Courage Journal #15

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Mr. Winn Challenged the teachers with this today...will I have courage to change the things I can? I hope so! This is the last journal I will write for this year's courage journals. Peace be with you!

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #14

Do you thirst after God? I mean, do you really feel parched, empty, dehydrated without Him in your life? Can you live without Him or do you have to be filled to get through your day? Are you just playing make believe, or is your relationship real?


It's time for a wake up call. If you say it, live it. If you need it, then take it. If you thirst, then drink deeply from the Word of God. If you don't, quit pretending. Life is too short to play games forever. I thirst.

Mark 8:36

Courage Journal #13

June 5th, 1989. A man in China demonstrates his willingness to die for democracy after a pro-democracy protest was broken up in Tienanmen Square. He showed incredible courage by standing up for what he believed in and did so in a non-violent manner.

The "tank man," as he has become known, disappeared after this and was never been heard from again. Most believe the secret police dragged him off and executed him. To this day, his name is a mystery...and yet, he was named as one of the most influential men of the 20th Century.

What is incredible about this story to me is that this man did not stand up for attention. He did not care if he became famous, and we have no idea who he was. In spite of this, he did the right thing and is still remembered today. What a powerful story!

When I turn this story upon my own life, I wonder if I would be willing to stand in front of a tank and do nothing but speak truth for my faith. If Christianity became illegal and CSCS destroyed, would I still proclaim the Gospel without fear? If the churches were destroyed and Christians arrested or killed, would I still share the love of Christ with my neighbors? I believe so...in fact, I know so!

What really hits me in the face is this question: Would I be willing to do it knowing that no one would ever hear my story or care that I died? Or would I die for my faith because I believed it would make a profound impact on the world? I hope I learn to trust God even more and that my courage would be based in Him and not myself!

-Tharp-

Journal #12

This picture is: A. Awesome. B. Totally weird. And C. Fits with my courage journal. So enjoy!

This weekend I had the courage to admit I was going about something in the wrong way. I would love to share the details, but am unable to at the moment. Suffice it to say that sometimes God has to smack you upside the head for you to realize you need a heart change. It takes courage to admit you are wrong and move on, in the right direction. I made some heart changes at the retreat this weekend, so praise the Lord!

-Tharp-