Courage

I was just sitting here thinking, probably something I shouldn't spend much time doing. The last four years have truly been life changing for me - starting with the death of my oldest son, followed by the loss of my career, wife, house, family, and just about anything else you can imagine - it was brutal to say the least.

I just got off Facebook where I was chatting with my youngest son, who was taken away from me by an illegitimate court back in 2009 and given to a woman who completely turned her back on God when all the loss was happening.  My beautiful younger children, who no longer attend church, who no longer have the same loving, supportive Christian environment that they had when they were living with me because the court called me a religious nut; why, because I was able to declare that the strength I had in the midst of all the loss came from Jesus Christ - whom they claim doesn't exist.  They didn't want my kids around someone who talked to invisible imaginary friends.

It was tonight that it occurred to me just how much courage it takes to have a relationship with Jesus.  As the pain in my heart over being forcibly separated from my kids, who want to be with me, by a heartless state that is doing its very best to wrestle any faith that American's may have left in their hearts away from them through 'legal' processes day in and day out.  I miss my children and its an enduring pain and sadness in my heart; oddly enough co-existing alongside a lasting joy and hope that can only originate from a source known to us Christian's, the living God.

Dear reader, what would you be willing to endure, or give up to follow Jesus.  To what end are you willing to press forward knowing that governments have the power to pressure us all into the temptation of denying the one who alone possesses the words of life.   There are many who suffer in the world of ours, so perhaps we aren't the only ones that suffer because of our chosen affiliation - however, it seems that no matter where you fall in that continuum, you still need incredible courage and fortitude to press forward.

The Bible teaches us that these three things endure - faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.  How much courage does it take to love your enemies; try this one on for size and try to imagine what I experience every day.  How much love does it require, and how much courage to love those who wrongfully take your children and declare that they are owned by the state and therefore they have the power and authority to do it?  Can you love those that steal your children so that they can torture you because you believe a certain way?   If you can honestly gain victory over that one, then I would say you finally have the courage to love - until then, not so much...