Friends,
I have had the privilege of getting to know Linda Tang, a mom with a huge heart for the Lord. I know you will be blessed reading about conquering fear with courage! You will feel motivated to pray for this quality for your children when uncertainty, insecurity, and doubt enter their lives. You will be blessed by her words.
Faith, hope, and love,
Lori
Courage: persevering with
confidence in spite of difficulty, danger, pain or fear.
The Cowardly Lion wanted it
desperately. During The Wizard of Oz, we saw him clutch his tail and wipe his
runny nose, sobbing, often running and hiding during outbursts due to his fear
and weakness. Expressing fear meant that he was getting closer to
unearthing the strength he believed he lacked but was hidden below the surface.
I think all of us have
courage in the areas we lack, but sometimes, we don't see it take root until
we've traveled a long journey fraught with obstacles--only to discover that the
courage we lacked was there all along.
Often, it's the journey that gives us
the opportunity and ability to put courage into play; otherwise known as God's
refinement process.
If all our characteristics are ingredients contributing to
who we are, and He is above us mixing them all together, He might be saying,
"Hmm, given what I am planning for your life and for eternity, and given
I know all that will take place in your life and the plans I have for you, I
think you might need more patience, or sensitivity or courage."
We can
trust He knows how much to allow in our lives and what exactly is needed, for
His purposes and plans are intentional and the very best for us. "For I know
the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah
29:11)
For our children, courage
may look like a lot of different things and may need to come through in many
areas. It might be needed when starting a new school and having to make
new friends, getting up in front of the class to give an oral report, standing
up to someone to defend another, speaking out against a wrong action to declare
a truth, not following where the crowd is going...there are countless examples
of circumstances where our kids have to face their weakness and sometimes go
through a refinement process in order to become stronger, independent and stand
on their own two feet. And through that, we have to encourage our children to
listen to the Word of God, not the words of the world.
Praying for courage and
endurance is a prayer worth praying for our children.
The practice runs may be
painful and challenging, our kids may have to duck and hide behind a tree a few
times and you may have to wipe their tears with a tissue (not a tail), but once
developed, they will be more equipped with what they need for life’s journeys.
And... with God as our personal refiner, we can trust that He knows how much we
need in order to build that oh-so important attribute. We don’t need a wizard
nor a witch—just God and His eternal plan for the road He has marked out for
us. Yellow brick or otherwise.
"Dear God, build up _______ to become a person who is strong and
courageous because he/she trusts in you. As he/she faces people or
circumstances that will test his/her convictions, help him/her not to be
paralyzed by them but to always remember that you are with her/him."
(From: While they Were
Sleeping, by Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell)
Recommended Scriptures:
"For my power is made
perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"The Spirit helps us in
our weakness." (Romans 8:26)
"For when I am weak,
then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
"Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy
31:6)
Linda Tang
After graduating
Syracuse University with a degree in political science and journalism, Linda
was hired at Petersen Publishing’s Hunting, Fishing and ‘TEEN Magazines where
she began her career in publicity and marketing but kept her creative writing
up on the side. She had her first YA Novel published in 2001 entitled, Picture
Perfect (Lunchbox Press). From publishing, she went on to work
for Miss Universe, Inc., promoting and marketing the MISS USA, MISS UNIVERSE
and MISS TEEN USA CBS live telecasts and was later hired as Assistant Marketing
Director for TalkRadio 790 KABC-AM where she generated publicity for TalkRadio,
KLOS, and ESPN radio stations.
Now a stay-home-mother
and working in her children’s classrooms each week at the Open Classroom
Leadership Magnet School, she serves as a group discussion leader at Bible
Study Fellowship (BSF) and keeps her hand in publicity and marketing on a
contractual basis.
Having struggled with
the transition from career to motherhood, Linda decided to write a book
addressing God’s role in re-establishing a woman’s identity. She is represented
by Blythe Daniel Literary Agency in Colorado Springs, CO and speaks at MOPS
groups regularly.
Linda Tang lives in Southern California with her husband and two daughters.
