Browse By Topic 
C Confidence
Harry and Ada Mae Day lived in a four-room adobe house with no running water and no electricity, hundreds of miles from the nearest city. There was no school within driving distance. It seemed that the future for their daughter Sandra was slim. But Ada Mae scrimped enough to subscribe to urban newspapers; she started an intense program of homeschooling; later, she saved enough to send Sandra to the best boarding schools available to them. Sandra went on to Stanford, then to law school, and eventually Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman Supreme Court justice in the United States.
Intelligence and inner drive have much to do with that--but much of the credit must also go to the determined ready confidence of her mother, sitting in her adobe house at night, reading to her children hour after hour, not giving in to the "spirit of cowardice" that Paul describes in 1 Timothy 1, but tapping into the "spirit of power" instead.
Source: Charles Swindoll, "Growing Wise in Family Life"
Topics/Tags: Parents; Confidence; Influence
Two duck hunters were known for their contrasting outlooks on life. One was an eternal optimist while the other lived out the role of the ever-negative pessimist. The optimist set out to get a positive response from his hunting partner by taking the off-season to train his dog to retrieve the fallen ducks by walking on the water. His dog didn't just swim out to get the ducks, he literally walked on the water. When opening day arrived, the optimist couldn't wait to show off his dog.
Soon enough he got his chance as he shot down the first duck that flew over. Confident that his dog would generate a positive remark from his pessimistic friend, he sent his dog after the duck. Just like he had been trained, the dog walked out on the water and brought back the duck.
He beamed with pride at his negative pal only to hear him say, "Got a dog who can't swim, huh?"
_______
Critics will always abound—yet we can have confidence in the Lord anyway!
Source: Bob Reccord, Leighton Ford Evangelism Leadership Seminar, 1991
Topics/Tags: Confidence; Criticism, unjust; Attitude
"Confidence" is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation…
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: Confidence; Knowledge; Confusion
I would offer this thought about fear and love. First of all, fear has power because fear offers no security. There is no foundation when fear takes over.
Watching the documentaries of wildlife seems to illustrate a portion of that. The predator (lion) stalks the herd and finally, although they all know he is out there, a lone animal wanders away. The sense of danger becomes acute and the animal suddenly understands he is out of the protection of the herd. His security is gone. His response is to run as fast and as hard as he can, but he often runs right into the very danger he is attempting to escape. Why? because he has no security and the running has no direction. Running + No security = panic = lunch for the lion.
Now consider the herd and the animals that do not leave the herd. First of all, the lion knows he cannot attack the herd. It is too strong. Second, the herd knows they have the combined strength to ward off any attack. Third, since they have a sense of real security, they gather to protect the little ones. They don't run in fear, but stand firm in their security and safety.
To me, this is a good illustration of many truths, but it shows the need for the security of the only sure and safe protection from things that would seek to bring destruction into our lives. We have the opportunity to stand strong and secure in the herd (the church and the power of the Holy Spirit) or we can wander off alone and be picked off.
PS>>>The herd stands together because it is their instinct. The children of God have the Holy Spirit prompting them (instinctive to follow Him) to stand together and depend on the power of God's love in Christ.
Source: Dave West. In "Baptist Preachers" email discussion list, 2/3/1999.
Topics/Tags: Security; Nature; Fear; Confidence
The Teacher and one of his companions made a house call on a rich man. They were seeking funds for a man who had suffered a severe heart attack. The host greeted the Teacher and his friend warmly and listened intently as the Teacher briefly described the desperate plight of the one who suffered the ailment. "We are asking you for a generous gift," the Teacher concluded.
"Who is the sick man?" the host asked.
The Teacher shook his head. "Rarely do we reveal the name of people in need. In this case it is most difficult for the man to admit that he needs charity."
'If I am to help I insist on knowing the identity of the man in need. I will keep it in strictest confidence. I was going to give you $500, but if you tell me the man's name I will increase the gift to $1,000."
"We will not reveal the man's name," the Teacher said shaking his head.
"Two thousand dollars. Surely you will not refuse such an amount."
"I will not break confidence," the Teacher insisted. His friend looked at his mentor in disbelief.
Taking a deep breath the host said, "Three thousand dollars."
Before the Teacher could reply his companion pleaded with him. "Teacher, three thousand dollars will pay for all the hospital and living expenses. He is an honorable man; he can keep the secret with us.
The Teacher walked toward the door, "I should have left long ago. The honor of a man is not open to barter or negotiation regardless of what the sum of money might be. I have other visits to make."
Before he could leave the house the rich man begged the Teacher to meet with him privately in the next room. The moment they were alone he broke into tears. "Teacher, I recently lost every penny I saved. I am not able to even make a token payment on the mortgage. I have wanted to go to someone for help, but I couldn't stand the idea of everyone in the city knowing that I am a failure."
"Now I understand," the Teacher said tenderly. "You were testing me to see if I could be trusted with your secret. I will seek funds for you as well as the man who is sick. What you have told me will be kept in confidence."
The two men bid their host farewell and walked toward the place of their next visit. "Well, Teacher," his friend said, "how much did he give you?"
The teacher smiled and then playfully shook a finger at his friend. "Shame on you. You know such things are a secret."
- Unknown
Source: unknown
Topics/Tags: Trust; Confidence; Integrity
Assurance is having confidence of eternal life that is resting upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, but presumption is presuming ourselves to have eternal life when in fact our confidence is based on nothing more than the flimsy foundation of our own self-righteousness.
- D. J. Kennedy
Source: D.J. Kennedy
Topics/Tags: Assurance; Confidence; Eternal life; Salvation
If you can't believe what God says in Genesis 1 when he speaks about the earth, how can you believe what God says in Revelation 22 when he speaks about heaven?
If you can't believe what God says in the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis then how can you be confident in John 3:16?
- Barry Landrum
Source: Barry Landrum
Topics/Tags: Word of god, inspiration of; Confidence; Bible; Truth
Herbert Hoover was one of the most vilified and maligned presidents in the history of our nation because the Great Depression began during his administration. He did not seem to become cynical or bitter. He went on serving his country to the end, maintaining his dignity and serenity.
His wife once explained it like this:" Bert can take it better than most people because he has deeply ingrained in him the Quaker feeling that nothing matters if you are right with God."
Source: Vernon O. Elmore, Exploring the Christian Way, p. 14.
Topics/Tags: Confidence; Critics
"There are many things that can get you TO the mission field-- thrill of travel, human compassion, guilt, trying to determine God's direction.
"But there is just one thing that will KEEP you there-- the clear, unshakable understanding that the Lord had called you there."
-- Miles Seaborn, 1997-8 1st vice-president, Southern Baptist Convention
Source: "Sparks" (quotes from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel services), in Heartland, Summer 1998.
Topics/Tags: Call; Missions; Confidence
"In 1954 Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. It had never been broken in all the centuries of recorded history, but Bannister BELIEVED it could be done. He developed a mental picture of himself breaking the four-minute mile record, and he did it. Since 1954 several hundred other athletes have broken the four-minute mile, simply because Roger Bannister proved that it could be done.
"If an individual with only HUMAN resources is able to accomplish outstanding success, how much more can you accomplish when you place your faith in the omnipotent God and draw upon His supernatural, inexhaustible resources?"
-- Bill Bright
Source: Bill Bright, "How You Can Pray With Confidence" (1995 Campus Crusade for Christ), p. 41.
Topics/Tags: Belief; Confidence; Optimism; Faith
Browse By Topic C Confidence