Today I have been thinking about a subject that may be a little misunderstood - COURAGE. Most people think that courage is what takes place when a person does something like rescue a little baby from a burning house or save someone from drowning. But, the older I get, the more I realize that courage is more than that. It takes a great deal of courage to face life's ordinary, everyday challenges. Every day we make choices which prove to the world, and ourselves, whether or not we are courageous. It takes courage to stand up for your convictions in given circumstances instead of caving in because it is more comfortable. It even gets down to the fact that we choose either to believe God is Who He says He is and trust Him or to cower in fear and doubt.

Some even say it takes courage to build a meaningful marriage. I can see that it takes an enormous amount of courage to let your spouse see you for who you really are - good or bad. It also takes courage to look your spouse in the eye and let him/her know that the marriage is in trouble and that you need to do something about it. What I'll call "relational courage" also applies to parenting. Doing the right thing when your child throws a temper tantrum and really looks cute (ugh!) but needs discipline takes courage as well.

I have come to realize that courage is only attained when I face my crippling fears and not run from them. Courage is something we all need and God wants us to have it. He says, "God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power." But, I do have to go after it. So, here I go!

I know it's been a very long time since I've posted but today I thought I would share a little of what God is doing in my life.

At 61 years of age, you wouldn't think I would still need this, but God has been working on me in the area of CHARACTER. Character has been described as "who you are when no one's looking". This is not to be confused with Reputation, which is "what others think of you". I desire to be the same ALL THE TIME! I do understand that, in the time we are living, Character is an endangered quality.

I can't find this word in the Bible but I immediately recognize its absence - in me and others. It is not what we have done, but who we are! I do understand that developing character takes a long, long time. It's one of those things in which you take two steps forward and one step back.

There are many character qualities that I need to work on - such as: courage, discipline (that's a big one for me), tough love and most of all, the character of Christ. I'll probably talk more in future posts about each of these qualities specifically.

As I try to work out this thing called Character, I'm reminded by my Lord that it doesn't matter how wonderful your character is, it will never be enough to earn God's approval. It is not a way to earn salvation. Praise God that this is a gift from our Father. Nope, can't earn it. It's a gift. I'm so very thankful for that.

Since Character is our world's most pressing need, I press on to this high calling. To the extent that our own Characters grow stronger, the world will be a better place. I want to be a part of that!