COURAGEOUS CHARACTER - 2.26

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Teddy Roosevelt.

My good friend and Xenia Board of Education VP Arch Grieve shared that little quote as the foundation for his remarks at my son Ian’s induction into the National Junior Honor Society last night.

Not sure if you are familiar with the criteria to be a member but they ask from its individuals academic achievement, Citizenship, leadership, service and CHARACTER.

And while Ian is a “character” most days, I found that little quote from Teddy and Arch a wonderful challenge to examine OUR CHARACTER this morning.

Are we critics or combatants?
Do we dare to fail or fail to dare?
Are we willing to serve in the arena we have been called to as CHRISTIANS or too timid to try?

Realize that GOD asks us to demonstrate HIS character in our arena of life and that is not one that is timid or fearful but BOLD and COURAGEOUS for HE is WITH US!
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

And friends it is the CHARACTER of CHRIST that we are to boldly emulate everyday!

JESUS was love personified. Therefore we should love.
JESUS was peace personified. Therefore we should be peacekeepers and makers.
JESUS spoke TRUTH. We should strive for the same.
JESUS was ALL IN every day. We should be as well!
Romans 8:15-17 (MSG)
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!

So embrace CHRIST’S CHARACTER today!
Step into the ARENA. Be BOLD!
DARE!
EXPERIENCE the ADVENTURE!
GOD is with you!

You won’t regret it!

I love you all!
Freedom Church