~Courage~

Something I've been meaning to share- my "courage" necklace, ordered from this lovely lady earlier this month.

I would say that this is my 'word for the year' except I have a sneaking suspicion that this is really a word for my lifetime.

Right before Christmas I read this passage from the devotional Jesus Today, and the words fell hard and powerfully. I knew they were for me:

Be of good courage, and I will strengthen your heart. I want my children to be brave- not cowardly. In fact, the Bible contains warnings for "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers."

. . .

Though your circumstances may indeed be painful and difficult, they are not worthless. So muster the COURAGE to say yes to your life, trusting that I am in control and I am with you in your struggles.

Come to Me with a courageous heart, hoping in Me, and I will bless you in many ways. Moreover, I will multiply your small act of bravery: I will strengthen your heart.

And after reading this, the word 'COURAGE' would not leave my mind. 

Confession time here: I know I'm a big chicken. I have dreams and lots of excuses for not pursuing them. I avoid confrontations like the plague. I hide if I can- both from people and hard situations (I would make a great hermit if I could get away with it!). I struggle with making most decisions because of fear of getting it wrong.

Fear is my greatest enemy. 

And it comes in more forms than I've realized.

And something else I've come to realize? It's not okay for me to be a coward. I was made to live life- not run from it.

So that explanation may be a bit long-winded but it's the reason for having 'courage' bound around my neck.

And funny enough- knowing I would need the word 'courage' this year, kind of put the fear- and excitement-  of "what is going to happen in 2014?" into me. And as if right on cue, just last week, in the midst of the crazy busy, I got the call from my Mom telling me my grandfather has pancreatic cancer . . . and five days later, we find out my grandmother (his wife) has cancer, too. 

Yup, God knew what He was talking about when He said I would need courage this year. I was kinda hoping the courage would be needed in other areas -like taking steps to pursue my artistic dreams- and maybe it will, but right now courage means facing the nitty-gritty-hard-stuff. With grace, I hope.

Cheers!