Discouraged people don’t need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement. They need a refuge–a willing, caring, available someone.
From Proverbs 25:11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.
From Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on two different occasions (1868, 1874-1880).
From Philippians 2:1-2: “If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
Blessed encouragement
Resurrection’s light beams
Found in Savior Jesus
Redemption runs downstream
Being of same spirit
Heart’s beat filled with His love
Christ teaches righteousness
World finds peace from above
Acceptance of God’s will
Conscience stirs to confirm
Each element born in Christ
Faith’s trust breathes to affirm
Father always at work
Eternal light burns bright
Salvation finds its home
Tomorrow’s hope holds tight
Within every blessing
Enlightened with God’s Way
Holy Spirit defines
Obedience replays
From Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Originally published October, 2020.
Nothing makes us more uncertain and insecure than not being sure we are in the will of God. And nothing is more encouraging than knowing for sure that we are.
From 1 John 2:17: “And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God abide forever.”
Write on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. He was a leading voice in America’s transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.
From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher, Oswald Chambers: “If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly.”
Thinking as Jesus taught
Prayer’s breath offers peace
Blood enriched in one’s heart
Light fills faith’s every piece
Spurring each other on
Prayer links faith as one
Devotion encouraged
God sends His blessed Son
Believing Father’s Word
Prayer becomes hope’s voice
Each hour, without ceasing
Shepherd’s flock shall rejoice
Praising Christ for His light
Prayer leads to support
Faithful mercy arrives
Answers sail to each port
Walking always in faith
Prayer fills lungs with joy
Conscious of Savior’s grace
Holy Spirit deploys
From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Sharing
Spirit’s light
Motivating one another
Love-filled grace working
Encouragement
Trusting
Father’s Word
Depths of understanding
Lighting faith’s bold path
Righteousness
Accepting
Resurrection’s light
Witnessed at Calvary
Jesus paid our debts
Love
Keep your face always toward the sunshine–and shadows will fall behind you.
Do anything, but let it produce joy.
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of America’s most influential poets. His writing prowess was not only evident in his poems, but also in his work as a journalist and essayist.
God works by simply stepping into our ordinary day of life and saying what He wants to say. It’s a meat-and-potatoes kind of proposition. Here’s what needs doing, and you’re the person who’s going to do it, “so let’s get after it.”
From Proverbs 8:22: “The Lord created me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of long ago.”
Big Sky Buckeye 