Courage examined, kind of

I find it funny how faith works. You absolutely must face your fears with faith. If you have no fear, you aren't exercising faith. It is just another task. If you face your fear with arrogance, you are a fool. The question arises, is faith equal to courage? It takes courage to face your fears. In that respect, it takes courage to have faith. It then matters who you have faith in, where your courage comes from. Currently, I am in a place where I am completely and utterly out of control of my own situation. I am trusting God to provide, not just for me, but for my family as well. Is my faith enough? Is God's response in direct relation to the strength of my faith? It is He who gives faith, so that either isn't fair or isn't true. We exercise our faith much like a muscle. No pain, no gain. No struggle, no growth. Romans chapter 5 explains this better than I can. So is courage faith? No. It takes courage to face fear no matter where your faith lies. your faith may be in yourself or in God or insome other person or deity. It is the courage, though that is needed to use the faith you have, to exercise your faith, your muscle, your mind. But if you have no faith in anything, can you have courage? Faith is needed for courage, but courage is not needed for faith. Courage builds upon the foundation of faith and is in direct relation to it probably. Quit your job with no prospects lined up. That seems stupid to the world, especially in a trying economy. Yet, if your faith is strong in whatever you believe in, what the world says makes no difference. Joshua was told by God to be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord God is with you wherever you go. Courage, strength, even the abscence of terror is based on the fact that Joshua believes in God and has faith that He will deliver Him. So, take courage, o my soul. Take courage, my friends. Remember that you can only take courage, though, if you have faith; and faith is a gift given from God Himself to you.

This is a test for moble blogging. Ignore it.



It's a beautiful day; don't let it get away.

Update

This is the last week of my online class. The past months have been the most overwhelming of my life. I have been attacked spiritually from two fronts. I have had to watch as my own state of overload affected friends and family. I cannot wait until this is over. I am looking forward to getting back to writing poetry. I have stumbled upon a poet named Gregory Orr. While I have yet to read much of his work, he has hooked me with his book titles and his philosophy of poetry as a coping mechanism. That said, check him out on poets.org when you get the chance. to close this brief entry, I ask you to pray that God would open doors for me as I search for a new job. I'm trusting Him, and He has not let me down in the past.

Untitled

A mind! A mind of her own!
Is self will rebellion?
Of course, of course
If they say it is.

Audacious one she
To express her anguish
To relinquish her confusion
To utterance
To air
As the mockingbird

'Tis only the call
She learned from us
We who teach
Liberty without
restraint. Will will
ever follow others'
will?

Redeemed

That dangerous diadem which

Adorned the brow of my Savior

Punctured the flesh and then painted

Its own indecorous designs

In rivulets of scarlet and

Sweat through the cracks creases and crevices

Of a sacrificial countenance.

I inquire of my own nature

Do my crowns make me bleed?

Or did His dear blood make purchase of my waste?

A quick word on the poetry

These words are from verses I began writing about a year ago. Many of them are, as yet, unfinished, but they need to see the light of day. They chronicle struggles with calling, truth, God, and life in general. Please take the time to ask questions, write responses, criticize, or just let me know you're reading them. I have submitted to a magazine of poetry, but was rejected. I figured this was a quicker way to be read, at least for now. My hope is that these words would challenge you, if only a little. Thanks,
MrRoberts

Sought Answer

Last night I asked what should I do?
The peace that descended on me was so
Welcome and needed. But this restlessness returns
So quickly when I raise the question (!) The one
whose answers I need. Your response was, "Just go."
Nothing clearer than this? Go where?
So now my mind falls to a new way of asking
the question. Both options need me, so which one needs me
more? Where can I be most glorifying to you, God?

Once you learn to stand firm in your belief it won't
matter where you are. So, go ahead, see if the door opens.
Take the reins and see if I don't answer. See if i don't love
you? You need me.

I can only hold you up
if we are entwined.
I cannot be under you

Kingdom

The box is too big
Or I am too small
Expectations of me
Are to conform to all

Maybe my vision
wrong point of view
The box is too crowded
With lemmings just like you

One Word

If I were given one word to speak
Which would be delegated to me?
Faith, love, hope, angel soap, pass the plate,
Burn the goat?
Crucify!
Who's your saint?

It couldn't be done with one alone
A message so broad in power and in scope
One word.
One man.
One God.
All is done.
Jesus