It takes a lot of courage.

Thought for the day

A businessman boards an airplane to find that his neighbor in first class is a parrot. They take off and the stewardess asks what they would like to drink. "I'll have a Coke," says the parrot. The businessman also orders a Coke. After waiting two or three minutes, the bird starts yelling, "Where's my drink?! Stop fooling around and give me my drink!"

The stewardess runs to him with his glass, leaving the businessman still thirsty. Half an hour later the stewardess makes a second round. The bird orders another Coke and a Wall Street Journal. The businessman asks again for his Coke. Again, after waiting a couple of minutes, the bird screams, squawking, "Are you lazy or stupid? I want my drink, and don't forget my paper!" The poor stewardess nearly trips over herself getting the parrot his drink and the newspaper. The businessman still has nothing, and after ten more minutes he decides to take his cue from the bird.

"Hey! Bring me my Coke right now!" he shouts. Out of nowhere the stewardess, the captain and two passengers grab the businessman and the bird, open the hatch and throw them out of the plane. At 30,000 feet, the two are falling side by side. The parrot says to the terrified man, "Wow -- that took a lot of guts for a guy with no wings!"

It takes more courage for some people to do some things than it does others. For example, it doesn't take a lot of courage for me to get up and preach Jesus as the Christ on Sunday morning. The worst consequence I face is a nodding head in the pew. There are those in the world, though, at this very moment who face very serious consequences for doing the same thing. They risk punishment, even to the point of death. Hearing of the courage of others serves to inspire us. That's why the Hebrew writer told about some of the trials faced by the saints of the Old Testament:

"Others were tortured and refused to accept their freedom so they could be raised from the dead to a better life. Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were put in chains and thrown into prison. They were stoned to death, they were cut in half, and they were killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, abused, and treated badly. The world was not good enough for them! They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth. All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us."(Hebrews 11:3540, NCV).

Robert Anthony once said, "Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway."

Very likely, there is something which God is calling you to do that scares you to death. May you blessed with the courage you need to act anyway.

Verses

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality -- faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

Exodus 15:26

"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you."

1 John 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

John 15:7

If you live in me, and my words stay part of you, you may ask what you will -- it will be done for you.

3 John 2

First and foremost, dear friend, I trust you are well and prosperous, as prosperous as your soul is.

Prayer

Father, the perfect peace that You grant to the believer comes when our hearts and minds are one with Yours. Though we cannot avoid the strife around us we can experience wonderful peace in our hearts as we meditate upon Your Holy Word which is the one thing You ask of us. Full devotion to You makes our spirit steady, trusting, and secure. You are the unchangeable God in a changeable society, so we hold onto Your steady all powerful Hand in the ups and downs of life. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.