Chapter 2 – Overcoming Obstacles
Overcoming Your Fears
Gideon pleaded with God to show him signs that God would deliver the Midianites
to Israel. The signs Gideon demanded on the two occasions were fulfilled by God;
those signs gave Gideon a strong conviction that God was with him.
A greater demonstration of Gideon’s unwavering faith in God was when through a
series of tests God asked him to conduct on his army, for the size strength of his
army be whittled down, initially to 10,000 from 32,000, and finally to 300. To go
to war with 300 soldiers against a menacing army of the Midianites, counting
soldiers in hundreds of thousands, could only be down to faith in God; his faith in
God helped overcome his fears.
Chapter 3-When Dreams and Heroes Die
The story of Joseph is a demonstration that dreams come to a terminal end before
realization only when the dreamer gives up on himself. Despite the daunting
challenges and trials, Joseph faced he responded with equanimity; his faith in God
was unwavering and he kept his good character as well. God rewarded Joseph’s
faith with his elevation as the viceroy in Egypt.
Another lesson to learn from the story of Joseph, some of our trials and tribulations
are ordained by God, mostly in preparation for overcoming challenges ahead. He
understood this thus he didn’t display any animosity towards his brothers when they
met up.
Chapter 9 - Reaching Out to Others-
Boaz demonstrated the redemption of Christ for our souls through the warmth,
accommodation, and compassion extended to Ruth and Naomi, two widows in dire
straits. Boaz offered them protection from the young men around, an abundance of
food, and comfort; Boaz made sure Ruth took more than enough of the harvests
home to Naomi. And all these Boaz did without any ulterior motive.
More importantly, Boaz knew Ruth was a gentile, though a converted one, he went
out of his way to repay her kindness and loyalty to Naomi.
Despite the constraints of sharing his estate between two heirs, a consequence of
marriage to Ruth, Boaz still went ahead, thus affirming God’s provisions for Naomi
and Ruth.
Chapter 12-Standing Up for What You Believe In:
Daniel demonstrated his abiding faith in God, the premise being Daniel’s recognition
of God’s sovereignty over earthly kings. A young Daniel used wisdom to
demonstrate his belief when together with his three friends refused to eat the
unclean foods from the king’s table which would have compromised his faith.
The growth and development of the spiritual determination of Daniel was best
demonstrated in old age. The courage displayed to go against the king’s edict
prohibiting the worship of God, but instead, the idol made by the king, showed
Daniel’s faith in God to deliver him. A lily-livered person could have hidden under
the frailties of old age as an excuse to obey the king.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles
“When we are in a right relationship with God, we enjoy being in God’s house.
But when we are not in a right relationship with God, we do not want to be in
the house of God.” (Hindson, 2003) This quote resonated with me because we all
do get very busy sometimes but is important to show our love and devotion to
God by going to church. Church is not only about worshipping God and being in
His house, it is about the sense of community and fellowship that comes along
with going to church as well. We must always make sure that God is the #1
priority in our lives, and we can do that by going to church at least once a week.
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
“These cycles are true in our own lives. When we are doing what God wants us
to do, everything goes well. That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems and
difficulties. It simply means the hand of God’s blessing is real.” (Hindson, 2003)
As humans, it is all too often that we get discouraged when we face problems and
difficulties in our lives. But the reason that the trials and tribulations do not last
forever is because of God. He gives us the strength to pull ourselves out of bad
situations and with prayer and Bible study, there is an answer for every problem
someone could be facing in their lives. zz
Chapter 9: Reaching Out to Others
“Jesus, the Savior, came forth from Bethlehem to find us slaving over the scraps
in the field of life. And He loved us in spite of our pitiful situation. He set his
heart on us and promised, “I will marry you and redeem you.” It is the pledge of
the ultimate Redeemer to you and me personally.” (Hindson, 2003) Similarly to the
story of Boaz and Ruth, Jesus saves us from any and all sin and loves us even
though we all have our downfalls as humans. The love that God has for us to send
his one and only son to die a painful death for the redemption of his children is
the purest form of selflessness and love to ever exist. zz
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
“Sometimes we trust everything but God to get the job done. Not David. He went
out to face Goliath armed with faith in God. He dared to go where no one else
would go. And he went with very little in his hands.” (Hindson, 2003) Sometimes,
the faith in God is all we need to succeed. No matter how much money is in our
bank account, where we come from, or what other privileges we do or do not
have, having the armor of God is all we need. Just as David went up against
Goliath with nothing but a slingshot but still prevailed with God’s protection and
love, we can do the same with any obstacle that comes our way. zz
Realizing your Goals:
To realizing our goals, we will have to do what the word of God says. The truth
is in the word of God, when you are looking forward to achieving your goal
depends on the word of God. The Benefit of what following the word of God is
that it makes it. Possible to achieve our goals faster. It may not be easy, but the
path to fulfilling or realizing our goals is in our obedience to the word of God.
Sometimes what we planned for may not happen early enough to meet or
expectations. The Bible says, “We should keep our eyes on the higher calling” (Phil
3:14), that we may see things through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. “The author and
the finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2).
2. Reaching out to others
It may sound easy but from my experience, reaching out to others may involve you
swallowing your pride and asking for help. While some people may be difficult to
reach, some may readily accept to be reached. Whatever it is we are reaching out
for must be the focus and not the person. Many times, we misunderstand the
reason why we must reach out and seek for help or even helping others. I would
like to mention here that, one should not blame those that are skeptical, it could
be from their bad experience from the past. However, we must not use that as a
measure of the present experience. As we may know, the experience of the
disciples is not the same, likewise our experience will not be the same. That is
why we should understand the uniqueness of each one in every situation.
3. Standing up for what you believe
Whatever one believes should be held with a sense of conviction. If you cannot
stand up for what you believe, then no one will stand up for it. It is therefore a
good thing to first see the importance of what we believe, understand it and ensure
we have what it takes to carry on in the direction of what we believe. Some
people get frustrated along the way when face with challenges that questions what
they believe. Usually when this happens, it is not the challenges but the reason
why the believe should be questioned. The audacity to stand up for what one
believes should come from within with careful understanding the facts involved and
careful thought on the subject matter.
4. Facing your weaknesses
No one that is alive that does not have a weakness. However, to face one’s
weaknesses depends on the ability to accept the area of the weakness and start
working to improve on it. When one ignores his or her weakness shameful
occurrence is inevitable. The danger of not accepting this simple fact makes it very
difficult to receive help or to be helped. When an individual own up to his or her
weaknesses, even friends and enemies alike may determine to help when the need
arises. Paul was saying “that is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in
insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I
am strong”. (2Corinthians 12:10). Admonishing us to be mindful of this thing as
Christians.
Courageous faith is therefore what gives a Christian the power to stand when all
other hopes are gone to the thin air. The evidence of things not seen but been
fully persuaded that God can not lie. And therefore, keep trusting until the battle is
finally won.
Chapter 4 - Becoming a Leader
Everyday we strive to be the best we can possibly whether that's to get things done
quicker or to improve on things in our life. As I read this chapter, the main point
that sticks out to me is learning from your mistakes and making whatever you
desire to do turn real. "Every time I read the story of Moses, I am reminded that
it really doesn’t matter what your background is. You can either benefit from it, or
you can rise above it." (Hindson, 64) I do my very best to create a positive path
for my life, but without making mistakes and learning from them I wouldn't be the
person I am today.
Chapter 9 - Reaching Out to Others
This chapter really stood out to me because of how todays world is and how we
interact with many different people and things around communities. As a full-time
working student, sometimes I struggle to reach out to others. Personally, I believe
that reaching out to others is a good way to keep a positive atmosphere in our
lives today because everyday we may need a time to celebrate and also we may
need a time for cheering up. Jesus wants us to, "love thy neighbor as he loves us"
and I believe reaching out to people to show we care about how they feel is
important.
Chapter 10 - Realizing your Goals
I set goals for myself because it pushes me to focus on reaching them. Goals can
be small and easy or large and exaggerated but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try
to reach them and become the best version of ourselves as we can be. God and I
are the only things who can chase and achieve my goals. God puts faith in us for
us to believe in ourselves. "David didn’t ask God to put more in his hands before
answering the challenge. Most of us never get going for God because we want Him
to equip us first." (Hindson, 157) This quote from the reading sums up this chapter,
we achieve our goals when we work first then everything else falls into place.
Chapter 12 - Standing Up for What You Believe
This chapter may be my favorite chapter from the reading. Standing up for what
you believe in is something I value because in today’s world we encounter many
different beliefs and differences. "God helped them to pass the examination because
they stood up for their beliefs and convictions." (Hindson, 184) I have been
involved in many different activities and conversations where I have been questioned
about my certain beliefs. As a believer, Jesus has blessed with very piece of
evidence and word to stand strong on his faith, just as he stands strong on us.
Different opinions shouldn’t influence what we believe in, we should listen to others
as they may be giving us valuable information.
1. Chapter 2 - Overcoming Obstacles – Raising children is a rewarding
experience despite never being easy. When it comes to parenting, fathers
of their households are to set positive examples for their children, provide
spiritual heritage, financial security, teach biblical instruction, provide
consistent discipline, give practical advice, and share blessings for the
future. Whether certain types of people become leaders or are born
leaders, there is no doubt that some people show leadership qualities at a
very young age. Regardless, God calls men to be the leaders of their
households, at the church they go to, and in their communities. The
husband is to always love his wife, honor her, trust her, praise her,
sanctify her, protect her from harm, provide for her, teach her, etc.
2. Chapter 4 – Becoming a Leader – Everyone has sins they want to
repent, fears they want to overcome, mistakes they want to fix,
disappointments they want to make up for, and heartaches they want to
forget and leave behind. To put it simply, everyone fails and makes
mistakes in life, and that’s completely normal. When failure comes our
way, we need to remember that failing is part of being human, we
should never call ourselves failures just because we fail, we shouldn’t call
ourselves failures unless we stop trying, and we should focus on our
future instead of our past failures. In conclusion, despite our limitations,
we have the ability to learn from our mistakes, and this is one of the
key steps in becoming leaders.
3. Chapter 8 – Facing Your Weaknesses – Everyone has their own habits
that they want to move on from, and some of these habits tend to be
detrimental to their lives as Christians. While some people want to
overcome these habits, others remain in denial. Both men and women
struggle with pride, arrogance, materialism, anger, jealousy, envy, greed,
self-indulgence, and many other things having to do with sin. There are
such things as internal and external weaknesses. Some examples of
internal weaknesses include guilt, fear, worry, and depression. However,
just because everyone has their weaknesses doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try
to correct them and better ourselves. We have all fallen short, and even
though we all face these weaknesses and flaws, we can also persevere
through them.
4. Chapter 10 – Realizing Your Goals – God uses stories told in the Bible
to get our attention. God transforms average people into leaders, and the
stories that tell about these people are incredibly impactful to where we
never forget them. For example, the story of David and Goliath talks
about David’s victory over Goliath, and that he defeated him over
seemingly impossible odds. Originally, David planned on taking on the
entire Philistine army, and since Goliath was astonished by his level of
courage, he stayed to fight. David then ran towards Goliath, pulled out a
stone from his bag, and fired at Goliath’s head using a slingshot. These
types of stories inspire us to achieve our goals and remain determined
while having God’s Word in mind.
Chapter 2) Overcoming obstacles - The Bible portrays overcoming obstacles as an
integral part of human existence and spiritual growth. It highlights the journey of
individuals who faced immense challenges but found strength and guidance from
their faith in God. From Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, to David
defeating Goliath, to the perseverance of Job through suffering, the Bible emphasizes
the triumph of perseverance, courage, and trust in divine providence. It teaches that
obstacles can serve as opportunities for personal transformation, deepening one's
relationship with God, and developing virtues such as patience, humility, and
resilience. Ultimately, the Bible inspires believers to face adversity with unwavering
faith, knowing that God's power and grace can enable them to conquer any obstacle.
Chapter 4) Becoming a Leader - The Bible presents the concept of becoming a
leader as a calling and a responsibility. It showcases various individuals who were
chosen by God to lead and guide His people. From Moses, who led the Israelites
out of Egypt, to Joshua, who succeeded him in leading the nation into the promised
land, to the disciples chosen by Jesus to spread His message, the Bible emphasizes
the qualities of servant leadership, humility, and obedience to God's will. It
highlights the importance of integrity, wisdom, and the ability to inspire and guide
others. The Bible encourages aspiring leaders to seek God's guidance, rely on His
strength, and prioritize the well-being and welfare of those they lead, leading by
example and serving with love and compassion.
Chapter 8) Facing your weaknesses - The Bible acknowledges the reality of human
weaknesses and encourages individuals to confront and address them. It emphasizes
the need for humility and self-awareness, recognizing that everyone falls short in
some way. The Apostle Paul, in his writings, speaks of his own weaknesses and
emphasizes that God's power is made perfect in human weakness. The Bible teaches
that acknowledging and confessing weaknesses opens the door for God's grace and
transformative work in one's life. It encourages individuals to rely on God's strength
rather than their own, seeking His guidance, and allowing Him to shape and mold
them. By facing their weaknesses with honesty and surrendering to God's
transformative power, believers can experience growth, redemption, and ultimately,
find strength in their weaknesses through the power of God's grace.
Chapter 10) Standing up for what you believe in - The Bible emphasizes the
importance of standing up for one's beliefs and convictions, even in the face of
opposition. It presents numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated
unwavering faith and courage in the pursuit of truth and righteousness. From
Daniel's refusal to worship false gods to the apostles' bold proclamation of Jesus'
resurrection, the Bible highlights the need for unwavering commitment and obedience
to God's commands. It encourages believers to be steadfast, fearless, and willing to
endure persecution for the sake of their faith. The Bible teaches that standing up
for what is right often requires sacrifice, but it also promises God's faithfulness and
rewards for those who remain steadfast in their convictions.
Chapter 3: When Dreams and Heroes Die
This chapter taught us about restoration within individual families’
and God’s plan to keep his promises. We first learn about a man named Bob who
is currently feeling a donated by his ex and his children after a divorce. We are
then told about the story of Joseph being abandoned by his brothers and later
becoming the second hand man to Pharaoh. Even though, Joseph had every right to
hate his family, he chose to soft-hearted and grieved for his family. This story is
all part of God’s restoration of the relationship with His people. At the end of the
chapter, we learn that Bob “later remarried and committed his life to full-time
service.”
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
zz zz z zz zz zz zz This chapter challenges readers to break free from the excuses that
hold them back from living a life of bold faith. The author emphasizes the
importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, rather than
blaming circumstances or others. Through personal anecdotes, biblical examples, and
practical advice, the chapter guides readers on a journey towards a faith that is
courageous and unyielding. It encourages individuals to step out of their comfort
zones, face their fears and trust in God’s guidance. This chapter also highlights the
power of perseverance and the need to rely on God’s strength in times of adversity.
Overall, “No More Excuses” in Courageous Faith inspires readers to live a life of
faith that is characterized by bravery, determination and unwavering trust in God.
Chapter 8: Facing Your Weakness
This chapter explores the importance of acknowledging and addressing
our weakness in order to experience true growth and transformation. The author
emphasizes that weaknesses are not meant to hold us back, but rather serve as
opportunities for God’s strength to be made perfect in us. Through personal stories,
biblical stories and examples, and practical insights, the chapter encourages readers
to confront their weaknesses head-on, rather than avoiding or denying them. It
teaches that vulnerability and humility are key in allowing God to work in and
through our weaknesses, ultimately leading to a deeper reliance on Him. The
chapter also provides guidance on how to overcome self-doubt and develop a
mindset of courage and faith in the face if weaknesses. Overall, “Facing You
Weakness” in Courageous Faith inspire readers to embrace their weaknesses as
opportunities for God’s power to be revealed in their lives.
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
Realizing your goals requires courageous faith, as it involves stepping
out of your comfort zone and taking risks. It is important to have a clear vision
of what you want to achieve and believe in your ability to make it happen.
Cultivating a mindset of courage allows you to overcome obstacles and persevere in
the face of adversity. It is necessary to confront fears and doubts head-on,
acknowledging that failure is a possibility but not allowing it to deter you.
Courageous faith also involves truth und in a higher power or a greater purpose,
knowing that there is a plan for your life. By combining determination, resilience,
and a strong believe in yourself and your goals, you can overcome challenges and
realize your aspirations.
Chapter 4: Becoming a Leader
While some are naturally born leaders, many are developed over
time through mentorship, education, experience, and even failure. “Failure is
especially hard on leaders. We don’t want to fail. In fact, we fear failure because
we’ve seen what it does to people” (Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 61). A leader
is going to fail over and over throughout life because they lead others, make
choices daily, and are responsible for helping guide the lives of others whether
that’s co-workers, friends, or family members. However, what is important to
remember as a leader is that it’s ok to fail. The best thing a leader can do is
make mistakes and learn from them.
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
There are many things surrounding us in our lives that we wish
could and should change. However, many humans acknowledge what needs to or
should change but do nothing about it and make excuses as to why they can’t be
done. Although making excuses may be a common to human nature, “God is still
in the business of eliminating our excuses. An excuse is nothing more than a lie
packaged to look like an explanation” (Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 96). If we
are able to instill trust in the Lord and eliminate excuses in our lives as to why
we can’t do something, we will prosper, grow, and improve the overall quality of
our lives.
Chapter 8: Facing Your Weaknesses
Acknowledging and facing personal weaknesses is a challenge for
most humans. Because of the world we live in, there are several temptations that
may not seem detrimental to oneself. However, these temptations turn into personal
weaknesses. “Everyone faces temptation in one form or another. For some, the
struggle is internal: guilt, fear, worry, or depression. For others, the struggle is
external: sex, money, fame, and fortune” (Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 122). For
example, there are many great athletes in the world. However, the greatest athletes
never settle with where they’re at. They constantly are focusing on how they can
get better. As humans, taking this approach in our personal lives should be a
central focus.
Chapter 12: Standing Up for What You Believe In
In the Bible, there are several instances of prophets, martyrs, and
several others standing up for their faith, and even dying for what they believed in.
Today, most of the world’s population does not live in a society where they have
to do that. However, nowadays it can be easier to cave into personal beliefs
because of the many temptations, distractions, and peer pressure that exists
throughout society. One of my favorite quotes from the reading made by Cal
Thomas states; “if you don’t stand up for something, you will fall for everything”
(Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 191). If you stop standing up for some of your
beliefs, it is likely you won’t stand up for any of them.
Chapter Two: Overcoming Obstacles
zz zz zz This chapter tells the story of Jacob and how he stole his brother
birthright and blessing. He fled to live with his uncle and while there fell in love
with Rachel. He worked seven years then at the wedding, she was switch out for
her sister. Jacob then married both sisters and had to work an additional seven
years. Jacob then had to overcome going back home. Jacob wrestled an angel to
receive a blessing so his brother would not kill him upon his return. He received
his blessing, and his name was changed to Israel. Esau met his brother with a hug.
Jacob tried to settle outside of Shesham. He then needed to flee again and settled
in Bethel.
Chapter Four: Becoming a Leader
zz zz zz zz zz zz zz zz In this chapter it tells the story of Moses. He had to overcome his
past where he had accidently killed an Egyptian, which was punishable by death.
He fled and it seemed like God had turned away. Instead, God chose to use Moses
and even after 40 years in obscurity he was called by God to free the Hebrews
from slavery and lead them. Moses had a speech impediment and seemed unfit to
be a leader and yet he performed great miracles and lead his people into the
wilderness in hopes of God’s promise of entering the promised land.
Chapter Six: No More Excuses
God can choose the most unlikely of people to complete his will.
Gideon was such a person, a coward, and yet was chosen by God to defeat the
Midianites. Gideon went from an oaf from the worst pedigree to a leader and war
hero. All by God’s intervention in his life. He led 300 men against an army
130,000 and was victorious. Even with odds against him and him being the most
unlikely individual to lead such an endeavor, his use by God showed God’s
strength and how He delivered the Israelites from the Midianites.
Chapter Twelve: Standing Up for What You Believe
zz zz zz zz z zz This chapter tells the story of Daniel. Judah had been conquered by
Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar gathered some of the young men from royal and noble
background. Daniel along with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had their names
changed and were educated to be Babylonian. They stayed faithful to God and
refused the meats offered to them and only ate veggies. After completing this they
were the best of all the others. Nebuchadnezzar raised a gold statue of himself and
wanted them to worship it. They refused even under threat of death. They were
thrown into a fiery furnace for their trouble where God delivered them unharmed.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles
Becoming a leader has less to do with being physically adept and more to do with
having grit and determination. According to our textbook, "There has always been
an argument over whether leaders are born leaders or whether they become
leaders...But leaders are also made and developed by their response to natural
circumstances" (Hindson, Page 36). God has given us the will and power to
overcome each of our obstacles whether they be physical, mental, or spiritual. We
do not have to be the strongest person in the room to lead powerfully and
effectively. But we also must not be discouraged when we compare ourselves to
other great leaders.
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
An excuse is often followed up by an explanation as to why we cannot do
something, be somewhere, or act a certain way. But thankfully our God forces us
into action, puts us in spots where we can grow, and guide us in our uncertainties.
According to our textbook, "God is in the business of eliminating excuses"
(Hindson, Page 95). People won't follow someone who has an excuse for
everything, a confusing path, or someone who is defeated. The best thing we can
do is jump into the metaphorical deep end and learn that way. Excuses leave, we
lead.
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
Every day we face new challenges that come with the new day. But the one thing
that stays the same is that we have the same goals: lead by example, work hard,
and be available. God equips us with the ability to do anything and everything that
we need to be successful at achieving our own goals but doubts and fear fill our
minds when we enter the unknown. But according to our textbook, "God will never
put more in your hand until you are willing to use what is already there. If you
won't use what you have, why would He trust you with more?" (Hindson, Page
157).
Chapter 12: Standing Up for What You Believe
The expression "Bend but don't break" comes into mind when it comes to standing
up for your beliefs. They grow deep into our core, just as God intended. We have
as our textbook mentions: "Everything to gain from compromising. Spiritually
speaking, they had everything to lose: their character, their integrity, and their
commitment" (Hindson, Page 186). Our beliefs are in the stronghold of our minds
and if we loosen that stronghold even a little bit, that gives way to fear, doubt,
and ultimately, sin. God has bestowed upon us the gift to lean on Him when all
the walls seem to be closing in and we need something to remind us of our beliefs.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles:
Life itself isn’t about how you achieve every goal that’s encounter, it’s about the
process on to achieve that goal, the hurdles on the process. Despite on how
difficult it is achieving anything in life what matter the most is overcoming them
struggles. The thought process and planning of that goal is what make the
difference. As it stated “ But His ideal plan is to work through both parents, with
the man taking the spiritual leadership. And with the privilege of leadership comes
the responsibility of leadership.” You have to be willing to be that leaders and
almost setting the example.
Ed Hindson, Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament HeroesLinks to an
external site. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 2011), 34.
Chapter 4: Becoming a leader:
Becoming that leader is sometimes effort that’s need to acquire being uncomfortable;
uncomfortable being willingly to follow those before leading those. Sometimes
becoming a leader can be overwhelming because it involves risk, demands and
knowledge. We have to accept failure and with failure comes with several attempts.
Take in counter what God did to Moses: turned him to that leaders that God
wanted him to be. God will always guide you through your calling, but with
putting the effort of what is it that you want to accomplish.
Chapter 8: Facing your weakness:
Facing your weakness comes with being honest with yourself and others. From time
to time we put such a high reputation that we fail to see what are our weakness.
Being good at something tell much about character, but acknowledging weakness
defines who you are as a person. In the book of courageous faith it stated lowering
your guard. I stay firm on that only because at one point I believe we all have
that breaking point, that countless failure attempt and that imperfection that bring
out who we are. God wants us to face weakness to help us strengthen them.
Chapter 12: Standing for what you believe:
Not everyone have to stand on what you believe, but within yourself you always
have to stay firm on what you believe. What are your values? Often times there
can be persuasive ways human being can make you believe on what they believe
to stand on one side , but it most come within yourself to believe what’s right and
what’s wrong. In this chapter it states how God puts Daniel faith to test, this was
to see how how firm did he stand on what on passing that exam. But as always
God was there to believer what Daniel wanted to accomplish.
Chapter 4 – Becoming a Leader
Moses developed the qualities of a good leader. He was patient, humble, a good
listener and had faith in God. In the wilderness, the people complained and turned-
on him, yet he did not give up on them. Being a good leader is a difficult and
sometimes thankless job as shown by the author’s statement “I really enjoy
everything about the ministry except the people. They’re just so hard to get along
with” (Hindson p. 71). Despite insecurities, Moses trusted God to provide him with
what was needed to rescue the Israelites from Egypt and lead them to the promise
land. Once the Israelites stopped complaining and followed their leader, who was
following God, they were led to the promised land.
Chapter 6 – No More Excuses
There are always excuses why we can’t do something that we are asked to do. The
book of Judges records six cycles of failure, repentance, and restoration. These
cycles are true in our own lives. When we are doing what God wants us to do,
everything goes well. That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems and difficulties. It
simply means the “hand of God’s blessing is real” (Hindson p. 91-92). When God
calls us to do something, He will provide everything needed to complete His will
so there is no need for excuses. Scripture tells us that “God has not given us the
spirit of fear: but of power and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7
KJV).
Chapter 10 – Realizing Your Goals
The story of David illustrated great leadership, courage, and faith in God. David
“showed every essential quality of leadership. He knew what to do and how to do
it, and he had the confidence to make it happen” (Hindson, p. 156). David faced
many obstacles, yet he kept his mind on the goal of destroying Goliath, who had
spoken against God. To accomplish our goals, we must have a relationship with
God to help us to overcome any obstacle and reach the goal. We need to do what
David did and step out on faith. “He had a deep and personal faith in God. It was
the kind of faith that one could live by or die for.” (Hindson p.160)
Chapter 12 – Standing Up for What You Believe
There is an old saying that if you don’t stand for something you will fall for
anything. The story of Daniel and his three friends are good examples of what can
happen when you do not give in to pressure and stand up for what you believe.
Rather than eat food that was dedicated to idols and worship a pagan god, the
friends decided to honor their Jewish beliefs. Their stance not only resulted in God
saving them from the furnace but caused the pagan king to be impressed by their
courage and the power of God. “Until you are willing to take such a stand, the
power of God will never be evident in your life.” (Hindson p. 187).
In Courageous Faith chapter 10, The story of David and Goliath is a striking
example of achieving goals against all difficulties. In this biblical story, David, a
youthful shepherd, faces up against the great warrior Goliath, equipped only with a
sling and a stone. Despite being outmatched physically, David's persistent confidence
in God's strength and wisdom allows him to win over the powerful foe. This
narrative shows us that we can overcome apparently insurmountable problems with
dedication, courage, and unwavering faith in our skills. It motivates us to discover
our abilities, use them wisely, and believe in our ability to attain our goals, no
matter how difficult they may look. In the end David had the goal to prove the
the philistines and the unbelieving Israelites that greater if He who fights with him,
the he who fights with them. This was proven when the philistines were defeated
and God granted David more victories.
In Courageous Faith chapter 2 overcoming obstacles, the Bible's tale of Jacob is a
remarkable testimony to overcoming adversity. Throughout his life, Jacob experienced
several hurdles, including family rivalry, dishonesty, and personal hardships. His path
serves as a reminder that, in the face of adversity, perseverance and dedication may
lead to change and success. Jacob learnt the value of humility, forgiveness, and
dependence on God's guidance through his experiences. He fought an angel,
reflecting his inner conflicts, and emerged with a new name, Israel, indicating his
change. The narrative of Jacob teaches us the importance of perseverance, self-
reflection, and the notion that even in the midst of hardship, we may discover
strength inside ourselves and receive divine support to overcome challenges and
accomplish personal progress.
In Courageous Faith, Chapter 6, The story of Gideon in the Bible provides a
powerful example of overcoming fears. Gideon initially struggled with doubts and
insecurities, but when God called him to deliver Israel from their oppressors, he
embarked on a journey of personal transformation. To confirm God's presence and
guidance, Gideon asked for signs, which were graciously granted. As he gained
confidence, his fears began to dissipate. With a small army of three hundred men,
Gideon faced an overwhelming enemy force. Through God's intervention, they
achieved a miraculous victory. Gideon's story illustrates that fear can be conquered
through trust in God's promises and stepping out in faith. It teaches us that even
when we feel weak or ill-equipped, God can use us in extraordinary ways. Gideon's
experience encourages us to confront our fears, rely on divine strength, and believe
that with God's help, we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way.
In Courageous Faith, chapter 8, The Bible's narrative of Samson teaches an
important lesson about addressing one's limitations. Samson possessed amazing
physical strength but was plagued by personal weaknesses and temptations. His love
for Delilah, a lady who deceived him, was his undoing. Despite his great strength,
Samson was eventually caught and blinded by his adversaries. In his greatest
weakness, though, he acknowledged his need for God's power and redemption. As
his hair grew back, so did his spiritual resolve. In a final brave deed, Samson
prayed to God for strength and pulled down the temple pillars, risking his own life
to overcome his adversaries. Samson's narrative tells us that even the strongest
among us have flaws, and that genuine strength may be discovered by admitting
and giving them to God. It instills in us humility, the repercussions of unbridled
wants, and the significance of seeking God's direction in order to overcome our
particular vulnerabilities.
1. Chapter 2: Overcoming the Obstacles
Oftentimes throughout our lives, we add many unnecessary struggles to our lives
and bring about obstacles that wouldn't be there had we simply trusted in God and
his timing. This has been something that has been an ongoing issue with humanity
since the
beginning of time. When we learn to put our full trust in God, He takes care of
us and helps us to overcome the various obstacles we face in our lives. That's not
to say that we won't have struggles in our lives, because we will, but He will be
there every step of the way to help us through it.
2. Chapter 4: Becoming a Leader
Throughout our lives, failure is something we all must experience and go through.
We will not live a life full of perfection or without struggles. Regardless of what
our past or upbringing may look like, God uses our experiences to prepare us for
His calling in each of our lives. We all will make mistakes throughout our lives
and fall short of the glory of God. There may also be times when we feel like
God has forgotten about us or is not with us. But even when He is silent, He is
always there. He never leaves us in our struggles. We have to learn to trust Him
even when we feel like we are drowning and can't seem to understand why we're
stuck in the place that we are.
3. Chapter 6: No More Excuses
This chapter, similar to the others, reminds us to trust in God. Instead of making
excuses and thinking of all the reasons why we are not good enough or strong
enough for whatever we are being called to, we must remember that God is the
one who called us to that specific place or situation and we must trust that He has
equipped us and prepared us to handle whatever is thrown our way. We spend too
much time in our lives making excuses for why we shouldn't do things or why we
can't do things. Instead of doing this, we must trust in our God and His promises
to us.
4. Chapter 12: Standing Up For What You Believe
We must get to a point in our lives where we are willing to stand up for what
we believe in. We must stand strong in our faith. Regardless of what the world or
society wants, we must not conform to the wants of this world. That will not
always be an easy choice to make. However, when we stand up for what we
believe in and keep our faith, God will continue to be there for us time and time
again. When we are willing to go the extra mile and trust in God wholeheartedly
because of our faith and belief in Him, we will truly be able to start living our
lives for Him and fulfill the calling He has for us.
Faith is the key that unlocks the power of God in our lives. if you wanted to look
up John 3:16, first you would turn to the book of John. You would then turn to
the 3rd chapter You would then find the 16th verse. I never know all this I guess
its true you learn something knew everyday. So, with everything rises and falls on
leadership!” How many times have we heard that statement? It has become the
maxim that runs entire corporations and their management decisions. Whatever is
wrong with the organization is usually a reflection of what is wrong with the leader
on the corporate level as well as on the personal level.
Module 1: chapter 4
Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves
in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went
and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 And the Lord appeared in the
tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the
tent. 16 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with
your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among
them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my
covenant that I have made with them. 17 Then my anger will be kindled against
them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they
will be devoured.
Module 4: zz chapter 12
Many times, students of God’s Word get comfortable with one particular translation
of Scripture. This translation becomes the sole version of the Bible that they will
ever read. When they replace their current Bible, they simply select a new copy of
the same translation. In doing so, students never become comfortable with any other
translation. Thus they miss the benefit of hearing the different words, the distinctive
cadence, and the altered structure that another translation could provide. Using
various translations of the Scripture for Bible study allows a person to make
observations across these translations. For example, one translation might use the
word “teach,” while another may use the word “instruct” or “command.” Each of
these words conveys a different aspect of meaning. Therefore, a good student of
God’s Word would want to explore which of these words best communicates the
meaning in this context.
Module 7: chapter 10
So, they are really trying to remind us that specific places are important in our
decisions. But isn't all bibles different from the next because everybody dont believe
in the same god , or bible , The same is true in the Bible. There are many stories
in the Bible that God uses to get our attention. They act as living illustrations of
how He transforms ordinary people into great leaders of faith and victory. Some of
these stories have such a tremendous impact on us that we never forget them. One
such story is that of David’s victory over Goliath. It is a story of faith and victory
over incredible odds.
King Saul of Israel had assembled on the eastern hillside, while the Philistines lined
up their army to the west. This was no ordinary Old Testament battle. This was a
battle for the very existence of the nation of Israel. They had struggled against the
Philistines for two hundred years. A loss now would cost them everything.
