The game was not much of a contest throughout. We ended up losing the game 82-63. Istanbul is a crazy city! There is always so much traffic and it is so busy. We got back to Ankara around 11:30 p.m. last night. I stayed up for a little bit talking with my family, and then I hit the sack.
This morning I went to church. The church service was great! I am going to post some of the notes that I took:
3/14/10 - Sunday Morning - IPCA – Ankara, Turkey
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
COURAGE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
1. Courage is based on God’s character and his promises.
a. God keeps his word!
b. Blessings will be released when we courageously obey.
c. Courageous obedience is the door to many blessings.
2. Courage is an inside job (battle within ourselves).
a. It is about our attitude
b. Joshua didn’t allow fear to control him – Joshua 5:13-15.
c. Don’t RETREAT!
What areas of your life do you allow fear to manipulate you?
“Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the overcoming of fear.”
3. Courage includes a healthy attitude towards failure.
a. Fear of failure sometimes holds people back!
b. KEY FOR SUCCESS: Total allegiance to God.
c. Failure can become a stepping-stone to success.
d. Courage requires risk.
“GOD IS NOT PREDICTABLE, BUT HE IS FAITHFUL!”
4. Courage results in expansion of influence.
a. “Courage is contagious”
b. Your life expands in proportion to your courage.
5. Courage honors God!
a. Courage honors God, because faith honors God.
b. God can show his power through courage.
EXAMPLE – Jesus
- Courage to enter this earth as a baby
- Courage to face animosity
- Courage to go into Jerusalem knowing full well what he would go through.
- Courage to die on the cross for us!
God is pleased when we are courageously trusting Him!
“Don’t allow fear to be your advisor.”
- God can do anything despite our abilities.
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Verses of the day: Psalm 97:9 “For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth, you are exalted far above all gods.”
The Lord is the supreme ruler over all the earth!
Proverbs 14:30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
True peace only comes from the Lord. So many people in today’s world are searching for peace outside of the Lord. There are a lot of things that people go after, but once they obtain what they were after, they realize that the satisfaction or peace that they have is only temporary. God is our true source of peace!
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Thanks be to God that salvation is for ALL! The only way we can expect to stay on track in this wicked and perverse nation is to be following Jesus.
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The Purpose Driven Life – Day 22
“CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST”
Point to Ponder: “I was created to become like Christ.”
Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:18b
“God doesn’t want you to become a god; he wants you to become godly—taking on his values, attitudes, and character.” p. 172
“God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.” p. 173
“Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us.” p. 174
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I listened to a song today, and wanted to share it with you all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACNXaAiSSLY
5 weeks until home!! :)
Go LADY FLAMES!! They play in the Big South Championship at 2:00 p.m. EST. Good luck!!
God bless,
Megan