Day 8: Unashamed

                                                        Welcome to Day 8: Unashamed

Whew!  Tuesdays are crazy around here. The clock is saying 9:50 p.m., but my mind is saying 2 a.m.! Tonight I am being brave enough to say that anything I try to write will likely be 100% gibberish :). So I leave you with words I heard long ago at a Bible conference.  They often inspire me to be courageous enough to be honest and real. The speaker (a long forgotten face and name, I am afraid) reminded us that as Christians

                                 we have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is just be ourselves and unashamedly live out the life God has                                                                              given us.

Day 7: The Brave Mom

Welcome to Day 7!  You can read the other 31 Days of Brave posts here.

There seem to be two aspects to bravery.  One side of the coin is the courageous endurance called for during times of trial or difficulty; the other side is the idea of bold risk-taking.  In both areas moms are given the chance to model  and cultivate bravery in their sphere of influence. My family stretches me in the area of risk quite often.   

My household is full of artistic and determined thinkers.   They stand at the edge of a drop-off to get the perfect photo, make ridiculously complicated 3-D projects, and determinedly master the skill of walking on a slack line ( even if involves a bit of blood-shed). They have interesting ideas for making money and crazy dreams for their futures. And sometimes they toss 3 point shots at critical moments in  basketball games and or dive for a ball as if it is a matter of life or death. We have the scars to prove it!

I have had to learn to say an enthusiastic "yes!" to saving things like old pizza boxes. I have had to let go of common sense as I have donated roll after roll of scotch tape to creative endeavors. I have had to resist shielding my eyes during basketball games.  I have had to learn that a brave mom does not just  tolerate risk taking opportunities, but celebrates them!  The pay off has been worth it.  Have there been some epic fails?  Yes.  But also the development of character and perseverance. Most importantly, secure young adult are emerging and facing the world  with the knowledge that we are more than our successes. Sometimes only failure can teach these things. And epic moments of beauty and accomplishment?  A few of those have come our way too! 

So, when my husband wanted to paint our kitchen, that hallowed space where I spend most of my time and energy, a bold shade of orange, I said yes. Honestly, it's not very Mrs.T.-like in style. ( I'd pick a nice shade of light blue with simple white curtains, thank you very much!) But I am so proud of it.  It's full of vitality and shouts "unique!" in a cookie-cutter world.  I still walk in there and giggle sometimes. That bold, in-your-face hue reminds me that my home is a place that is nurturing the next generation of BRAVE. 

Day 6: Be Still My Soul

                     
                                   Welcome to Day 6!   You can read the the other posts in this series here .

For your Sabbath Day I am posting the words to the wonderful hymn Be Still My Soul. Courage begins with a quiet, trusting soul and a steadfast confidence in our Heavenly Father.   I love the story of how this song encouraged a brave believer who, in turn, used the words to strengthen others. ( Many years ago, this man's story inspired our own family. Perhaps I will do a future post explaining why!)  According to Cyber Hymnal,

" This hymn was re­port­ed­ly the fav­or­ite of Er­ic Lid­dell, the ath­lete who be­came fa­mous in the 1924 Olym­pics for re­fus­ing to run on the Sab­bath (see the mo­vie Char­i­ots of Fire). Lid­dell lat­er be­came a mis­sion­ary in Chi­na, and was im­pris­oned dur­ing World War II. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the pri­son camp (where he event­u­al­ly died of a brain tu­mor)." 

Be Still My Soul

 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Day 5: Everyday Courage Quote

                                                         
                   Welcome to Day 5!  You can read the rest of the 31 Days of Brave Series here.

Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name. --Robert Louis Stevenson

Day 4: A Beautiful Paradox

                              Welcome to Day 4! You can read the rest of the Brave series right here!

Weekends are busy family times here, so be looking for some of my favorite quotes on courage on Fridays and Saturdays. Below is one of my favorites. Happy Weekend to you all!

 "The strong can not be brave. Only the weak can be brave; and yet again, in practice, only those who can be brave can be trusted, in time of doubt, to be strong.” 
― G.K. Chesterton, Heretics

Day 3: Facing the Unknown

                                   Welcome to Day 3!  You can find the other posts in this series here .

Summer before last I had a few ladies over to my home to discuss Corrie ten Boom's book The Hiding Place. Corrie is such a beautiful example of courage and faithful endurance! One young lady who attended our discussion was the mom of a toddler and twin babies.  Today she is the mom of a preschooler, twin toddlers, and twin babies. Yes! Two sets of twins!! Five beautiful blessings under five years of age!! We never know what the future holds for us, do we?!  Leaving all our unknowns in the hand of our loving Father and living life free from worry is one of the purest manifestations of God-honoring bravery.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

~ Corrie ten Boom 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   ~ Matthew 6:34

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.     ~John 14:27

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.    ~ 1 Peter 5:6-8

Day 2: The Foundation

Welcome to Day 2!  You can find the other posts in the 31 Days of Brave Series here.

Courage is a big topic right now in self-help circles. I haven't read any of the current offerings, but I hear the buzz about them. Books,speakers,blogs... whether their approach is secular or Christian, it's obvious that they have hit a nerve.  Americans feel insecure.  Times are hard. Things are not the way they used to be. We are left with hard, and potentially costly, choices.  There are no guarantees of success. 

 In circumstances that involve difficulty and risk, what enables us to be brave is our foundation. The foundation for bravery can not be itself. The mere concept of " brave", standing alone like a bird on a pole, will quickly become just another idol in our quest for self-improvement. Like all idols, it will fail us in the end, flying away with our strength when least expect it. Our foundation must be found in the truths found in Scripture. If Christians are firmly rooted in who God is and who He says we are in Christ, and if we hold fast to what He says about His plans for us here on earth and in eternity, we will have what we need to courageously endure!

Psalm 18:30    This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Isaiah 41:10     Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Galatians 3:26   For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Hebrews 4:16    Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 1:6   And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7    Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.