This sounds crazy,.. but though I’ve read the book written by Bill Hybels prior to returning to SG and though I’ve heard it mentioned a few times in my conversations w Joe, I just (like 5 mins ago) realized the key word here is “Courageous”.Courage.
Honestly, I didn’t think that being a leader needed a lot of courage until now.. it has now started to sink in. Courage is needed because you move into unknown territories. You take the path less beaten. You pave a way that you have no idea where it leads to but yet, you know you cannot stay where u are and you have to move. Courage to take responsibility for failures. Courage to face the critics. Courage to face the disappointments, not those that come from the critics, but of those that matter most to you and of yourself. Courage with a ‘can do’ spirit.. though you know that you really can’t do it on your own and have no idea how to. Courage to persevere in designing and re-designing tools to open the pathways. Courage to pioneer. Courage to change a world that doesn’t want to be change. But most of all, courage because change starts from the inside out. It has to first, start from yourself. Not once, twice, but every day, for the rest of your life.
No wonder God had to remind Joshua not once , but many , many times.. to be strong and courageous, to do the work that God has called him to do.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
– Josh 1:9
“The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."” – Deu 31:23
King David too, had to remind his son Solomon when he charged him to build the
“David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:20
He will not fail me or forsake me until all the work that He has for me to do is finished.
May we choose to hold on to Your Word and not to our insecurities!
“Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”
- Prov 24:27
Thanks for sharing this. You are in my Hall of Fame of courageous people!
ReplyDeletehaha thanks, eric! u r a super encourager!
ReplyDeleteI'm always blessed after reading the sharings on your blog.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post Ivy! Thanks!
ReplyDelete