Friday, May 17, 2019

Building Character !2 5/17-20/19

17-20 May 2019 - Building Character 12 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies
Theme: Courage Builds Character – Series 12

1 Chronicles 28:20 “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.”

I would like to share this article with you since this really impressed me:
             “A pastor I know and love is discouraged.  Although he is diligent in prayer and works hard, his church remains small while a new congregation nearby is rapidly developing into a megachurch.  Yet when I think of the alcoholics, drug addicts, and sexually immoral people he has led to the Savior and a new way of life, I see him as one who witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit.
            “Because of what happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), we tend to associate the Holy Spirit’s presence and power with amazing happenings and large numbers. We forget that a little later the same people filled with the same Holy Spirit were rejected, flogged, imprisoned, and even executed (put to death).”  (Written by Herb Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bread).

Dorothy:  Let us remember that there are also a courageous volunteer who does one-on-one prison ministry, courageous person who witnesses to a co-worker or a neighbor, and courageous Sunday school teacher who faithfully teaches week after week. Many courageous and faithful Deaf Pastors who works with small audiences.  Many courageous mentors also teaches lessons to the newly born-again Christians.

Billy Graham quoted: “Down through the centuries, in times of trouble and trial, God has brought courage to the hearts of those who love Him.  The Bible is filled with assurances of God’s help and comfort in every kind of trouble which might cause fears to arise in the human heart.  You can look ahead with promise, hope, and joy.”

What is courage?  It is the ability to be strong in trust, in conviction, in obedience.  To be courageous is to step out in faith—to trust and obey, no matter what. Quoted by Kay Arthur.   Take courage.  We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow. Quoted by D.L. Moody.     Do not let Satan deceive you into being afraid of God’s plans for your life. Quoted By R. A. Torrey.

Dorothy: Courage builds character by obeying God’s call to do his work however small it may be.  Courage to make the right choice in doing the right thing.  Courage is the opposite of fear.  There are many Scriptures that speaks of “Fear Not.” In another words, “Take courage.”  Jesus said, “. . . you will have trouble times, but be of good courage; I have overcome the problems.” John 16:33 (ASL translation).

Song: Onward Christian Solder
Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus, Going on before;
Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, See His banners go!
Chorus: Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
(Sabine Baring-Gould, Sing His Praise)

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