Let's be ourselves and practice courage

Hello everyone, 
I hope all is well and you have a great weekend.  I know the other day, there was a discussion about gaining peace in our lives.  It’s very important that we work towards that and it’s also important that we be ourselves and have the courage to stand up for what we believe in.  We can’t gain peace if we don’t have the courage to say what we want to say, do what we want to do or worry about what other people think. Let’s be who we are so that we can clearly see God working in our lives to give hope to the world and make a difference.
 
Life can be stressful and sometimes we get caught up with things or people.  It’s normal because when we’re not focused on God, that will happen and most of the time, we don’t even see our lives diminish until it’s too late.  Life comes in stages.  When we’re children, we learn, when we grow up to be teenagers, we’re feeling ourselves and we think we’re on top of the world, when we become adults, responsibilities come and that’s when we deal with stress, we don’t take time out for ourselves because we’re so busy and we’re just doing what we think is best.
 
Being who we are is critical to life because God is trying to move and guide us and we can’t be what others want us to be in order to serve.  God made all of us special and unique. We should be proud and appreciative of what God has made and know that we all have a reason to be here and a purpose. At times, we get side-tracked with others or what we’re doing but we live and we learn.  I’m here to tell you that it’s time to be who we are even if others don’t like it as long as we’re living with integrity and treating people with love and respect.   
 
Also, at times we don’t be who we are because we put people first before God or we think we can’t get out of a situation.  For example, one may make excuses by saying “well I have to do this because of …..  WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD.  HE WILL GIVE US EVERYTHING WE NEED EVEN IF WE THINK IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.  LET’S REMEMBER THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD SO DON’T EVER THINK WE HAVE TO LIVE A CERTAIN WAY OR DO THINGS BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS ARE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE TO DO OR WHAT WE THINK WE CAN’T DO. GOD MAKES ALL OF THE CALLS AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THAT’S REAL TALK.
 
Let’s be optimistic and have the courage to be ourselves.  If we don’t believe in who we are then how do we expect others to believe in us?  Let’s be dependent always on God, not doubting Him and live a free life.  Be you and God will show you the beauty that He has made. Please enjoy the poem about courage below:
 
Courage
Are you afraid to be you?
If so, let me tell you what you need to do
 
You need to challenge yourself each day
To be you in each and every way
If you’re shy or scared to cross the line
Pray to God and he will help you to find
 
Courage to be able to walk with Him
To fulfill your purpose so we all can win
 
Go with your heart and do what you want to do
Don’t worry about others, just be you
 
God wants to use you in every way he can
 So that you can serve him, he will hold your hand
 
Be brave, you are not alone
God said “come to Him you’re welcomed in His home”
 
He will help you to challenge the day
Trust in Him every step of the way
 
Live and don’t be afraid
You are a child that God made
 
Life was given to you by God you see
Stand up tall, hold your head held high & be all that God made you to be.
 
 
2 Timothy 1:7
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
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Amen and Thank You Lord