Riding In Courage

 

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

As a young girl I enjoyed riding my bike.  It was beige 10-Speed bike I got for Christmas. This bike changed how I traveled and how fast I could get to places.  One of my favorite places to ride was the neighborhood store.

I remember dogs running after cars and kids on bikes. I was afraid at times to go to the store. I never knew at what moment I would pass a dog that just broke its chain or just some stray dog roaming. After my mother made  several calls to the local Police, the stray dogs were removed and the homeowners began to chain their dogs.

Yet, I was still fearful. I hated when my mother would send me to the store anticipating a dog running behind my bike. I would go months and not see a stray dog, yet the possibility alone made me change my course.

One day, we were giving permission to ride our bikes a little further into the neighborhood and I was met with more children on bikes. I wasn’t  aware that our neighborhood extended as far as it did. Now decades from that time, I still have rich friendships from my neighborhood friends.

I was limited by my fear. I became comfortable and felt “safe” just hanging around on my street. There were new and exciting challenges and relationships beyond my fear. I just had to ride pass the fear.

And so is life sometimes…..We have to ride by the fear. Fact. You cannot have a positive and negative thought at the same time. So if you are entertaining thoughts of fear, you aren’t thinking about courage AT THE SAME TIME.

So on purpose……and once and for all…..stop walking in fear and ride in courage. Once I decided to ride in courage, I learned the dogs at the end of the street were no longer there. The dog at the other end was  placed in a gated fence. But who knows how long that was the case.

I am stepping out in courage and embarking on a journey of 31 Days of Faith Art Journaling. I would love for you to come along. You will certainly be blessed. Go on! It’ll be fun. I am bursting at the seams to be able to share this journey. I am over-flowing in peace because journaling has helped in my conversation with my Lord and Savior. It will do the same for you. Yes, fear has raised its ugly head. But I recognize that my God is bigger than my fear. So, I acknowledge my anxiety about doing something new and different , and I Ride In Courage anyway!

Join me here……31 Days Of Faith Art Journaling

 

May God Bless and Keep You

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. I desire to honor you with my words  and my actions. I need more of You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Courage to Make a Change

Do not be afraid of the enemy; remember the Lord and imprint Him(on your minds), great and terrible, and (take from Him courage to)fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. Nehemiah 4:14




This month promises to be filled with challenges that are designed to help me grow as a person, emotionally, physically, spiritually. I have decided to simply do something different. We all have been at a cross road where we had to make that very decision. The decision comes sometimes while going through a crisis and at times when there is silence. Either way, decisions made at cross roads are important. We can chose to turn right, left, go back or stand in fear and simply not move. We can chose to travel the road alone, pick up someone alone the way, drop some folk off or go back and dip in our past.

I am blessed because the Lord is the answer of prayers. And he is equipping me with the courage to do what I need to do so that I can be used even more in the building of the Kingdom. I know this because the distractions of the week have confirmed I am on the right track.

*Health issues, more appointments no answers

*School started, no books

*Love one, family members preparing for the worst

Yet I recognize all of these as blessings from God reminding me He is still in control and that He is still my source! My heart is racing and my soul is stirring at such a wonderful revelation! Thank you , God!

Saying “Yes” to something is always saying “No” to something else. And often letting go doesn’t mean grabbing something else. It means just that…Let Go.

When I envision my life, I can see me digging and drilling for the gold of peace and forgiveness. The hardness of the mountains and caves wore me down. Finally, I was able to see the gold. But I couldn’t touch it. Its glow was so radiant. Yet I couldn’t reach it. None of the tools I had could get me pass this point. Stuck, but still searching, I soon realized I was wasting too much time and energy on something only God can do. So, God told me to “Let go of the tools I have been using.” I submitted...I need God!

That is a simple instruction. Yet, sometimes I wasn’t obedient. My impulsive decisions many times don’t bring good results. I have learned to go to God in prayer about decisions in my life. I don’t get this right every time, but I have certainly changed over the years. Most times I know the right thing to do. I just need courage to do it. That’s where I am.

I read this passage from 101 Faith Notes by Pauline Creeden.

Is your problem bigger than the Earth, or more impossible to break than the creation of it? If God is powerful enough to create the heavens and the earth, isn’t He powerful enough to help you overcome your sin?


Sometimes change can be scary. But I have faith in God that he will carry me through this process. I am already praising Him in advance.



Prayer Dear Lord some mountains seem so high. I am not asking you to take the mountain away, though. I am asking you to help me to climb this mountain. I am asking for strength and courage to do the right thing. I am praying for direction when I am lost. I am leaning on you Lord to lead and guide me every step of the way. Amen