How Leaders Develop and Communicate a Vision

How Leaders Develop and Communicate a Vision

[source: Bates Communication]

How do leaders develop and communicate a vision?

The first step is to understand what vision is, and the second step is to create a process for identifying and articulating a vision.

Understanding this process will help you articulate your own vision and values, and will help you assist the leaders of your organization to do the same.

Developing and Communicating a Vision

There is actually nothing mystical about vision. A vision is a picture of what an organization could and should be.

A hallmark of great leaders is that their vision includes big ideas. Big ideas get people excited.

Nobody wants to do something small. Leaders want to feel motivated about coming to work, because what they do matters.

Some examples of big ideas that most of us are familiar with are Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and President John F. Kennedy’s vision for the space program, “We choose to go to the moon . . . not because it is easy, but because it is hard.”

Great business leaders also know how to paint a vivid picture of the future. They make it look easy. However, most of them have worked hard to develop and articulate their powerful thoughts.

The creative process of developing a visionary statement consists of four steps: Observe, Reflect, Write, and Speak. Here’s what I tell my executive clients about these processes:

Step One: Observe

In order to determine a vision, you must become an astute observer of your world. You have to immerse yourself in watching, listening, and wondering. Pay attention, ask questions, probe, discuss, and gather information.

Step Two: Reflect

Now you turn inward. For example, you look at important events in the company, or important events in your life and career, and ask yourself: What did I learn? What is this telling me?

During reflection, you come up with stories and examples that form your vision and clarify your values. These stories enable you to speak authentically from your own wisdom and experience.

In this reflecting stage of the process, it’s better to have someone listening and asking questions. A coach or trusted advisor can help you talk through a story or idea and find the significance of it.

Personal stories are a rich source of material that can crystallize a vision. When searching for personal stories with a client, we look at broad categories, both positive and negative, that usually yield some interesting images and help to communicate the vision and values that are important to the client. These include, among others: personal challenges, major changes, new experiences, lost opportunities, awkward situations, failed attempts, turnarounds, last-minute saves, inspiring people, remarkable achievements, and memorable events that may have occurred in a client’s life.

Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of talking about themselves in business speeches.

However, by weaving personal stories into their speeches, leaders connect with people. Their experiences are interesting to an audience, because they say so much about the leader.

Step Three: Write

Because we live in a fast-paced world, with little time for reflecting and writing, many people want to skip this step. That is a mistake. When you write, you discover how to say precisely what you mean. Many executives ask why they can’t just speak off the cuff. That is an important skill. But when you are articulating a vision, writing it down is a critical step in the process.

One of my clients, the president of a college, was preparing to give his inaugural address. It had been “word-smithed” by an outstanding, talented speechwriter. But as he read the speech, we realized something was missing—himself! He had graduated from this school, worked on Wall Street, retired, and served on the college’s board of directors, who then drafted him for the job.

But nowhere in the speech was there any information about why he accepted the position, what made him want to do this at this stage in his career, what his education at the college meant to him, and what his vision was for the college.

As I interviewed him, we were able to identify two or three great stories that would tell people who he was and what he stood for. As he practiced the new speech, what came through was a leader and a person committed to the college’s success.

Step Four: Speak

If you have followed the process, speaking and communicating your vision is a natural outcome.

A leader is far more powerful and effective when he or she gets up to speak because of this process. Then, the speaking must be scheduled. It does no good to create a vision without a plan to speak about it in many venues over a period of time. It takes several repetitions for most people to truly hear and remember the message.

Speaking well requires practice. All the preparation in the world will not wow an audience if the leader cannot speak fluently and confidently. There is no magic wand that will make a speech great if the speaker has not rehearsed so that he or she looks and sounds like a leader on the platform.

The activities of observing, reflecting, writing, and practicing a speech are not usually on an executive’s calendar, but they should be. A powerful vision, well-articulated, attracts people to an organization, motivates them to take action toward progress, and drives business results.

Faith Is Never Blind: – Bartimaeus - “The Vision and Boldness to Ask the Impossible” Beautiful Message...♥

Faith Is Never Blind

written by Pastor James

[source: Rose City Park Church]

It’s an ordinary story – a familiar setting. Jesus is walking out of the city of Jericho and a man asks for Mercy – He stops – calling the man. The beggar comes and in compassion he heals him. So what is the big deal – How can this story assist me in my walk with God?

Well – let’s open our minds … allow the Spirit to guide and listen without judgment or bias. May I ask that you join me in prayer?

PRAYER – “Gracious Lord of Love – be with us as we open Your Word – that our hearts may discover new means to find depth in our relationship with you. Speak to every heart that is searching for answers this morning … and unbind those hearts that feel they need no answers. Open our soulful eyes, we pray. In Christ’s name, Amen.”

JERICHO – 17 miles NE of Jerusalem is the city of Jericho. The Hebrew name is Ruach – meaning “City of Fragrance.” You remember the story of the “Walls of Jericho” – how that Joshua with his priests and people to march around the city for seven days – and on the seventh – marching around it seven times – the trumpets blew and the people shouted and the walls fell flat – because of a thing called faith – that dwelled within the hearts of Israel.

WALLS OF JERICHO – Fourteen centuries later – the city was still a hub of trade. It was an oasis in the middle of a wilderness. In fact tradition has it that when Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan – it was in the dessert near to Jericho. The road to Jerusalem was – and still is quite dangerous. Rocks and crags jut our along the way – so that (as in the Good Samaritan story) there was an opportunity for robbers to take advantage of travelers along that road.

The story takes place in the spring – during the third year of Jesus’ ministry – in fact he is going to Jerusalem to face his foes – one of them being death. Now, Jesus is leaving Jericho for Jerusalem … there is an exquisite fragrance in the air from the balsam and rose gardens. The people are filled with joy – not only in the coming festival in the Holy City of Passover – but the arrival of this folk hero – a man called Jesus of Nazareth. The road out of Jerusalem was clogged with many people – lots of noise – laughter, talking, questions. The large gate is before him and over to the side as with most communities are the beggars of the city – asking for alms. As today, these are the “Invisible People.” Just ignore them – and go about your business. But today there arose a commotion. A man is yelling at the tops of his lungs. It is a familiar beggar’s face – the son of Timaeus – in fact that is his name

Bar-Timaeus.

BAR-TIMAEUS – You probably have heard of family names like that of Thomason or Smithson – this was the son of Timaeus … or Bar-Timaeus. We know that at one time he could see – but now begged for a living because he was blind. Most Hebrew people would consider that he was blind because of some sin he or his parents had committed. Those who were blind were considered the edge or fringe of society. Without sight, they could not read, were dependant upon others for food, for direction, or sustenance. Bartimaeus no doubt had heard of this Man of Nazareth – of his amazing teachings and the miraculous miracles. The affirmation of a certain Messiah was the fact that the lame would walk and the blind would see – the deaf will hear – and that good news would be proclaimed to the poor. A life changing possibility to Bartimaues – the reception of sight again. I have been pondering which might be worse: someone born blind or one who had lost his sight. Presently I have concluded that to have known the gift of amazing vision and lost it is a greater tragedy. Bartimaeus could not travel – the one who might be able to grant his deepest desire was here … on his street at his gate. To let this opportunity pass was not an option. So with all of his might he yelled and waved his arms, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Over and over again. The Pharisees and city leaders glanced with distain at the dirty beggar man and motioned with their heads that someone should quiet this mad man. He was an embarrassment to the city. But no matter how his friends and officials tried to quell his calls, he yelled even louder. He was not going to let this possibility pass him by.

Did you ever let an opportunity pass? What keeps us from taking hold of opportunities? Fears of discouragement? Disappointment? Opposition? In the South it is often named, “Receiving a Woopin’ from the Lord.” // But Bartimaeus who had nothing – but faith and foolishness brought forth his rallying prayer before this man, the Son of God. Another question that comes to mind was – “Why discourage and try to quell the hopes and possibilities of this pitiful soul? Even those who begged along side of Bartimaeus tried to quiet him in his pleas.

QUESTION: Do we ever try to douse seekers of God? Or discourage those who try to discover God in unconventional ways?

Remember: the disciples rebuked the children – and Jesus said, “Forbid them not to come.” Simon the Pharisee condemned the sinful woman – and Jesus let her bath his feet with her tears. Judas blamed the waste of ointment – but Jesus said, “She has done a good work.” We should never forget that God is always open to our pleas and prayers for help and love. No?

And one more matter … do you notice the difference in the crowd and Bartimaeus? They called this celebrity “Jesus of Nazareth.” The son of Timaeus crowned him with the titles, “Son of David” and “Rabonnai” – “My Master.” The title was reserved for the Redeemer – the Messiah – Son of the Almighty God. Can you palatably feel the faith of Bartimaeus? Do you hear his prayer – his desperate cry for help … for a miracle … for a blessing?

“JESUS OF NAZARETH” – “SON OF DAVID” – Back to the story …. It’s at this point in the story that an amazing thing happened. The parade stopped – because Jesus himself stood still to look with a smile at Bartimaeus. // What does it mean for someone to stop and give their full attention to what you are saying?

JESUS STOPPED – To the crowd he said, Call him. Look at Bartimaeus – his mouth wide open – in unbelief. His friends nudged him and said, “Don’t just sit there – Get up. Jesus is calling for you!!” Like a Jack out the Box – Bartimaeus – sprung up … in fact the Greek meaning for the word is “sprung up.” He threw of his outer cloak and made his way toward the voice of Jesus. Jesus grasps his hands to stabilize and assure him that his destination has been reached. Then a very strange question came from Jesus, “What do you want me to do for you?” It is apparent what Bartimaeus’ needs – why ask such obvious question? Yet in reality, when reading the question from the Greeek, the question sounds like a servant who asks his Master what he might need after being summoned. “What can I do for you?”

“What do you want me to do for you?” – Don’t you see – he honors this man as an image of God – and is empowering him with the right to respond as he sees fit. Jesus embraces us all as equals. AMAZING! We give Bartimaeus pity – Jesus gives him preference. With the hope of the ages – Bartimaeus responds, “My Master, I want to see again.” In almost a whisper - Jesus says, “Then Go – your faith has healed you.” And as he turned – light came into Bartimaeus’ life and eyes. Imagine: Bartimaeus’ - in darkness - had cried to the Light of the world and had received not only vision – but confirmation that he was a loved child of God! Can you think of any sight more glorious than after being blind for years and years – and the first sight to see was the Son of God smiling at you? Unbelievable!

The next scene is remarkable. Jesus turns to head toward Jerusalem – the point of his crucifixion and around him we see a dancing Bartimaeus – who became a traveling companion to Christ … as he leaves his daily cup of coins and his old beggars wrap with the other fragments of his old life.

As we bring the story home – to our lives and our community. Some of the points are obvious:

• Bartimaeus didn’t have much – but he possessed many qualities that the Lord seeks in God’s children: passion, perseverance, humility, persistence, the courage to seize an opportunity, and most of all – faith in God’s ability to work through us.
• Jesus calls us out of spiritual darkness into God’s Marvelous Light!
• Bartimaeus’ prayer sprang from a soul with need – but it was more than words – for heart and faith are the primary ingredients of our petitions to the Father.
• Sometimes like Bartimaeus we need to cast off every weight that encumbers us and run the race of life that is set before us. The question is: What is your weight?
• “But God would never pick me” – no talents – no gifts. It is a fact that God usually selects the most unlikely. Bartimaeus wasn’t beautiful – in man’s eyes he was pitiful – socially, physically, and spiritually. But there are beauties to God that reach beyond vision and appearance …. Honesty, purity, holiness, kindness and compassion … are just a few.

Bartimaeus asked for mercy – he knew that Christ had come to Jericho to bring a piece of God …. a fact he had a strong conviction in. In the entire crowd – it is amazing that he had the eternal vision that connected himself with Jesus. If we only could be that faithful – and reach beyond ourselves – to be fools for all of God’s children!

MERCY … FAITH … SIGHT

Opportunities. Bartimaeus used his opportunity – not only to receive sight – but to find God. opportunities are gifts from God – to help us demonstrate His care and compassion to our world. BUT JESUS DOESN’T PASS OUR WAY … You have eyes, but do not see.

“As you do for the least of these – you do unto me.” The hungry the orphaned the imprisoned …. If you are in tuned to the spirit – If you are connected with God you will feel Christ passing as you sing a hymn … or pray – or read God’s Word – or in a kindness received – or in the sharing of Communion. Blindness is the result of not seeing things that are apparent. May we stop looking with our eyes and begin to see with our hearts and souls.

Jesus is passing. “But James, I don’t see him.” Neither did Bartimaeus. Neither did the Lambs who were invited into heaven. When did we see you hungry – or thirsty – or naked? And Christ will say unto them. “As you did unto the least of these my brethren – you did unto me.”

Jesus Christ is passing – HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

Faith Has Vision

Faith Has Vision

written by Reverend W. C. Slyde Moran

[source: Biblecities.com]

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" [Proverbs 29:18]

Notice that God Himself has told us that without a vision, people perish. We might say it like this: If the people have no vision of WHO they are in Christ, and WHAT they have in Him they will never obtain the fullness of all that Christ purchased for us on the cross.

Scripture Reference:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" [Proverbs 29:18]

The Importance of Seeing:

"When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. For now we SEE through a glass, dimly; but then (we will SEE) face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [1Cor. 13:10,12]

I want you to notice the phrase: "When that which is perfect is come".

In the original text the word translated "perfect" comes from the Greek word "telios' - and it means "Completeness, of full age or MATURE, perfect".

The intent of this passage is to make us understand that when as we grow in our knowledge of God, our ability to SEE what Christ accomplished for US on the cross, what we HAVE in Him, and WHO we ARE becomes clearer and clearer. The promise is that even though we may see these things dimly, or as the KJV says "darkly", as we become more MATURE in our relationship with God our SEEING will become clearer also.

Our "VISION" of who Christ IS, WHAT He has accomplished, who WE are, and what we HAVE in Him is essential to a victorious walk on this earth. Vision is vital to our success as Christians as we fight to overcome the trials of this world and the attacks of the enemy.

Vision Enables us to SEE the Invisible:

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but (we look at) at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." [2Cor 4:18]

Notice that we are instructed in the Word of God to look at those things which CANNOT be seen! How does one do that? Answer: Vision.

Naturally, we understand that when the God speaks to us of vision, He is not talking about 'natural" things, such as the trees, the grass, the clouds, etc - but rather He speaks of SPIRITUAL things: By spiritual things I mean: Things that occur, or have occurred in the spirit realm such as:

1] We are 'new creations' in Christ [2 Cor. 5:17]

2] Christ took our sickness and carried our pain on the cross [Isaiah 53:4-5]

3] God Has supplied ALL our Needs thru His riches in Glory [Phil 4:19]

4] Etc.

Vision is the Means Whereby:

1] We can see that which is not visible

2] We can see what we desire for ourselves in our walk with God

3] We can see what God desires for us

4] We can see who we are in Christ & what we HAVE in Him.

How Do We See These Things?

What is the means that God has provided where we as Christians can actually look into the spirit and SEE the things that He has told us to look at? Most Christians do not realize that God has provided TWO ways in which this can be done.

1] The Word of God:

"...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." [John 6:63]

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who SEES his face in a MIRROR [24] and, after SEEING himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom (the Word of God), and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." [James 1:23-25]

John 6:63 says that the Word of God is Spirit.

By looking in the word of God we can literally SEE into the Spirit, and see ourselves as God sees us. We can see WHO we are, what we have, and what Christ accomplished for us. And, providing we don't FORGET what we SEE in the Word when we put it down, but rather continue in it, we will be blessed in whatever we do!

2] Direct Revelation of the Holy Spirit:

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will show you what is yet to come."

[John 16:13]

The Holy Spirit will at times give us detailed information and instruction as to what God has ordained for us, and His future plans for us individually and as members of the Body of Christ. According to John 16:13, He will literally SHOW us things to come. In other words, the Spirit of God enables us to SEE into the future! This promise is not limited to those who stand in the office of the prophet, but every Christian!

Both of these methods are vital to the Christian if we are to SEE in greater detail those things which the Lord has provided us and ordained for us - and until we do, it is certain that we will never OBTAIN these things. We must SEE them FIRST if we are to HAVE them: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." [Proverbs 29:18]

We Must See It For Ourselves:

Most Christians do not understand the importance of SEEING ourselves as God see us! The reason for this is because the way we SEE ourselves is the way we THINK about ourselves - and the Lord has said in His Word: "...For as a man thinks in his heart - so he is!" [Proverbs 23:7]

If we THINK about ourselves in a way other than what God has SAID about us - then we will not see the blessing manifested. We will instead see what we think! This is one reason why so many of God's children are sick, defeated, beaten down, failing, broke, in debt, unsuccessful, confused, oppressed and depressed.

We are told NOT to look at what is "seen" - but rather to keep our eyes on what is NOT seen (to Have Vision). Yet, everyday Christians are looking at the circumstances and allowing what they see to determine who they are and what they have, instead of believing what God has SAID in His Word about it.

We MUST take our eyes off the present situation, and using our VISION - look at the circumstances with an eye towards what is NOT seen. We must see ourselves: Healed and healthy, strong and free, blessed, delivered and redeemed!

USE YOUR VISION:

We MUST use our spiritual eyes to look into the spirit realm and see ourselves as God sees us - and then accept His Word as truth - believe it - receive it by faith - and then begin to SPEAK it as instructed:

How Does God See us:

• God sees us Righteous: In right-standing with God : [2 Cor. 5:21]

• God sees us Healed and Healthy: [1 Peter 2:24 • Matt 8:17 • Ps 91:7-10 • Isaiah 53:1-5]

• God sees us Delivered from every situation, affliction, oppression, depression and attack of the enemy: [Col. 1: 12-14]

• God sees us Successful: well supplied, prosperous, a lender not a borrower, well able to contribute to every good work: [Deut 28 • Prov. 10:22 • 2 Cor. 9:8]

• God sees us in a Position of Authority: Head and not the tail / Above only and not beneath / More than a conqueror / Triumphant and Victorious [Deut 28 1-14 • Rom 8:37 • 2Cor 2:14 • 1Cor 15:57 • 1Jn 5:4]

Remember: As a Man Thinks In His Heart: So He Is: [Proverbs 23:7]

How Do You SEE Yourself?

Keep in mind that we will always SEE ourselves the way we THINK about ourselves?

• Do you SEE yourself healed and healthy?

• Do you see yourself righteous: In right-standing with God?

• Do you see yourself strong?

• Do you see yourself delivered from whatever has been afflicting you?

• Do you see yourself Successful, well provided for with more than enough?

• Do you see yourself in a position of authority?

If not, it is only because you have chosen to look at the natural circumstances instead using your vision to SEE into the Spirit realm and look at what Christ has already accomplished FOR you!

Get a Vision:

If we are ever to obtain that Which Christ died for, and paid for with His own blood - then we MUST have VISION to SEE it first!

Vision is the means whereby God empowers us to bring into manifestation that which HE has ordained for us by:

1] By Placing it in our heart thru His WORD or by His Spirit

2] Empowering us to bring it forth into the natural realm thru OUR words spoken in faith.

Unless that vision is established in us as a reality and confirmed by faith (Heb 11:1) - we will never see it - It will never come to pass in our life. "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." [Philemon 1:6]

Notice that it is only when we ACKNOWLEDGE what is already in us (in our SPIRITS) that our faith becomes EFFECTIVE and brings forth the manifestation of the promise.

I encourage you to download the entire audio message and take the time to listen to it. Discover how you can SEE yourself as God sees you and thereby begin to ACCESS the blessings by faith. Visit the audio broadcast section of this website to listen to the entire message.

• Have Faith In God

• Faith Has A Voice

• Faith Has Authority

• Faith has A Vision

• As Thy Soul Prospers

• Faith That Perseveres

• The Power of Mustard Seed Faith

Martin Luther - Comment On Faith ♥ Re-Post From 5/22/11

I ORIGINALLY POSTED THIS MESSAGE ON 5/22/11

Wow, this is an AMAZING message! I was led to this message through a link provided by the webpage I posted in my last message. If you do not know who Martin Luther is please click here to read about him. Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions.

Click here to be directed to the website where I have taken this message below. As I am typing this message I am realizing this is exactly how I live; with a BOLD trust in God's grace. Thank you God for leading me to this message so that others can better understand what it means to TRUST You.

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FAITH

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works, or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. "Faith is not enough" they say, "You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved." They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, "I believe." That is what they think true faith is. But because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this 'faith' either.

Instead faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God (John 1:13). It kills the old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts, and all of our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heart and LIGHT from fire!

Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough to define faith, and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or do.

What Is The Meaning Of Faith? Re-Post From 5/22/11

I was outside enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee and watching the sun come out this morning. I began thinking about all the chaos in the world and how so many people are spiritually in distress. Pictures began flashing before me as if I was watching a slide show of events and circumstances. Then suddenly one bird starting singing a beautiful song. That music coming from that one bird made me feel such peace. That was God's way of reminding me to have faith and just trust Him. I came back into the house and was going to start typing my message. But something caused me to do a search of 'The meaning of Faith' on the internet. I was led to this GREAT description written by Chris Zach Hidalgo on October 2, 1997. Chris breaks it down in such a way that anyone curious about this subject can take HOLD of its meaning.

I have taken the following from his webpage titled, Definition of faith: A comprehensive meaning/denotation of what faith/faithfullness really means. Click on the link to read the entire message. I only typed half. Enjoy and be of good cheer for God is with you always!

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What is faith? An ancient history books states that faith is: "Being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see."

A line from 'Miracle on 34th Street' says: "Faith is believing in things that common sense tells you not to."

We all have "faith"

FAITH, I believe, is something we all have, but to varying degrees. Do you have faith to believe that there can be an all powerfull creator, or do you put your faith in science? Or do you believe in a combination of several things and/or ideas?

Do you have the faith to believe in yourself? Do you have the faith to believe in your significant other, a family member or a friend?

I believe we all do. The question is "how much faith do we allow to become reality in our life?"

Consider This

Faith stagnates unless you expose yourself. Faith is not a noun, it's a verb. Action is a critical part of faith. Faith is in action when you make yourself vulnerable -- practicing what you believe. Faith is similar to a guidance system that NASA uses regularly.

When the space shuttle is on the launch pad, the guidance system is not activated because it is not needed. BUT, when it breaks free from the launch pad, then the guidance system kicks in. Everyone involved has to believe the guidance system will successfully guide the shuttle to the end of the mission. They have faith in the guidance system.

We have to rely on faith when all else tells us we're crazy... when there's no evidence what-so-ever... and when everything points to something else.

When you practice faith, you can count on others thinking you are out of your mind. Many times you will be ridiculed for your faith (in religion, science, others, etc.).

An Understanding

Simply put, the definition of faith -- is nothing more than an understanding, a belief, a thought about something, someone, some situation that cannot be proven.

Inherently, faith allows for no tangible evidence to be made available -- that you know of -- which would back up or support your claim, idea, theory or thought. It is simply an overwhelming undestanding that, to you, is convincing.

Other words to consider: Trust, reliance, assurance, conviction, devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, commitment, dedication, observance.

HAPPY SUNDAY Everybody! Sending Some Inspiration Your Way. Hugs...♥

Beautiful Message By Osho On How To Stay Centered... ♥

How to Stay Centered

[source: Osho International]

I am not saying leave the world and become hermits somewhere in the Himalayas - no. But sometimes leave, relax, be useless, be alone, exist like a rock, be independent, free from the world, be a part of nature - and you will be rejuvenated, reborn. Then come back and move in society and in the crowd again. And try to carry that beauty, that silence that happened to you when you were alone. Now carry it, don′t lose contact with it. Move deep into the crowd but don′t become a part of it. Let the crowd be there outside you - you remain alone.

And when you become capable of being alone in the crowd, you have achieved real aloneness. It is easy to be alone on a hilltop. The whole of nature helps you, and nothing is a barrier. To be back in the market-place, in the shop, in the office, in the family, and to remain alone - that is an achievement. Then it is something you have achieved and it is not just accidental, something that happened because of the hills. Now the quality of consciousness has changed. So remain alone in the crowd. The crowd will be there outside but don′t allow it to enter in. Protect whatsoever you have gained. Defend it, don′t allow it to be disturbed.

And whenever you feel that the feeling has become dull, that you are missing it, that society has disturbed it, that the dust has gathered around, that the fresh spring is no longer fresh, that it is polluted - move again. Fall out of society to renew it, to make it alive again. Then come back and move in the crowd.

And then a moment will come when that original spring will remain fresh and no one will be able to pollute it or contaminate it. Then there is no need to move anywhere.

~Osho

Mastery of Moods

Mastery of Moods

This Too Shall Pass
[source: Osho International]

To think that "I am the mind," is unawareness. To know that mind is only a mechanism just as the body is, to know that the mind is separate.... The night comes, the morning comes: you don't get identified with the night. You don't say, "I am night," you don't say, "I am morning." The night comes, the morning comes, the day comes, again the night comes; the wheel goes on moving, but you remain alert that you are not these things.

The same is the case with the mind. Anger comes, but you forget -- you become anger. Greed comes, you forget -- you become greed. Hate comes, you forget -- you become hate. This is unawareness.

Awareness is watching that the mind is full of greed, full of anger, full of hate or full of lust, but you are simply a watcher. Then you can see greed arising, becoming a great, dark cloud, then dispersing -- and you remain untouched. How long can it remain? Your anger is momentary, your greed is momentary, your lust is momentary. Just watch a little and you will be surprised: it comes and it goes. And you are remaining there unaffected, cool, calm.

The most basic thing to remember is that when you are feeling good, in a mood of ecstasy, don't start thinking that it is going to be your permanent state. Live the moment as joyfully, as cheerfully as possible, knowing perfectly well that it has come and it will go -- just like a breeze comes in your house, with all its fragrance and freshness, and goes out from the other door.

This is the most fundamental thing. If you start thinking in terms of making your ecstatic moments permanent, you have already started destroying them. When they come, be grateful; when they leave, be thankful to existence (God). Remain open. It will happen many times -- don't be judgmental, don't be a chooser. Remain choiceless. Yes, there will be moments when you will be miserable. So what? There are people who are miserable and who have not even known a single moment of ecstasy; you are fortunate. Even in your misery, remember that it is not going to be permanent; it will also pass away, so don't get too much disturbed by it. Remain at ease.

Just like day and night, there are moments of joy and there are moments of sadness; accept them as part of the duality of nature, as the very way things are. And you are simply a watcher: neither you become happiness nor you become misery. Happiness comes and goes, misery comes and goes. One thing remains always there -- always and always -- and that is the watcher, one who witnesses.

Slowly, slowly get more and more centered into the watcher. Days will come and nights will come... lives will come and deaths will come... success will come, failure will come. But if you are centered in the watcher -- because that is the only reality in you -- everything is a passing phenomenon.

Just for a moment, try to feel what I am saying: just be a watcher....

Do not cling to any moment because it is beautiful, and do not push any moment because it is miserable. Stop doing that. That you have been doing for lives. You have not been successful yet and you will never be successful ever. The only way to go beyond, to remain beyond, is to find a place from where you can watch all these changing phenomena without getting identified.

Everything passes, but you remain. You are the reality; everything else is just a dream. Beautiful dreams are there, nightmares are there... But it does not matter whether it is a beautiful dream or a nightmare; what matters is the one who is seeing the dream. That seer is the only reality.

12 Laughter Quotes To Get You Revved Up For The Week! Laughter And A Good Sense Of Humor Helps Us To Alleviate Any Angst And Remain Balanced In Life. ♥

NOTE TO SELF:

12 Laughter Quotes To Get You Ready For The Week!

By Various Extra-Ordinary People

1. A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. ~ by Hugh Sidey
   
   
2. A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. ~ by William Arthur Ward
   
   
3. Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place. ~ by Mark Twain
   
   
4. All you need in the world is love and laughter. That's all anybody needs. To have love in one hand and laughter in the other. ~ by August Wilson
   
   
5. At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~ by Jean Houston
   
   
6. Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen. ~ by Carl Sandburg
   
   
7. Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors. ~ by Norman Cousins
   
   
8. I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter, but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry. ~ by Cat Stevens
   
   
9. I think laughter may be a form of courage. As humans we sometimes stand tall and look into the sun and laugh, and I think we are never more brave than when we do that. ~ by Linda Ellerbee
   
   
10. If love is the treasure, laughter is the key. ~ by Yakov Smirnoff
    
    
11. In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. ~ by Kahlil Gibran
    
    
12. Laughter is an instant vacation. ~ by Milton Berle

BONUS

Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection. ~ by Yakov Smirnoff

BONUS BONUS

Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you. ~ by Eileen Caddy

Classic Cartoon Intermission! We Could ALL Use Some Levity Right Now! HEY FIGARO! lol ;)

Tex Avery - Banned Cartoons - Magical Ma by gfsguy1988

Woodey Woodpecker - The Barber Of Seville (1944) by Cartoonzof2006

It's been quite a while since I've shared these classic cartoons with you. I was inspired by my last post on PaGAGnini. Enjoy! ♥

Tom and Jerry at "The Hollywood Bowl" (1950)

L☺L... I've been enjoying some lighthearted cartoons this afternoon. I needed a break from the nonsense. Here is one accompanied with great music to bring peace to your spirit. Tom and Jerry are GREAT!!! Classic cartoons are the BEST! :D

Reowww, pfft pfft! Hahahaha... I love this intro! I feel like both the roaring lion and roaring cat L☺L! Enjoy and I hope this get's you to SMILE today!!! :D

PaGAGnini... Classical Music In The Key Of Comedy!

I absolutely LOVE this group PaGAGnini!!! I have just watched several video's of their performances and I'm feeling totally giddy!!! THIS IS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! Enjoy! :)

Classical Music In The Key Of Comedy

[source: Flixxy]

'Pagagnini' bring to life some of the most treasured musical pieces in the key of comedy.

The virtuoso violinist Ara Malikian along with three more musicians not only perform some of the greatest compositions of geniuses at the level of Mozart, Pachelbel, Chopin and of course, Paganini, but also involve popular genres such as rock or folk.

The musicians play, dance, jump, laugh, cry, interact and with the audience converting the show into an original comedy where the violin and the cello transform themselves spontaneously into new and original instruments.

La Campanella Performed by Alice Sara Ott

Oh wow, she has amazing beautiful talent. Sheer magnificence! :D

Thank you for sharing this with me Ola, I really needed this right now. Listening to this kind of music always alters my tempo in a magical way. Enjoy! ♥

Our Heavenly Father the Artist, A Poem

Artist

poem written by Jeremy Hagy at GodKind

Artist, our Father is the most ultimate artist.

Painting with His mouth the words of being.

Speaking the universe into existence.

Speaking the world out of nothing,

light out of darkness,

sky and land in a breath

breathing the pieces of eternity.

Just look around . . . .

God created all you feast your eyes upon,

all out of nothing,

laying the kanvas of earth drenched puddles,

painting the picture of today.

His hand moved with a swift stroke,

to form the dust of the ground.

You are His most precious portrait,

hand carved and sculpted to perfection,

fearfully and wonderfully made,

made in the fashion and likeness and image of the Creator

created to be creative, as God played in the dirt

all you need is dirt!

Artist, an artist of beauty, an artist of passion,

whose hand hung the sky and stretched the stars across the milky way

who hung the earth on nothing,

galaxies and light years away,

He's still the same artist,

all the colors bursting forth.

When He said "Let there be light"

His manifold wisdom in it's many sided splendor

a motley creation, colorful and radiant

splendid to the truth,

all the textures blending together in harmony,

in unison with the beam of light

envision the rainbow, flowers, snow, the sun

in all it's beautiful array,

in all the power, in all His glory

creating the most vivid picture

the one with the deepest metaphors,

as deep calls unto deep He strengthens the sea,

looking like diamonds and crystals sparkling avast an ocean

purple in motion, perpetual, forever

stars glimmering and glistening, glowing,

brighter than the moon in all it's radiance

trees, mountains, hills, animals, people,

His moving pictures

fiery fire in all orange nectar and matter

yellow gold in bright beauty and grace

Yes, our Father is the most ultimate artist.

You, as His precious portrait, you are also His pencil,

He's drawing life with you at His center.

Nothing's traced but all planned out,

as He sketches the purpose across the land,

how all exists and plants and seeds and sprouts up

His pictures come to life!

Look again, you're living it!

God is the most ultimate artist!

Of course the Artist begat artists

Imitate your Father!

It's now your turn to create

As the white fluffy clouds collect the drops of water

and send the droplets of rain to produce

Be inspired!

Be what He's made you to be!

With His magnificent brush He gently painted us

a living, breathing, moving, speaking picture

created for His glory-

Artist!

The Real Treasure... ♥ This Is So BEAUTIFULLY Expressed

The Real Treasure

[source: Osho International]

Don't waste your life for that which is going to be taken away. Trust life. If you trust, only then can you drop your knowledge, only then can you put your mind aside. And with trust, something immense opens up. Then this life is no longer ordinary life, it becomes full of God (Love), overflowing. When the heart is innocent and the walls have disappeared, you are bridged with infinity. And you are not deceived; there is nothing that can be taken away from you. That which can be taken away from you is not worth keeping, and that which cannot be taken away from you... why should one be afraid of its being taken away? It cannot be taken away, there is no possibility. You cannot lose your REAL TREASURE. ~ Osho

20 Daily Affirmations For Living In Harmony...♥

For Those Of You Who Are Under Attack By The Wicked, Say This Prayer When You Wake Up And Before You Go To Bed. Psalm 69: An Urgent Plea for Help in Trouble and Psalm 70: Prayer for Relief from Adversaries

An Urgent Plea for Help in Trouble

Psalm 69 KJV

[source: Biblegateway]

1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

BONUS

Prayer for Relief from Adversaries

Psalm 70 KJV

[source: Biblegateway]

1 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

Dwell in the Shelter of the Most High

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Matthew 6:9-14: The Lord's Prayer... ♥ I Say This Prayer Every Morning While Relaxing Drinking My Coffee At Home Before I Start My Day.

Matthew 6 AMPLIFIED

[source: Biblegateway]

Jesus Teaching about Giving to the Needy

Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.

2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.

3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Jesus Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

5 Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.

6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9 Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ♥

15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,

18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

Jesus Teaching about Money and Possessions

19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?

28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?

32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Lessons from the Life of Joshua: Be Strong and Courageous

Lessons from the Life of Joshua: Be Strong and Courageous

Transcript

[source: Revive Our Hearts]

Leslie Basham: Here’s Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: If we were writing the script for our lives, we would not assign to ourselves the tasks that God assigns us. We would play it safe. We would do something we think we could manage.

Leslie: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for Wednesday, April 22. Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling overwhelmed by fear of the unknown, fear of your to do list, fear that you won’t be the mom you want to be?

We’re about to continue studying the life of a biblical character whose task list seemed impossible to tackle. I think this story will make you feel less overwhelmed. So let’s begin Lessons from the Life of Joshua (Part 8): Before We Conquer.

Nancy: One of the important things to look for when you’re studying the Scripture is repeated words or phrases. When God says something one time, it’s important. When God says something twice in close context, like “Verily, verily, I say to you,”—God repeats something—that makes it emphasized. It means you better really listen to what He’s saying.

If He says it three times, then that’s really triple emphasis. We’re going to see one of those passages where God says something multiple times and we need to pay close attention to what He’s saying.

Now let me give you the context here. In Joshua chapter 1, we’ve seen that Moses has died and God has spoken to Joshua and has said, “You are the next leader of the Children of Israel.” Joshua had been Moses’ assistant for 40 years as the Children of Israel had been traveling in the wilderness and God says, “Now it’s your turn to be in charge. You’re the leader and you’re going to lead my people over the Jordan River”—no small challenge for starters. We’re talking one to two million people he’s leading here. This is a good-sized city. And God says, “You’re going to lead them into the land that I promised to give them.”

Now at this point, Joshua is about 90 years old. So no small challenge, not only to get across the Jordan, but for him at this season of life to take up this huge responsibility. And you have to think that Joshua in his humanness must have wondered, “Am I up to this challenge? Is there any way I can take and fulfill this assignment?”

By the way, for some of you who are older, let me just say God is never finished with you and He’s got a job for you and a responsibility and an assignment for you here on this earth until He takes you to heaven. I hope one of the things that will encourage you from the life of Joshua is thinking that you are here to fulfill what God has called you to do no matter how old you are. God will give you the strength to do whatever He has called you to do.

Now as we pick up in Joshua 1 verse 6, I want you to listen for a phrase and for certain words that are repeated multiple times. You won’t be able to miss them.

Joshua 1 verses 6 and 7:

Be strong and courageous [God says to Joshua], for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.”

Then look at verse 9.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

What were the words that were repeated? “Be strong and courageous.” Now the Hebrew word in the Old Testament that is translated “courage” is often tied to the concept of strength. If someone faces a challenge and loses courage, he’s going to feel weak. He’s going to feel inadequate. He’s going to feel, “I can’t handle this.” But if a person has courage, he’s going to be strengthened by that courage and he’s going to tackle whatever is before him with confidence and strength.

As I’m reading this passage, I’m asking myself why did God repeatedly tell Joshua to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid? And by the way, this wasn’t the first time these instructions had come to Joshua. If you go back into the book of Deuteronomy, God had already told Joshua previously through His servant Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

Why did God feel it was necessary for Joshua to hear this message over and over again? Well, God knew what lay ahead for Joshua and for the Children of Israel. God knew that the task to which He had called Joshua was bigger than He could handle. God knew the task was not humanly possible. And God knew that there were many tough battles ahead. There were fierce enemies that were going to have to be overcome in the Promised Land, and apparently God also knew that Joshua would be prone to be easily discouraged, to become fearful in the face of those challenges.

So God says over and over again to His servant, “Don’t be afraid. Be strong. Be courageous.” God was speaking to the inherent human weakness in Joshua and saying, “I want to infuse you with strength, the strength of My Spirit, the strength of My presence, the strength of My promises, the strength of My Word. Be strong. Be courageous. Don’t be frightened. Don’t be dismayed.”

Now you also have to wonder not only why did God say this over and over again to Joshua, but why did God take the time and make the effort to record this whole speech in the Bible? Why not be more succinct? I’m an editor by background and training and trade and I have been taught you have to be succinct. You don’t necessarily need to repeat things over and over again. The passage we’ve just read we would call redundant.

So why did God in His sovereignty as He inspired the Scripture inspire the repetition of these phrases? Well, I’m convinced it’s because God knows us and God knows what lies ahead for each of us. He knows that we are prone to be fearful and to become discouraged when we’re faced with major challenges or major assignments that are beyond our human ability.

So Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous. Courage doesn’t mean you don’t run into fearful circumstances. It means you do run into fearful circumstances and you do it with confidence and without fear. You do it with resolution. It’s a quality that God gives to us as we trust in Him, but it’s not an option for the servant of the Lord. God didn’t say to Joshua, “I hope you will be strong and courageous. I hope you won’t be frightened.” God says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.”

This suggests to me that to be strong and courageous in the midst of challenges is an expression of faith. It’s an exercise of the will. It’s a choice we can make to run head-on into the situation by God’s grace. God says, “You are to be strong and of good courage. You are not to be frightened or dismayed.” That word “dismayed” means to be afraid, to be confounded, to be alarmed.

How many of you right now in your lives are facing situations—one or more situations—where your natural response could be to be frightened or dismayed? Let me see your hands. Okay, most in this room. Let me say if you didn’t raise your hand just now, probably your hand will be up before too many more days pass because life being what it is, you’re usually coming out of a storm or in a storm or heading into a storm.

So we need these words. God gave this instruction not just to Joshua but for our instruction, for our exhortation. “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be frightened or dismayed.”

Now Joshua got his direction from God. Joshua didn’t wake up one morning and say, “I think I’d like to go across the Jordan River with these one to two million people. I think we’d like to take over Canaan, the Promised Land. I think we’d like to go tackle Jericho.” This was not Joshua’s idea.

If we were writing the script for our lives, we would not assign to ourselves the tasks that God assigns us. We would play it safe. We would do something we think we could manage. Some of you have a lot of children and if you were writing the script for your life, you would probably have determined how many children you think you could manage and then that’s how many children or how few you would have had.

But God knows what you can manage and God wants you to live in the realm of faith, so whether it’s children or marriage or work or church or relationships, God takes us past what we think we can handle, past what we can handle apart from Him, and He says, “Now go in and be strong and courageous.”

When we’re doing what God has assigned to us, we can be strong and of good courage. But we need to make sure what we’re doing is what God has assigned us to do.

Then God’s direction for Joshua was accompanied by some great and precious promises. God said in verse 3, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you.” That’s a promise.

Verse 5:

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. [That’s a promise.] Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. [That’s a promise.] I will not leave you or forsake you. [That’s a promise.]

I think that was the most reassuring promise God could possibly have given to Joshua and the same promise God gives us. He doesn’t just tell us what to do. He says, “I’ll go with you. I will be there. I will not leave you or forsake you.”

“Go therefore make disciples of all nations,” Jesus said to the disciples as He was leaving this earth. “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). He never sends us to do anything that He does not go with us.

Now as you study the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, which kind of blend together in this story, you’ll see that one of the things that helped protect Joshua and Moses from fear was the fear of the Lord. We see in the Scripture that the proper fear of the Lord displaces our natural human fears of what God may ask us to do.

Fifteen times in the book of Deuteronomy, twice in the book of Joshua, we’re told to fear the Lord. I think that’s one of the keys to being free from other fears.

Now Joshua needed to learn, as do we, that we are to be strong and courageous, not in our own strength or ability, but in God’s strength. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10, tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

If I have a mantra for my Christian life (pardon the use of that word), it’s this little phrase that comes to me over and over and over again from the little song, Jesus Loves Me. It’s that phrase: “We are weak but He is strong.” We are weak but He is strong. Many, many days I awake with that phrase on my heart. I am weak but He is strong. It’s His strength.

The Scripture says in Psalm 18, “For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (verse 29). “It is God who arms me with strength” (verse 32). “I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed” (verse 37). “For You have armed me with strength for the battle” (verse 39, NKJV).

Remind yourself of that when you feel like the battle that you are in is more than you can face, when you’re tempted to be discouraged, disspirited or fearful. “You have armed me, O Lord, with strength for the battle. It’s Your strength."

Think of that wonderful passage in Isaiah chapter 40.

The LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. . . . He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. . . . Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength . . . they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (verses 28-31, NASB).

It’s an incredible exchange God offers to us. We give Him our weakness. He gives us His strength. As long as we are in this flesh and in this world, we will face powerful enemies. The world, our flesh, the devil—they’re always opposing us. Even as Joshua was going to go into Canaan and face these Canaanites and Hittites and Perazites [that’s not parasites—that’s Perazites], but all these people who were opposed to God.

We face powerful enemies and we have no chance of resisting them successfully, much less overcoming them, as God has called us to do, if we are dependent on our own strength. We can’t do it. But when we go forth into battle—it may be a battle against that besetting sin, that temptation you face. It may be a battle for your marriage. It may be a battle for the soul of one of your children or your grandchildren. It may be a battle against the encroaching worldliness of this world system. When we go into battle armed in His strength, we cannot lose. The enemy, no matter how fierce, is no match for Christ.

I love that hymn that Charles Wesley wrote hundreds of years ago.

Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on.

Strong in the strength which God supplies through His eternal Son. Strong in the Lord of Hosts and in His mighty power.

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror.

You want to be a conqueror? Realize you don’t have the strength to conquer. Come to Jesus and say, “I am weak but You are strong. I trust today, Lord Jesus, in Your strength and Yours alone.”

As I was studying for this session, I came across a quote by Charles Haddon Spurgeon that relates I think beautifully to this passage in the book of Joshua. He says,

Be not disspirited [disspirited, discouraged, disheartened] as though your spiritual enemies could never be destroyed. You are able to overcome them. Not in your own strength. The weakest of those enemies would be too much for you in your own strength. But you can and shall overcome them through the blood of the Lamb.”

Do not ask how shall I dispossess them for they are greater and mightier than I? But go to the Strong for strength. Wait humbly upon God and the mighty God of Jacob will surely come to the rescue and you shall sing of the victory through His grace.

Isn’t that a great word of encouragement? Go to the Strong for strength and God will surely come to your rescue.

I shared earlier in this series how my study of the life of Joshua was prompted by a time of great weakness and discouragement in my own life as we were heading into a new phase of the ministry. We were moving from a quarter-hour format on the radio program to a half-hour daily format and I was feeling very disspirited. I’ve shared some of that earlier with you.

During that period of time when I was wallowing in discouragement and fear, I got an email from a man who’s in the Christian radio industry. He works with one of our partner stations. This man has got a pastor’s heart. He’s an encourager. We had not talked about what I was going through, but somehow God put it into his heart to know that this might be a difficult time for Nancy.

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