Guts

Business guru, Seth Godin, wrote on Confidence Without Guts. He was referring to MBA's who come out of school with bravado but lack the staying power needed to persevere through life's inevitable failures.

Gut check. Do you have guts? Are you raising children/grandchildren with guts? Not saying the right things on Facebook in order to get affirmation or going along with the crowd in order to be accepted or taking on only winnable battles. Do you give or get ribbons for "showing up?" Does self-esteem come from inside (guts territory) or from seeking constant external applause? Are you pursuing things that could very well fail and could take all the effort, energy and emotional currency you have?

Followers of Jesus develop guts because they know life is found in death. Seek life and lose it. Give up life for the things of God and, somehow (I have no idea how,) you get life in return. Big helpings of life. Oh, and you get guts. Guts that fuel the next step on the journey. Our confidence rests in the eternal, in Christ.

Take a God-risk today.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Matthew 116:25 (NLT)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, 
that person will receive the crown of life 
that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 (NIV)

What is impossible with man is possible with God.

Luke 18:27 (NIV)

With God's power working in us, God can do much, 

much more than anything we can ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20