ENCOURAGED

ENCOURAGED

THE MIDAS TOUCH – EVERYTHING TURNS TO CASH

THE MANURE TOUCH – EVERYTHING TURNS TO COMPOST

“I’ve learned one thing 'for sure' in the last four and a half decades: He/she

who tries the most stuff wins.  Hence, there is nothing more

important in business success than a try-it-culture.”  

                                                                 Tom Peters

“What would life be like if we had no courage to attempt anything.” Vincent van Gogh (Dutch Painter)

“Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount.” Clare Boothe Luce

“Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees the others.” Winston Churchill

“If everything seems under control you’re just not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti

“Courage is going from failure to failure without loosing enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord.” Psalms 31:24

I. WHAT I’M TO DO – “Be of God courage” – my part

II. WHY I’M TO DO IT – “He will strengthen your heart” – God’s part

III. HOW I’M TO DO IT – “all you that hope in the Lord”

I. WHAT I’M TO DO – “Be of good courage” – MY PART!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you.” Joshua 1:9

“But be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses,...” Joshua 23:6

“And they helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, ‘Be of good courage.’” Isaiah 41:6

“Courage without conscience is a wild Beast.” Robert Ingersoll

“Be of good courage”

• Courage is an attitude I feed

• Courage is a gift I’ve got

• Courage is a grace I get

• Courage is a choice I make

Our fullest participation in life demands courage!

Courage seizes the reality that life is a time-limited gift that is given to you and factors that reality into every

decision that is made.

BE DO

Who you are What you do

Both are importantDeepen the learning.

Forward the action

Why is courage called for?

1.Life is not complicated. It is difficult but it is not complicated.

2. Life is a trip and an adventure

3. We live with the voice of our inner critic, our saboteur, resistance.

THE LIFE WE LIVE

THE UNLIVED LIFE

RESISTANCE

II. WHY I’M TO DO IT – “He shall strengthen your heart” GOD’S PART!

Courage will move you into the zone where you are desperately dependant upon God.

Promise – He shallProvision – strengthenPartnership – He…yourProfitable - heart

III. HOW I’M GOING TO DO IT – “all you who hope in the Lord”

The canopy of courage over our life is held up by two pillars

1. GOD who strengthens

2. HUMANS who hope in the Lord.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you restless, agitated, worried sick? Hope in God.” Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5

“My soul shall rest in hope.” Psalms 16:9

“But I will hope continually, and will praise you more and more.” Psalms 71:14

“I hope in Your Word.” Psalms. 119:114

“I hope in Your salvation.” Psalms. 119:116

“For he who is joined to all the living there is hope..” Ecclesiastes 9:4

“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.” Zechariah 9:12

• SAVED FROM….

• SAVED FOR ….

GOD’S CALL FOR COURAGE MOVE US FROM MILD TO WILD!

Without courage life is an endless series of Ground Hog days!

Jesus didn’t send us into the worldso we can be safe, but so we can

be brave.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

ARE YOU IN THE PAUSE BOX BECAUSE

YOUR LIFE IS NOT COMPLICATED

BUT IT IS DIFFICULT?

ARE YOU GOING ON THE TRIP

BUT

MISSING THE ADVENTURE?

ARE YOU SETTLING FOR YOUR STATUS QUO BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGE OF YOUR

SABOTEUR, THE ARGUMENTSYOUR INNER CRITIC, OR THE

PUSHBACK FROM YOUR VOICE OF RESISTANCE?

• Courage is what is called for!

• Being courageous is what you’ll never regret!

• Life shrink or expands in proportion to ones courage!

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying:“I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher

“Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Psalms 31:24