BRAVE

Snippet

“Courage is like –it’s habitus, a habit, a virture: you get it by courageous acts.  It’s like you learn how to swim by swimming.  You learn courage by couraging.” Brene Brown Gifts of Imperfection preface Hazelden 2010 Pg 7

Scripture

Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them! Hebrew 11:32,33 Message

Song

Brave by Nichole Nordeman

http://youtu.be/SqSs39C3LN8

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was 
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was 
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was 
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Sentence Prayer

Father, we are made in your image, part of that image is 

bravery.  Jesus, when we are fearful, may we visualize 

your brave act the cross.  So we may stand firm no matter 

what we face.  Holy Spirit cause us to be repulsed by 

compromise and make us bold for the Gospel.  Amen R.M.