No. 42
From Wendy Howard [Editor of Despatch magazine], Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia.
Access Online  http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Main/tabco_main

We saw a film called “The Little Riders” yesterday.
It was about a girl of twelve in Holland during the second world war.
She was an American who had been trapped in Holland,
because the Germans took over that country.
Joanna lived with her grandparents during the war.
She finally even gained the respect of an enemy soldier because she was very brave.

One of the boys in the Dutch village did whatever the enemy told him to.
He and his family were cowards.
They were so afraid that they turned traitor on their own people of the village.
Joanna, however,
helped others to hide those who were running from the German soldiers.
She helped them to hide Jewish people who were not liked by the Nazis.
She was only a child, but she helped save others at the risk of her own life.

Why is “bravery” a good thing?
Why is being a “coward” a bad thing?
There are a number of reasons why being brave is a good thing.
We show great love if we help others,
even though we can be put in danger ourselves .
We put ourselves in the place of others,
and we care about their safety more than our own.
We can also be brave if we stand up for what is right,
even though it gets us into trouble.
When we are brave we show strength.
When we are cowards we show we have no “back-bone.”
Believers in Christ Jesus have often found themselves in trouble,
for speaking about God and His love.

This can happen in countries that are not free.
Where people cannot choose their own religious beliefs for themselves.
Being a coward is bad because it is being weak!
It is caring more for ourselves than others.
It may be also about caring more for our own safety,
than about God and His Truth!

We all want to be strong and cour-age-ous in life.
I know something about being brave that you should know.
God Himself can do wonders with scaredy cats like me!
He has promised to make us brave and bold.
And He does do this when we need to stand strong and unafraid.
How do you get help when you are afraid?
By asking the Lord to fill you with His strength, and make you brave.
HE is with us in every situation.
That is what makes me able to cope.
And He can make you able to get through anything and everything as well!
 

In the film “The Little Riders” Joanna defended her elderly grandfather when he was in danger of being shot! This was a true story about the German occupation.
The trouble in their village brought out situations which none of us may ever have to face.
The trials they all went through brought out the good and the bad in everyone there. Ordinary people became extra-ordinary because of the enemy occupation of their land.
Our earth is a bit like that.
The enemy has taken over the earth. He is in occupation.
Satan has power here, and we must not give way to him.
We must take our stand for God and goodness, against the “enemies “which are evil acts and ungodliness.
It is just as brave to stand for Jesus in a wicked world,
as it is to fight in a resistance army.
We Christians resist having our minds and hearts being taken away from the Lord and His Truth.
The world around us wants us to be like them.
It takes God’s courage to stand your ground for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Living for Him is thrilling !