Courage in its purest form

     Those things on the side of this page are the army values. My favorite has always been personal courage, which has always seemed a little weird to me since I like to believe I'm a fairly courageous person. But the deeper I journey down this road, the more I see that I am in fact a scared little girl who pretends to be brave. What God has asked me to do requires an unbelievable amount of courage. I think this is why I've always valued the "personal courage" above all the other ones.
      It took courage to leave my posh and comfortable life in Yuba City and it took courage to join the military and now it is taking courage to head to a place I've never been to. Especially one so crudely deemed as "Hell On Earth." I hope I don't sound conceited, or as though I am patting myself on the back. It is only by the grace of God that I am able to do this. He is the one that gives me courage.
     I used to resent the saying, "Courage isn't always a roar, sometimes it's a whisper in the morning that says 'I can'". I resented the idea because everything I do is loud, but I've come to realize that the courage that fills me comes from God whispering in my ear, "do not be afraid, for I am the Lord your God. I will not leave or forsake you. Since I am with you there is nothing in this world that you cannot do." Isn't that beautiful? Our Lord is so full of beauty. I am trying my very best to honor Him in all that I do, including being nice to my temporary Battle Buddy. Patience is the key.
     

       We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous
Lyrics from <a href="http://www.elyrics.net">eLyrics.net</a>

 

This is a song by Casting Crowns and it is simply phenomenal. Jannalyn doesn't have access to music, however I think that if she did this song would be played on repeat. I feel as though it should be on repeat for all of us too. We wore born to be courageous. That is something that should filter into our daily lives. So tomorrow when you wake up, remember to be courageous.

 

Italics symbolize what has been added by the editor, as just simple script is what was written in the letter by Jannalyn.