He is my Courage

One of the major questions from the moment that news broke of the horrific shooting at a school in Uvalde, TX, was how police were reportedly on the scene before Salvador Ramos even entered, yet he was able to kill so many children.

Early on, there were mentions from law enforcement that the initial responding officers waited for a “tactical team,” something that seemed so incredibly ridiculous that most glossed over it. Yet, according to witnesses who spoke to the Associated Press, that is what happened. There are also videos that add more context to the tragic event.

Disclaimer: I leave open the possibility that the witnesses quoted in the following report are somehow mistaken. If they are, law enforcement should come out and address the issue directly. This is not something that can be left ambiguous.

Cops stood outside the school while the killer rampaged inside.

Onlookers yelled at them to go in. They didn’t. One parent urged bystanders:

“Let’s just rush in because the cops aren’t doing anything like they are supposed to.” @AP story: https://t.co/l2CqPCzmAf

— Andy Specht (@AndySpecht) May 26, 2022

Frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunman’s rampage killed 19 children and two teachers, witnesses said Wednesday, as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team.

“Go in there! Go in there!” nearby women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who saw the scene from outside his house, across the street from Robb Elementary School in the close-knit town of Uvalde. Carranza said the officers did not go in…

…Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders.

“Let’s just rush in because the cops aren’t doing anything like they are supposed to,” he said. “More could have been done.”

“They were unprepared,” he added.

If the police actually waited 40 minutes to enter the school, that’s unforgivable. Whoever made that decision needs to be fired immediately, and every officer who followed it also needs to be relieved of their duties. I understand it’s a tough job. I get the pay isn’t great. But law enforcement has a duty to protect and serve.

At some point, you have to try to play hero ball and let the chips fall. I know that might have cost an officer his or her life, but you can’t, under any circumstances, allow a shooter to enter a school and systematically kill 21 people and then barricade himself in a classroom. There is no excuse for that. No amount of protocol or risk makes it acceptable to stand outside and hassle parents who are begging the police to enter the building and do something.

Juan Carranza, the father who described the situation, described the situation to the AP and his story appears to be corroborated by videos that until now lacked context. In the below clip, you can see officers trying to subdue what is assumed to be one of the parents while police remain outside.

David’s Mighty Men

2 Samuel 23:8–12 (ESV)

David’s Mighty Men 8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. 9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. 11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.

What makes you mighty?

Hebrew for MIGHTY: gibbowr (HSN-<H1368>), translated “mighty” 131 Times of giants(Gen. 6:4); men of war(2Sam. 23:8–9, 16–17, 22); princes (Ezra 7:28); kings (Dan. 11:3); Christ (Isa. 9:6); and God(Jer. 32:18). It is also translated “strong man” (1Sam. 14:52); “champion” (a giant, 1Sam. 17:51); “upright man” (with Hebrew: tamiym (HSN-<H8549>), “upright”; 2Sam. 22:26); “valiant men” (1Chr. 7:2; 2Chr. 13:3); “very able men” (with Hebrew: chayil (HSN-<H2428>), “very able”; 1Chr. 9:13); “chief” (of porters, 1Chr. 9:26); “mighties” (1Chr. 11:12, 24); “mighty” (1Chr. 27:6); “giant” (Job 16:14); and “strongest” (Prov. 30:30).[1]

1. A Giant among men

2. A man of war (warrior)

3. A Prince

4. Christlike

5. Godlike

6. Strong man

7. Upright man

8. Valiant man

9. Able man

As we approach Memorial Day, where we pause to remember those who freely laid down their lives on the field of battle, let’s pray that God increase our courage in these tumultuous times

Short sayings of courage

1. A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

2. Bravery never goes out of fashion.

3. Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

4. Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.

5. Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave.

6. Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.

7. Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.

8. In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.

9. The brave die never, though they sleep in dust. Their courage nerves a thousand living men.

10. The greatest glory of a free born people is to transmit that freedom to their children.

11. The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree.

12. Their silent wounds have speech, more eloquent than men; their tones can deeper reach, than human voice or pen.

13. Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes.

14. We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers but to praise them.

15. Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours.

There are no atheist in foxholes

Prophetic Word at Melodyland:

You do not know the strength of your Heart, Because I live in your heart!

We are living in dangerous times!

· Our nation is divided.

· We’ve lost a cohesive sense of morality.

· We call evil good and good evil.

· People are living in fear!

· Inflation is soaring.

· Food and supply chains shortages abound

We live in a day of wars and rumor of wars. Today God is calling us to have great courage because He has great purpose for us.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NKJV)

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Be Courageous because I am with you

Joshua 1:1–9 (ESV)

God Commissions Joshua 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The key to being courageous is knowing that Jesus is with us

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

5 your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The Hebrew word for Dismayed:

שָׁעָה shâʿâh, shaw-aw´; a prim. root; to gaze at or about (prop. for help); by impl. to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed(as looking around in amazement) or bewildered:—depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away), regard, have respect, spare, turn.[2]

Eight Promises and Commands to Israel

1. Fear not, for I am with you (Isa. 41:18, 13,14).

2. Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

3. I will strengthen you.

4. I will help you.

5. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

6. I will hold your right hand (Isa. 41:13).

7. I will hear them -- the poor and needy (Isa. 41:17).

8. I will not forsake them.[3]

The only way to be courageous in these days is to fix your eyes upon Jesus

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

12:2 looking, aphorao (af-or-ah-oh); Strong’s #872: From apo, “away from,” and horao, “to see.” The word signifies undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix one’s gaze on one object. Aphorao in Heb. 12:2 is having eyes for no one but Jesus.[4]

Isaiah 31:1 (ESV)

Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt

31 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!

Psalm 20:7–8 (ESV)

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

When we see Jesus, we become courageous

Isaiah 6:1–8 (ESV)

6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

1. When you are in fear – See Jesus

2. When you need a fresh start – See Jesus

3. When you have said wrong things and done wrong things – See Jesus

Your whole purpose in life comes from Seeing Jesus

[1]Finis Jennings Dake, The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (Dake Publishing, 1997), 2 Sa 23:8. [2]James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible(Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 119. [3]Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Topics(WORDsearch, 1991). [4] Jack W. Hayford, ed., Spirit Filled Life Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997), Heb 12:1.

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