“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to move forward in spite of it.” – DP
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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Tag Archives: English
Great Values: Courage
by DP
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.
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Invisible Leadership
by DP
“…There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.” Ecclesiastes 9:14-15
Salomon remembered a man that by his knowledge, saved a town from destruction. A town that with few people, was rescued from a great army. A man that because of what he knew and shared meant that other people lived. Today’s society is longing for people like the one described in this passage. Men and women that will act unselfishly in any situation because what is at stake is greater than themselves. Men and women that will look at the bigger picture instead of looking at themselves. Men and women that will exert invisible leadership, unrewarded leadership.
What moves you? Is it the recognition and the lure of the spotlight? And if so, is it the right motive? How many times in our lives we have been not acted because there was no recognition, no reward? And by being idle, suffering has come upon others because we remained unfazed. Our human nature is always looking to be satisfied, to be spotlighted and to draw attention to itself. But let’s learn from the wise poor man and act even when unrewarded. How much good can be done if we act as invisible leaders, as the vessels of wisdom and assertive response. Even when unrecognized and unappreciated.
When you are certain of who you are, you need no external recognition and you will actually shun the spotlight. You will push with all your might so the town is saved, the company you work for is saved, your community, your family, your children, all will be spared because of you. And maybe nobody will think of you afterwards or thank you. But you will know that you did what had to be done. Because you had the courage to exert invisible leadership.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© 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.
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Lifting winds
“When winds are blowing against you, use them to lift your life to new heights. Grow!” – DP
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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For a life devoted
“God takes full responsibility of the consequences for a life wholly devoted to HIM” – Dr. Charles Stanley
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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Follow the harvesters
Ruth was in Bethlehem as she came from Moab following Noemi, after her sons (one of them Ruth’s husband) and her husband had died. This was a new culture and a new setting for Ruth, so she was not used to the traditions nor the ways of this new place. In this particular scene, she is helping her mother in law to find food in a land in which she has no family nor she is not known, or so she thought. So she asked for permission to go after the harvesters and pick up what they had left. Harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields, so these harvesters were experienced. They were after the big crops. Ruth took all that was left by the professionals. After inquiring about her performance, Boaz met her that day and he instructed her to follow the young women closely and what part of field they harvested. He told her to learn the craft from those that had mastered it. She had to watch and learn.
In order to gain knowledge you need to follow those that had done it before you. This is not new, but some of us just don’t like to be seen as followers or that we just don’t know something that everyone else appears to know. It might also be a hidden truth about ourselves that we just have not acknowledged yet, that we still have some pride in us. In order to grow, you have to know. But the matter of the fact remains, that in order to master a craft, you have to follow those that have been great before you. There is an art to be learned in every craft. I am equating a harvester to someone that has experience in our area of interest or has achieved results in the area you are trying to master. Don’t mind the small things. We get so involved in the small things that we miss the big harvest. Ask questions, be watchful and learn. These are those that had “done it” before. These are people that have earned the right to be heard. The contrary is also true. Never follow someone that has not walked the talk. Would you follow financial advice from someone that is broke? Will you get marriage advise from someone that neglects his or her family? As Jeff Henserson said: “Because the people that you listen to, are a preview of the future you”, in other words, you will become what you and who you listen to. If you like what you see, keep listening. If you don’t, walk away, find a good harvester.
I remember that I thought I knew and mastered public speaking. My particular job requires that I convey and articulate ideas and concepts that need to be fully understood before action is taken. As I was taking a series of trainings over the course of several months on the subject, I fully realized how little I knew and how much I still had to learn. I learned simple things as posture, tone, and even pauses. Things that I thought were not that important as was the message, when in fact there were. They actually made my message all the more clear and engaged the audience in ways I never thought it could. I followed the harvesters and still do today.
If you are humble enough to admit that you do not know it all, you will be humble enough to learn everyday. It is good to be trendy and to create new ways to do things. But experience is paramount. It will change the way you perceive life and you will help you go further faster, because you learned to follow the harvesters.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 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.
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You got to play
In the movie “They call me Sirr” based on the true story of Sirr Parker, an underprivileged boy that rose to become an NFL Player, has a scene where his cousin Dante tells him that he needs to play: Sirr: “I don’t know, I don’t know if I can do this.” Dante: “You got to do this Sirr, you got to play. (Sirr looks unsure) A’ight, Don’t play, don’t make a difference. Just be another dumb brother with a dream. What, you think you’re gonna make it out in the hood? H— no! All you hear about growing up in this hood is that there are two kinds of dreams man. Broken ones and the ones that don’t come true. If you want to buy in all that, then fine, don’t play.” In this dialogue, a great truth is revealed. Many times our dreams don’t come true, not because they are impossible, but because we don’t pursue them. We have the idea but we don’t follow through, we just don’t play. And when we fail to take action, we live our life with broken dreams. We give up without even starting.
There is a lot of people that will try to put you down and belittle your dreams and aspirations, if you let them. And if they do, it means that you are walking and talking to the wrong crowd. These are the same ones that have not achieved their own dreams and have put a ceiling to what can and cannot be done for them and for others. These are people that are hurting and without realizing it, they are hurting others in the same way. But you are different, you were created for greatness, for a life full of blessings. This doesn’t mean that all will be easy. The writer of Galatians clearly stated and encouraged us not to get tired of doing what is good, because he knew the propensity of us giving up. He knew about the trials we confront every day that attempt to keep us from achieving our calling. He also addressed the fact that if we give in to that mindset, we will become bitter and stagnant, perpetuating the wrong cycle in our lives.
If we don’t give up, we will reap a harvest of blessing that God has prepared for us and the dreams and aspirations that have been deposited in our heart will come to pass, at the right time. God created us for greatness, and made us a little lower than Himself and put all things under our authority. So why would you settle for less? Why would you be afraid to walk into the great and awesome future God has for you? If you dream it, it can happen. But there is a condition: You got to play.
“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, 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.
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Welcome home!
He opened his eyes and woke up. It had been another restless night. His heart was aching. Was it all a dream? As he could, he hurried to his son’s room. There it was as the day before, an empty bed, and the ache became even more pronounced. Walking slowly around the room he wondered why he had left. He had given him everything he needed and had loved him everyday since the day he was born. “Why would he leave a place of love for a place of lavish life?” He asked himself. How many nights this room was a witness of the laughter and the stories, and yes, the tears. Back then this room was warm place. He laid down on the bed and cried himself to sleep, hoping that it would become a warm place again. How much he wanted a chance to mess his son’s hair again, while he was sleeping, embrace him and kiss him. After a while he opened his eyes as the sun started to raise, warming up the room where he was; but not warm enough as to erase the cold feeling of the empty space in his heart.
And as the other days went, tending to the farm, the flock and his servants maintained him distracted, which was good. But from time to time he caught himself glancing at the distance, longing, hoping. How many times had he done this and nothing? Should he just give up to the fact that his son was not coming back? But this love was so deep, so wide, that kindled this hope constantly.
As his servants where informing about the days work, he glanced to the distance once again and then and there he saw something he had not seen before. A silhouette he was very familiar with. Could it be? Could this be his son? Wiping his eyes as he was seeing a vision, he peeked out to see clearly, leaving everyone still talking. And his heart bursted, filled with love and compassion as never before. It was him! With no regard of how he would look, or what would anyone think, he ran desperately to his son, nothing else mattered, his son had returned. With tears in his eyes and trying to catch his breath, he embraced him and kissed him in a way like he would never let go again. His son was dirty, malnourished and hurt. But now he was home and everything would be ok. The one that was lost had been found.
This could be you. On the outside, a smile is always seen in your face, but in the inside you are lacking and wanting. You are hurting and you desperately want to come home. Take courage and do so, it will all be good. So go ahead, return to your father, to the one that loves you in a way that surpasses any understanding.
He has been longing for your return, and is waiting for you.
And when He gets a glimpse of you, he will run to you, embrace you and kiss you and say, Welcome home my child, Welcome home!
“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, 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
BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE boldly 