Category Archives: Courage

Great Values: Courage

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by DP

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go – Joshua 1:9

Before talking about courage, I thought it would be appropriate to shed some light on its nemesis: Fear. It is an emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune. Our common english word simply denotes it as dread or terror. Fear has a tendency to either immobilize people or seriously affect their activity. Not a good feeling at all.

But courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery. Some synonyms are fearlessness, dauntlessness, intrepidity, pluck, spirit. Courage, bravery and valor, refer to qualities of spirit and conduct. Bravery implies true courage with daring and an intrepid boldness. Valor implies heroic courage.

This is one of the great values ​​that are common and make civilizations and world religions great. It brings to mind some names of men and women that are or were courageous in their time. Famous names like Dr. Martin Luther King, William Wilberforce, Amelia Earhart, just to mention a few. These are commendable stories that stir our hearts and give us hope in the human existence. But also there are others that are not known to the world that equally inspire us every day. Those are the real stories that exude courage and inspire me the most, because they talk to me not from a podium but from my side. Our men and women of the armed forces; you might know a few. The mother or father that wakes up very morning to care for the family, when no one else cares. You might have some stories of your own, where you where challenged to move forward in spite of your fears because there was something more noble and more important than the fear you felt. That is courage my friend.

But the biggest act of courage ever recorded and forever branded in the human spirit was performed by the most uniquely of people. Well, that was his neighbors thought about him. They had seen him grow among them, they knew his family and what he did for a living. He had fixed or created many of their furnishings, and yet they were so wrong about him. And then in the wee hours of night, knowing that his time was near, he prayed alone, he suffered alone and ultimately gave his life alone. But he did what no other man could do, he redeemed what no other sacrifice could redeem, and confronted sin with the most unwavering stance of all, and he won. He was and He is, courage personified. His name is Jesus. Through him, we are able to confront life and overcome every obstacle we are faced with. When we are weak, he is strong and the world will be better for it.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to move forward in spite of it. Be courageous and change the world.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2012

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible dictionary. Tyndale reference library (479–480). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

A message for men

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by DP

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

“Every man has a battle to fight and a beauty to rescue” These were the words of John Eldredge when he took center stage at a conference I attended in 2004. It was a great and an inspiring message. In the past weeks my family and I saw the movie Courageous which stirred many of the same emotions I felt with John’s exposition a couple of years ago.

Since that moment, I find myself wrestling with the need of “quiet time”, some alone time, and by the same token, in need of “together” time too. An oxymoron, I know, but that is how I felt. “Quiet time” to ponder my thoughts, and “together” time to share my heart with my wife, my son and my daughter. Moments that matter. I feel that time is running faster than It takes for me to accomplish what is in my heart. There is an awakening inside for the greater truths that I should have been living long time ago. And synthesizing John’s talk several years ago; Our story is a story of greatness.

We all have this sense of greatness inside. Of being the redeeming knight, the hero and warrior that stands for truth and crushes evil. The man that stands up to the challenge and knows deep inside the values that need to be uphold, and he does so without second guessing. The sea of thoughts assault the mind and overwhelms the soul, as the search goes on for a verse, a passage or a word that might give it hope, strength, comfort and guidance. We want an answer that will appease the soul and tell it that everything will be ok. That we will be able to fulfill the dreams and desires that are rooted in the heart; greatness.

God created us to feel this way, but more importantly to act this way. It doesn’t matter where in life you are right now, you can step up to the challenge and be the man you were called to be. Wether you have a family or not, fulfill your story. And in order to achieve greatness, there will be need to be violent, to fight and be forceful against the menacing forces that are surrounding those we have been entrusted. That fight will be fought by standing firm on our knees. To stand unafraid of the future, to leave the sidelines and embrace life.

As the theme song for this movie states, “May the watchers become warriors, Let the men of God arise”, we are called to do the same as Joshua boldly spoke to the men of Israel, “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. So today make it your resolution, wherever you are in life today, to take back what is yours, to boldly proclaim that you will lead and not follow, that you will protect and not fear. That the time of idleness is over and that your legacy will not be the same, because you decided to make a dent in the universe and to finish well.

I completely agree with the song when it states, “The only way you’ll ever stand is on your knees with lifted hands”. Change the world, lead to greatness.

Breathe, Live, Move…

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

You can hear and purchase this wonderful statement on the song titled “Courageous” by Casting Crowns at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/courageous/id470669414?i=470669416

Not just a basket of roasted grain

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One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.” 1 Samuel 17:17

That morning he woke up as usual, he got dressed and picked his well known tools. He looked at his staff. A rugged stick that had the marks he remembered very well. There were two in particular that bursted like calling out for attention. The staff was still showing some small dried-out stains of blood on them. His mind immediately wandered to that day as he remembered the morning, which quite frankly, was one just like this day, where he had done the same routine.

That day he went on to tend to his fathers flock, it was early, he used his staff to guide the sheep to the pasture. Hours had passed by and he was smiling when he saw the baby sheep playing and following their mothers. His mind started to remember how many times he had carried them, played with them. The tenderness of them draw his heart even more closer. The need for someone to stand up for them, to protect them and show them the way, was an inner force that stirred his soul and made his seemingly unimportant life, important. He already was shunned by his brothers, and in many ways he felt that his father did not had him in the highest regard. So as he saw the sheep, he saw himself. He saw the need for protection, for guidance, and for love. He knew that he had to be the voice for those that had none. And as he saw the sheep playing, a small voice resounded in his heart saying, “This is the way I love you and protect you”. And immediately he understood that God had used the sheep to shape his life. The shunning, the rejection and the affliction that was endured by him, were the vehicles God used to transform his life.

In the myriad of emotions, he caught his breath and with certain conviction in his spirit he took all of these emotions and realizations in. Standing up, there it was; lurking his way was the unthinkable; a lion. In a split second, every muscle in his body readied. His fists clenched, his eyes locked on his target, and like if his feet were leading his soul he began to run towards the beast. He had nothing in his hands but his staff. His spirit was fuel by an unexplainable thrust. And he fought the lion, and killed it. He defended the shunned, the unprotected, the weak and the meek. That day, with his hands filled with blood, he made the first mark in his staff. A mark that would remind him of God’s power and protection.

And returning from this wandering, he got up thinking it would be as usual. But then his father asked him to go see his brothers on the frontline of the battle against the Philistines. So David rose up and went of on to meet his brothers taking with him what he thought was just a basket of roasted grain. But this day staff in hand, he went out to fulfill his destiny.

So be aware, what might look as a mere basket, might be the key to the greatest moment in your life and not just a basket of roasted grain.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2011
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Keep walking, step by step

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“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’” Exodus 6:6-8

What were they thinking and feeling? One can imagine that as they walked out through the streets of Egypt, mixed emotions raced in their heads, hearts and souls. This marked the ending of slavery, peril and hard punishing work. Their eyes could not believe they were leaving the land of Egypt, with treasures never dreamed of, and moving to a land never seen. Was this real? Could this be possible? Where they doing the right thing? This was so new to them. They had only experienced slavery and the hardship, since they had all had been born into it. Making bricks out of straw and clay was the task they had to endure up to this day, every day, so anything aside of that, was new.

But in spite of their emotions, fears and doubts, they kept walking. The dream was greater than the fear. With very step they took the towering pyramids looked smaller, and the hope in their hearts for freedom larger and larger. God’s promise was being unfolded in front of their eyes; He was redeeming them with a powerful arm and great acts of judgement. And so they kept walking into the land God had promised. A land they had not seen, but God had promised. And they knew the promise was true.

You might be feeling quite the same as the children of Israel felt. Your soul brims with expectation, a new land will come in sight soon. Something yearned for many years and obscured by the commonality of life. Shunned by the trivialities of everyday, but today, is the day. The day you will walk out of that prison made by your own thoughts. It is the day your will become free and will walk right in front of those that had oppressed you for many years. Your path might be unknown, but it will be free of straws and clay. It will be filled with provision, direction and new experiences. A place that will free you from bondage, a place that will stretch your mind and your gifts. A place where goodness and mercy will follow you. A place that will change you and in turn, you will change the world.

Many emotions might be racing inside of you. And you might hesitate to take the next step; they are many unknown variables and many uncertain outcomes. But, what is the alternative? To do nothing? To be paralyzed by the looming fear of a threat that might not be even real? There is no guarantee of what you might confront, and you might be walking into a greater challenge, but for an even greater reward. No more straw nor bricks, but a promise of a new life. A land that flows with milk and honey. A plentiful place.

Keep walking, step by step.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2011
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

One more battle

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by DP

“So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.” So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land. Joshua 14:12-13

It took 45 years for him to receive his promised land, and God made good on his promise. It is so amazing to see that a man at his eighty-five years, when the time seemed to be a time of rest and a time of slowing down, he chose to fight a last battle; he chose to conquer and drive the descendents of Anak out of their own land. And these where not usual people.

Can you imagine, this man at his eighty-five years of age, entering the land and ordering them to leave. What went through their minds? They might have said, “Who is this little old man? Who does he think he is? Let’s just crush him and show him who we are.” The peculiar characteristic of these inhabitants of Hebron, was their might and their height; they were giants. But this was not new to Caleb, because forty-five years earlier his report back to Moses and the people of Israel was, “they are bread for us, do not fear.” That spirit was still in Caleb, the spirit of a conqueror, a dreamer and a giant defeater. That day he had seen what he wanted.

It may take years of work and preparation but the promise God has made to you, will come to pass. Probably you thought of a different timeframe, but it will come at the precise moment that it will be needed. Caleb, waited for many years and in order to live his dream he fought another battle. And the story says that the land rested from war, because what God gives, brings peace. So time had passed and the reward season was up. He walked in the land of giants, and when you walk among giants, your life will never be the same.

Stand up, another battle might still be ahead. But be of good cheer, because if God promised it, it will come to pass, and there will be no might, height, wall or threat that will keep you from your promise. So when the fight is over and the dust settles your name will be known to have lived in the land of the giants. And it will only take, one more battle.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

…depart to the other side

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And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Matthew 8:18

How amazing it is to know that if He said to depart to the other side, He knows we will get there. Jesus gave the command. It was not a suggestion, much less a question, a command. If you read carefully the scripture, He was also the first on the boat, and then His disciples followed him.

We see all of the turmoil around us and we consciously rationalize, I’m not going that way. But deep down inside His voice is saying, “depart to the other side”. We know it, but we are afraid, we feel uncertain and uncomfortable. Haven’t you noticed that He is the first one on the boat? Jesus knew that a storm was on the horizon, and maybe his disciples saw the sky and realized, it’s going to get ugly. Nevertheless, Jesus was the first on-board. His power over everything was later manifested in the middle of the storm.

What is it today that is depriving your sleep? What has surrounded you that keeps you unease? Are you concerned about the future, the what ifs’ of life. Those situations and mental outcomes that we create and dread so much. He is already in the boat. He knows your condition, He knows what you are lacking, wanting, needing. He knows. In middle of the situation we often don’t see Him. We just see the waves. We just see ourselves, alone. Our hearts fill with fear of the unknown.

His command is to -depart to the other side-. And if He said it, we believe it and that settles it. He intends and will perform his word. His thoughts for you are thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. He is already in the boat. He is waiting for you to get in and start sailing. Yes, a storm might be in the horizon, a difficult situation is probably around the corner, or maybe you are already in one, but the good news is that He is in the boat, and more importantly, He said to depart to the other side.

Don’t fear, He will arise in middle of the storm and rebuke the wind and the sea. Remember, He said, “depart to the other side”

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2008

Will you flee?

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by DP

But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” Nehemiah 6:11

Nehemiah was in the midst of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, when he was interrupted five times with messages from Sanballat Geshem Tobias for him to stop. He answered each time in the same way, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (v. 3). They even invented stories and sent them in writing saying that the intention of Nehemiah, was not merely to rebuild the city, but that he planned a revolt and would proclaim himself king (v. 6-7). Nothing further from reality.

The story tells us that Nehemiah did not stop the work he was doing, and that even when he answered, his answer was short and fast as at other times – “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart,” ( v. 8 ) – He did not enter into arguments, no explanations offered. Was direct and did not wander from what he had been called. He acknowledged that he was in a difficult moment, but could discern that if he paid attention to the distractions of his present, its future would be affected. Nehemiah, decided he would not flee. He would not let fear dictate his actions, he would not take refuge in a safe place when a great work was in progress. He would not allow fear to mark his destiny and be remembered that way. (v. 13) He also acknowledged he was doing a great work, and could not attend to other things or allow fear to deflect him.

What is distracting you today? Is it the fear of the unknown that dictates how you respond to distractions? Does your financial situation paralyze you and drive you to refuge to “your safe place?” To make decisions based on fear? Or perhaps it is a disease that you’ve been struggling for a while and you want to give up. You question often, what will happen to your children? Scripture tells us that Nehemiah recognized that the distraction was just that, a distraction, and would not allow fear to define him, or arrest him, or controls him.

Today, recognize your way, acknowledge that you are doing a great work with your children, your job, your family, your neighbors and you will not be heeding the distractions. Remember that when you’re in the midst of a great work, the distractions will not cease. But you will not let fear define who you are. You are doing a great work and you can’t stop. Look at the wall and continue to build. Do not be dismayed.

Fear does not define you. Ignore the distractions. Do as the prophet did, more than a question he made a declaration. Being a man or a woman like you, will you flee? Definitely never!

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright DP, 2008