by wendy | May 27, 2020 | Encouragement, Focus on God, Godly Relationships, Prayer, Tips for Encouraging Others
Photo Credit Sherri Cox
I was sitting by the lake with a group of friends on a camping trip. As more people, arrived they arranged their chairs in a circle so we could all see each other easily. It worked for a while – until the afternoon sun began to move the shade and people moved with it. Eventually, the grouping no longer resembled a circle, but our lakeside gathering didn’t end because of the shifting shadows. Instead, as some people moved, others slid in or started up a conversation in a different direction. When the person next to me scooted up, I had the choice to move with them or to engage with someone else. As evening came and everyone drifted away, I was delighted to have had the chance to connect with many different people – it felt like community.
The experience reminded me that our relationship circles of are also ever-changing. People move in and out of our lives depending on geography, interests, life stages, and even the temperature of the relationship. Truthfully, my “circle” rarely resembles a circle. Life is frequently changing and my relationships change too. Because community is fluid, it doesn’t always come easy – we often have to take step to grow and maintain a circle of relationships. And even when we feel like we are a part of something, we need to be ready when changes happen – we can choose to move with the change or engage with someone new.
When I find myself in times of loneliness and missing community, two action steps help me find my place in the circle again”
1. Reach Up!
O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!
Psalm 71:5-7
No matter how lonely we might feel, we are never alone! God has promised to be with us, to hold us close, and to never abandon us. We need only to reach up to Him to remember that He is there. God gives us everything we need – love, hope, security – and when we allow Him to fill us by spending time in His presence in prayer and studying His word, we will have all we need to reach out to others. We can adjust to the changes in our circle because our God never changes!
2. Reach Out!
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
When I was a child, I was the one who frequently moved. My family was military and I attended several different schools. I can distinctly remember looking around after relocating in 2nd grade and intentionally considering how I would make friends. Even at that young age I was aware that making friends and building community required action on my part. That youthful revelation has served me well throughout my life. I have always found that the key to growing and maintaining a successful community is encouragement. We have all heard it said, “To make a friend you must be a friend.” The truth that lies beneath these words is found in the verse above; “look to the interest of others.
“I have always found that the key to growing and maintaining a successful community is encouragement.”
Spend some time thinking about how your circle has changed. What friendships need maintenance? Be intentional about reaching out to encourage those friends. Where are there holes in your community? Look around to consider how you might create new friendships through encouragement. Give encouragement out of the abundance of encouragement you have received from God. As you encourage others, you will be amazed at how God will bless you!
“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25
by wendy | May 27, 2020 | Encouragement For Your Heart, Uncategorized
The Church (the body of believers as a whole) gives us a picture of how encouragement should look. Though it is never perfect – it is made up of people after all – the church demonstrates the Encouragement of Words, Prayer, Giving, Action, Experience, Presence, and Hospitality. It seeks to care for one another first, and then it reaches out to serve others. Even as we have not been able to meet together in the way we are used to, we are finding new ways to encourage one another and to be The Church. Let’s take a look at how the Church demonstrates the 7 types of encouragement.
The Church Encourages with Words
Jesus is the head of the church, and He is also The Word. Believers base their faith and doctrine on the Word of God and seek to grow in and teach His Word within the church. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds when we read, study, and meditate on God’s truth – His word. As we are filled with The Word, we are able to use God’s very words to encourage others. God’s word gives us hope, courage, and life!
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Church Encourages with Prayer
The Bible encourages us to pray together and to pray for one another. As a church, we pray corporately as part of a service, but we also pray for each other as we share concerns and praises. We are encouraged when we know that others are praying for us and when we remember that God hears our prayers.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16
The Church Encourages by Giving
Giving is a natural and accepted part of church. We give tithes and offerings to God and understand that they are used to serve the church, its members, and beyond. We also give by sharing with other believers and helping them through difficult times. What encouragement to know that God is using our resources to help others and that He will also use them to help us.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
Acts 4:32
The Church Encourages with Action
We serve God by serving others – and we are specifically commanded to serve other believers. Jesus demonstrated service for us and we continue that by serving in the church, in our homes, and in our neighborhoods and the world. As we serve others, we are encouraged by knowing that we are being used by God and again when He uses others to serve us.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
The Church Encourages with Presence
One of the things we miss most about church right now is being with our church family. Meeting by Zoom or listening to a sermon online is not the same as being present with one another. The early church set an example for us by meeting in small groups and sharing meals. Whenever possible, believers must figure out ways to be together. God uses the presence of one another to give us a feeling of peace and unity.
“(Do) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25
The Church Encourages with Experience
As believers live a life of following Christ, they are naturally setting an example of Christian living. The church is even more intentional as believers use their experience to lead and teach and as each member shares their testimonies with one another. When we tell others about how God has worked in our lives, we are encouraged and our faith grows.
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
Titus 2:3-5
The Church Encourages with Hospitality
Whenever people are welcomed into the family of God – whether that is in the church building on Sunday morning or in another believer’s home – true hospitality is being offered. As the church extends its view of family to include all believers, the definition of home also expands.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
1 Peter 4:9
Ultimately, biblical encouragement points to God – whether in word or deed. When The Church models encouragement the way God intends, it will spill out over the walls and encourage the world.
by wendy | May 21, 2020 | Encouragement, Godly Relationships, Hospitality, Tips for Encouraging Others
Photo Credit Susan Carter
“A wise woman builds her own house.”
Proverbs 14:1
Sometimes I focus so much on encouraging others that I forget about my own people. It is true that I am called to encourage, but my first responsibility is to encourage the ones entrusted to me. Let’s consider some ideas for encouragement at home.
The Encouragement of Words
- Post Scriptures around your home
- Write notes of encouragement and leave them in a special place for each person
- Speak words of encouragement
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Words here.
The Encouragement of Gifts
- Order a thoughtful gift for your people
- Create handmade gifts for your family members
- Give things you have as gifts to your family
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Gifts.
The Encouragement of Prayer
- Establish a prayer strategy
- Write a prayer card for each person in your family
- Pray with your family
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Prayer.
The Encouragement of Hospitality
- Create a space conducive for gathering as a family
- Fix a special meal and “invite” your family to join you
- Create an event (game night, movie night, scavenger hunt) for your family
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Hospitality.
Encouragement in Action
- Identify a service you can do for each family member
- Include a family member in a service you are doing for another
- Shape your attitude about the ways you are already serving your family
Read about more ideas for Encouragement in Action.
The Encouragement of Presence
- Be intentional about choosing to be present and available
- Set aside a time to be present with each family member individually
- Arrange a time when everyone can be unplugged and present
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Presence.
The Encouragement of Experience
- Offer to teach a family member a skill or talent you have
- Share your stories and experiences with your family with photos or videos
- Take turns sharing your testimonies or stories of faith
Read about more ideas for the Encouragement of Experience.
by wendy | May 20, 2020 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Godly Relationships, Hospitality, Tips for Encouraging Others
God sets a wonderful example for us in how He cares for and encourages His children. In “The Encouragement of the Father,” we looked at how God encourages us by his devotion, his sensitivity and compassion, the way He promotes and pursues peace, and blesses and forgives His children.
In Romans 12, Paul writes about the responsibility of the believer to care for and encourage our spiritual family. These responsibilities perfectly reflect God’s ways toward us. While we are exhorted to encourage other believers, Paul also reminds us in 1 Timothy that we should turn our attention first to our physical family.
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
1 Timothy 5:8
This Scripture is clear – meet the needs of your household first. Meeting physical needs is necessary, but let’s not forget the importance of encouragement! I love the list Paul gives us in Romans 12:9-21 titled, “Love in Action.”
Be devoted to love…
Love sincerely and be devoted to that love.
We need to demonstrate tender, unselfish love to each member of our family. The key word here is demonstrate – how can you show that love?
Share and practice hospitality.
When we are devoted to something, we pursue it faithfully, and we can do that by sharing with one another and practicing hospitality with our own people.
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13
Be sensitive and compassionate…
Set the tone for joy, patience, and faithfulness.
Set the tone of encouragement in your home by the way you respond to and pray for each person. Model joy, patience and faithfulness to others and pray for them to follow your example as you follow the example of Christ.
Be sensitive and join others in their celebrations and in their sadness.
Pay close attention to the feelings of others and listen carefully to their hearts. We feel most heard and seen when we are met with understanding and respect for our feelings. Cheer your people on and take the time to sit with someone who is sad.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Romans 12:15
Pursue and promote peace…
Put others first and look to God to meet your needs.
Perhaps the most difficult place to be selfless is at home – expectations run high – but if we look to God to meet our needs, He will reward and bless us. Many times, when we serve one another without an agenda, we will find others following our lead.
“It is easy for us to decide that we have nothing left to give. We might say that we are exhausted, needy, used up, or beaten up. We might want to hide in a hole or lash out at irritating people around us when we feel this way, but that is not what God expects for us as His ambassadors. He wants to bring our tired and empty hearts to Him so He can fill us back up. We can exchange our dry, brittle spirit for a soft, pliable heart that has room for all of His love.”
Be a peace-seeker and a peacemaker.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18
I am learning more and more that I cannot do this on my own. It requires a super-natural intervention from God to settle my own heart down and to trust Him to make peace between people. The good news is that God is a peacemaking specialist and He loves to do it! I use a strategy that I call the 3 P’s to help me in times of conflict in my own life.
The 3 P’s:
Pause – take a breath and wait before responding.
Pray – ask God to intervene in my own heart and in the heart of others involved.
Preach – to MYSELF and remind myself of God’s truth and His promises.
Bless and forgive…
Serve others even when they feel like the enemy.
God is very specific on this – we are to bless, forgive, and serve our enemies (or those who feel like the enemy in the moment) and leave any avenging to Him. This may be the most difficult thing to do, but we can trust that God is able to make things right because he is just. Anything we do for revenge is evil and does not please God.
Cling to what is good.
We had a rabbit once that latched its teeth onto the cage wire to prevent being removed from his hutch – true story. Funny picture, but this is the type of clinging we need to do – holding on to good by the skin of our teeth! And I find it takes this kind of persistence because I am constantly tempted to return to selfish motives and expectations. Sadly, they never achieve victory for me. The kind of victory I am looking for is only won when I give it all over to God and let Him have His way with me and my family – no wonder this passage is sandwiched with this concept.
“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:9,21
Friends, we are responsible to encourage our people. When we look to God and seek His ways, He will give us the opportunities to encourage and the blessings will abound!
by wendy | May 18, 2020 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Focus on God
We use a loose interpretation of family in our house. We love to let others know that they are welcomed and will be included when they are here and we are passionate about loving on and serving others – especially kids. But the truth is that not every kid that visits is really our child. Unless they were actually adopted into the family, there are some privileges reserved for the ones that were given to us.
The same is true with God. He created us and loves us all. God welcomes all people to come to him and to join his family through Jesus, but unless they go through the steps to become adopted – accepting His son Jesus as savior – they cannot receive the same privileges reserved for children of God.
“To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12
As children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ, we are heirs to the Kingdom of God and we have special privileges reserved for His children. One of those privileges is regular and intentional encouragement from the Father. Here are a few ways we are encouraged by God.
God is devoted to Loving His children…
– by preparing a place for His children to be with him. (Revelation 21:1-4)
Scripture tells us that God is preparing a place for us. We can look forward to eternity in heaven with God. As his children, this is part of our inheritance.
– by giving His children purpose and fulfilling it. (Mark 16:15, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 57:2 (ESV))
Before we were even conceived, God has a unique purpose for our lives. Yes, we are all purposed to love Him, praise Him, and tell others about Him, but the way we are purposed to do it is unique for each of us. The best part is that God equips us and fulfills the purpose through us.
God is sensitive and compassionate to His children…
– by remaining present with His children. (Matthew 28:20, John 14:17)
God has given us His spirit to reside in us so that we are never alone. As His children, we have the privilege of entering His throne room by prayer at any time and His spirit prays for us when we do not know what to pray.
– by speaking the language of His children. (Acts 2:6, Romans 8:16)
Just today a friend shared that someone said the very words that her heart needed to hear. I understood what she meant because God often uses others to speak to me. He also speaks through Scripture, nature, circumstances, and the still, small voice that is His spirit. God speaks our language because He wants us to hear Him!
– by listening to His children and acting on their behalf. (Psalm 145:19, 2 Corinthians 1:3)
God promises to hear us when we pray, and He doesn’t just listen. The Bible tells us that He is compassionate – moved to action – when He hears us.
God pursues and promotes peace with and between His children…
– by being patient with His children. (Exodus 34:6)
I am so grateful for His patience! God has made a way for me even though I am constantly messing up. He doesn’t give up on me because He knows the plans He has for me!
– by providing a way of peace between His children. (Ephesians 2:14-17)
As much as I know that I hurt His heart when I am in conflict with other believers, God makes a way for us to reconcile. He has provided all the tools we need in Him to live in godly relationship with others.
– by not playing favorites with His children. (Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 10:12)
I love to tell each of my kids that they are my favorite, but they know that they are all my favorites! It is so reassuring to know that I don’t have to compete for my heavenly father’s affection – I am loved and treasured just like each of his children.
God blesses and forgives His people…
– by sacrificing for His children. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8)
There is no greater sacrifice than the one Jesus made for me – and for you – and for all. And the sacrificial love continues as He serves us day after day.
– by pouring out blessings on His children. (Psalm 86:5, Psalm 128:1)
The blessings are abundant. The more I recognize God’s blessings, the more He pours them out. The biggest blessing of all is Himself – and that blessing goes on forevermore.
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.”
Psalm 67:1-2
