done for me here on earth I want to leave behind a legacy of hope.  It all takes courage.

God told Joshua:

Joshua 1:9(NIV)

⁹ 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.”

I am reminder to be courageous and strong God is with me..

 

It can be hard in our world today to be truthful.  It is so easy to tell little white lies and feel it will hurt no one.  In the new Book coming I wrote: Perry the Wise Owl I deal with this issue for children and parents.  Character and integrity seem to be a thing of the past for so many in the world today.  Those in positions of authority often tell half truths as if it does not matter.

When we see these things our children I believe suffer the most.  Yes, the reputation of the person doing it is damaged for them in some circles.  There is a circle of people, a culture if you will that does not have a problem doing whatever it takes to get what they want.  The problem is we teach our children some bad attitudes and values.

There are consequence to our actions.  These people who are willing to do whatever it takes and dismiss everyday common values of our culture and country they are hurting their future.  What are the values we were founded on as a country?  Let’s see it was the 10 commandments, the values throughout of Declaration of Independence, and even looking toward Martin Luther king’s speech.  We do have a dream to live together in peace, all races, and people in our country.

Yes, there are more values like the Christian heritage of our country.  It is in our homes that we begin change toward a better future of tomorrow.  It is in teaching our children good values and principles to live by and being that example.  Do we ever mess up? Of course, that is how they see strength when we admit our mistakes.  They see real people living out these principles in life then they will have a stronger foundation.  When dad’s raise up and be fathers.  When moms be mothers, and when we all help each other.  We are stronger untied as a country but we can never forget where we came from.

Sometimes we need to slow down and spent quality time with our children, our families, our friends, and our neighbors. I look back at all my mistakes, I am thankful for God’s grace.  I pray that we as a country and families work together united with common goals to make our country like no other, make it great.

Can we be a country of truth?

Can we be united, even though we always do not agree on everything?

Can America become even greater?

Can we return to the values we were founded on or should we continue to allow dishonest people in position of power?

One of the worst examples I can think of right now is some who are powerful in our media but do not spread truth but lies, and more lies.  I pray they will have the courage to make changes and become people of integrity again.

There still remains a foundation of absolute truth in our world even when there are those who deny it.