Hey Courageous Family,
I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and are preparing to take 2012 by horns and go after your dreams with a bold and Courageous determination. As I reflect on 2011 personally, I can honestly say that it was one of the most challenging, painful, confusing, joyous, uplifting, and down right weirdest years I’ve had in my life. There were SO many blessings and yet with each blessing came an abundance of challenges and none of which were simple to resolve. I am actively working on some of those things as I write. Some times with so many challenges in our lives it’s difficult to see the blessings. In September I shared a message on “Perspective” and used the illustration of David defeating Goliath. Where David’s brothers saw this great BIG giant that they didn’t think they could kill, young David saw a GIANT that was so big that he could even close his eyes and hit the giant with his slingshot. David had a different perspective. Where his bro thers saw defeat, young David saw great opportunity for victory.
As I reflect on 2011 and ALL of the many challenges, it becomes very easy to get angry, start a new session of the blame game, and bask in self pity, but would that resolve the issue? Can you go back and change the outcome? Probably not, but you can press pause, then restart, and perhaps even fast forward and discover what the blessing is in the midst of your challenges. One of my greatest discoveries of 2011 has been the understanding of my purpose here on Earth. Understanding God’s plan for my life, not my own. Embracing this discovery has been the greatest burden of 2011 yet the most fulfilling spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. Now that I know God’s purpose for my life I can be intentional about aligning myself up with His mission for me. All that I do now should be in direct connection and in concert with the purpose that God has for my life. That applies to YOU too. As you resolve to do something different in your life in 2012, lose weight, pray mo re, tithe more, do more outreach, whatever it is, I personally challenge and dare you to truly discover God’s purpose for your life. In ALL that you resolve to do in 2012, I triple dog dare you to see whose life will be better because of your personal resolutions and if you see that no one other than yourself benefits from your resolutions then I challenge you to make your resolution revolve around others well being and not just your own (John 15:12). I encourage personal resolutions, however let your personal resolutions also make someone’s life better because YOU exist.
If you are reading this and don’t have a church home I personally invite you to visit us at Courageous Church. We are a small, yet powerful community of regular people that Love God! Love People! and Prove It!.
Perhaps you are reading this and used to attend Courageous Church, but have been absent for awhile. I want you to know that I personally miss you and would love to see you on a Sunday to simply embrace you and let you know that I’ve been praying for you and the church feels empty without the uniqueness of YOU. You can also personally email ANY prayer request or check in atbrodericksantiago@courageous.
May God bless your New Year and I look forward to serving God with you all.
With God’s Love,
Your Bro Pastor B