BE BRAVE! BE BOLD! NO EXCUSES!

by Tammy Phillips
July 31, 2023

 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)

MY HUSBAND JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE FROM 13,000 feet.   GUESS WHAT?  He hates heights.  We were out west and visited Hoover Dam.  I wanted a picture 890 feet above the Colorado river on the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial bridge overlooking the dam. Kris went with me, but he was none too happy about it.   He did not linger after the photo op. 

You can imagine my surprise when Kris was invited by the Golden Knights, 7^th Brigade, BRAVE WARRIORS to skydive and agreed.  I was SHOCKED. I reiterate; he HATES heights.  As jump  day approached, I began to pray more for this “excursion.”  I am supposed to be the one with no fear, but Kris did not show any signs of anxiety.  He never entertained thoughts other than the fact that he was going to jump out of a plane.  Timidity was absent.  He wore brave and bold like a uniform. 

Kris’ tandem partner was SFC Rick Sloan.  As they were preparing to enter the plane, he told us a story of how he had saved another soldier during an exercise.  He had broken his arm midair trying to gain control of the other soldiers fall.  This story was so comforting to me. NOT!  I talked to a few of the Golden Knights and asked how many jumps they had completed.  The answer ranged from 3000 -10,000.  Wonder where the 7^th brigade gets its name, Brave Warriors?  Wow.  What a job!

Kris willingly and courageously exited the plane about 10:15 AM.  It was CRAZY seeing him fall from the sky. My husband faced his fears head on and demonstrated to me that really nothing was impossible with God.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  No one and no thing!

Sixteen people were brave and dove that day.  I wanted to know in one word what they felt.  I was surprised by their answers. 2009 Titans  Pro Bowl cornerback, Courtland Finnegan answered, “Serene.”  Others answered, “Incredible. Peaceful! Exhilarating. Quiet. Tranquil.“  I was surprised most by my husband’s answer, “God!”  He explained, “I did not feel like God, but I experienced God.”   In air He asked his tandem partner, “How can you see all this and not believe in God?  SFC Sloan replied, “That is what we all say.”

 In our focus verse, the Bible tells us we have no excuse for not knowing God.  He shows Himself in all creation.    God’s word also tells us multiple times to be brave, bold, and courageous. 

Faith is not always easy, but it is required to please God. God reveals to us who He is, He tells us what He has done, and will do.  Our assignment is to be bold, brave, and to trust Him. Live the life He has planned and promised for us.  We have no excuse. He has shown us Himself.   

Sadly, scripture also tells us, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So, they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. ²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. … ²⁹ Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰ They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ³¹ They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. ³² They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” [Rom 1:21-27, 29-32 NLT]

WOW!  Sadly, sound familiar?  These are not from my mouth but from God’s.

I enCOURAGE you to stop and see God in creation.  When I look at my new grandson, Jack, I am totally amazed and thankful to God for Who He is and what He does. I ditto, my husband, “How can anyone see and not believe in God?”

I enCOURAGE you to be brave and bold without excuse  Face your fears.  Let go and choose God.  You can do nothing without Him and all things through Him.  He is  real and waiting on your choice to worship Him and to give Him thanks in all things.  He has a great life awaiting.  He wrote an instruction manual for you to follow Him into your best life.

VIVA MAGENTA.  LIVE! BREATHE. BE BRAVE! BE BOLD and without excuse.