Encouragement

The root of the word “Encouragement” means to “Put Courage Into.”

What a wonderful picture of one person standing beside another saying, “Take Courage!” God has given you the ability to be that person to others.

Ask Him to show you those who could use a kind word, an uplifting thought, a simple prayer. They could be strangers on the street or members of your own family.

Your Encouragement may just help someone walk when they might have stumbled. You might help someone stand firm instead of giving in. And Encouraging others has yet another benefit. Those around you are strengthened so they can offer you an encouraging word when YOU need one.


I think too many Christians are “dying on the Vine” for lack of encouragement from other believers.

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. ~1 Thessalonians 5:11

Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word. ~William Barcklay

Encouragement is Oxygen to the soul. ~George Adams

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel great, they make you feel like you, too, can become great. We tend to become what the most important person in our life thinks we will become. So be careful who you allow to become important in your life.

One of the secrets to encouraging others is to get excited about the right things. Some people get excited about pointing out mistakes or finding someone’s failures. Instead we should get excited about their strengths and the little things they are doing right.

How To Become An Encourager

1. Appreciate the Power of Encouragement ~It really is Oxygen to the soul.

2. Believe in People ~ If you don’t believe in people they won’t believe in you.

3. Build Relationships ~The closer you are, the more your encouragement counts.

4. Walk your Talk ~ Model first what you would encourage others to do.

5. Show people you think they are Important ~ Remember their names and ask for help.

6. Give people a Reputation to Uphold ~People rise to our level of expectations.

7. Reward what you Value ~What gets Rewarded gets Done!

8. Hold more Celebrations ~Acknowledging wins Motivates people to keep trying.

9. Encourage Participation and Ownership ~People don’t get down on what they’re up on.

10. Raise the Bar ~Many people will stretch to Success if Challenged.

If you’re wondering who needs encouragement, just look for the brokenhearted those who have failed, or had a set-back… isn’t that when you needed the most encouragement in life?

The wisest person pardons mistakes and even forgives intentional transgressions. In that way, he/she insures the upward spiral of their own prosperity & blessing. The inferior person cannot resist the opportunity to chastise, criticize or even condemn another and, in so doing, brings judgment and resentment onto themselves, destroying unity, and crushing enthusiasm, thereby destroying their own chances for success

Jesus was “The Great Encourager” especially of those who “Failed.”

Listen to this and Be Encouraged!

If you have messed-up, if you are not perfect, if you’re life grade is a D- guess what? God still Loves YOU! He wants to help you turn things around, He will use your Pain & and show you how to Gain!

Deb & I want to Hopefully Encourage You TODAY!

See You in Church!

Check out this STUDY TOOL …

“Hope for the Discouraged Heart”

Life is about making choices.

On average, an adult spends hours each day just making decisions. We must decide what to wear, what to eat, when to get up, where to drive, what floor we want the elevator to stop at, whether we’ll overlook an insult or not, whether we will consciously love the unlovable. The choices we make range from the important to the mundane—but they all require our time and prayerful concentration.

The most Important choice we will make is not “where we will go” but rather “Who will we become?”

The only true freedom each of us has is the freedom to choose. But once we choose, we become the servant of our choices!

In this Blog we will look at one of the most power-filled choices we can make in life: choosing to withhold revenge.

If we could see the secret history in our enemies, we should find in each life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all our hostility. ~Henry W. Longfellow

When we see everyone (in church) is a part of us, that any criticism we make is self-criticism, we will extend to ourselves an unconditional love that will light the world. ~Henry Palmer

Whether or not you recall the names of the two wealthiest people in the world—or the last few winners of the Heisman Trophy, or Academy Awards----I’ll guarantee you can remember the names of two favorite teachers, a coach, or friends who stood by you when everyone else walked.

We remember the people who “Cared”

And we can become one of those people who are held in others’ hearts and memories long after we have passed from this planet. It is what we are here to do; next to simple acts of kindness & forgiveness, all our personal achievements pale.

Acts of kindness, love, forgiveness and tenderness close the circle of life and connect us to others. What we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others echoes throughout the ages.

We can see and enjoy every sight around the world, experience every luxury and pleasure. But when we look back on our lives and review our memories, none of it will match the delight of bringing a smile to someone’s face, or performing some act of courage, kindness or forgiveness. These “Things” take us beyond ourselves, past our separation; they bring meaning and purpose to life.

We are each angels with only one wing; we fly only by embracing one another. ~Luciano de Crescenzo

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a few times, and began to cry. The other eight youngsters heard his cries, slowed down, and looked back. Then every one of them turned around and went back. A girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him. Then all nine children linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Can we learn from these youngsters to compete and collaborate at the same time?

Can we celebrate our journey “Together” as brothers and sisters “In Christ” in a spirit of cooperation and willing forgiveness?

Perhaps we could “Together” discover our greatest Purpose yet!

Let’s Learn To Get Over Ourselves!

Ninety percent of the art of living consists of learning how to get along with people one cannot stand. ~Samuel Goldwin ……… (Rough! But I like it!)

The Lord Needs You…..

Deb & I Need You!

See You in Church!

Check out the attached study tool……

“Our Response”

Recharge

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. ~Psalm 51:12

The IRONMAN TRIATHLON is one of the most grueling endurance events in the world. In order to complete the race, an athlete must swim 2.4 miles, ride a bicycle 112 more miles, then run a 26.2-mile marathon. I’m tired just reading about it!

The best athletes in the world can complete this monumental challenge in under nine

hours. But for Australian Chris Legh, his Ironman experience in 1997 was memorable for the wrong reasons. Known as one of the top competitors in the sport, he was unable to keep any fluids or food down during the course of the race. As a result, he became dehydrated, leading to a number of his organs shutting down.

Fifty yards from the finish line, his body completely gave out. Legh never finished the race and would’ve died without immediate medical attention. Thankfully, he recovered and has won two Ironman events since.

But first, he had to be Restored & Recharged!

While experiences like Legh’s show us humans have physical limits to their endurance, the same can also be said about their spiritual lives. Thankfully, there are warning signs that exist before it becomes too late. When people don’t want to read their Bible or pray, if they decide to shut people out of their lives, or if church becomes just a ritual, something deeper may be going on.

They may be suffering from spiritual dehydration. Just as a “Low Fuel” light tells us to fill up the car with gas, it’s time to ask God for a renewed spirit when we see these warning signs. Consider that Jesus had crowds following him everywhere, but he knew his spiritual limits so well that he consistently took time to recharge, even when death was near (see Luke 22:39-43).

When your life’s “Low Fuel” light comes on, don’t ignore it. God wants to recharge and renew your life. Allow him to do just that. Make sure you accept his help to cross the finish line, especially at this hectic time of year.

We belive that God has BIG PLANS for us in 2010!

Let’s Remember our last four Blog-post’s ….

Let’s have the right “Reaction” to whatever He calls us to Be & Do!

Let’s allow His Holy Spirit to “Refine” us for His Glory!

Let’s work on “Realigning” ourselves to His Purpose!

Let’s Remember to get Recharged for the coming task!

From Deb & I

Have a Blessed Christmas…

See you in 2010

Please take the 4 minutes it will take and check out our last “Study” of 2009

“Rejoice”