by wendy | Nov 11, 2021 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Encouragement from the Word, Godly Relationships, Hospitality
My friend Kate and I had a coffee date date with Agnes yesterday and it reminded me of the story I had previously written. I hope it brings you inspiration today!
Excerpt from A Cup of Encouragement – A Refill of Inspiration
The See-Through House
I had it in mind to visit with my neighbor, Agnes, after dropping the kids off at school this morning. As I passed her house, I glanced over to see if she was home. If her front door was open it would be a sign that visitors were welcome at this time. Sure enough, I was able to see through the glass of her storm door, right into her living room. As I continued past the house though, the living room was not all I could see! Agnes also had the back door open and I had a view of the beautiful morning sky behind her house. The clear shot through both of her doors was the perfect frame for the spectacular sight that I would have otherwise missed!
I did go back and visit with Agnes later, and I really enjoyed the time I had to chat with her. Her home is warm and welcoming and so full of light. We chatted about memories and present struggles, and through it all was woven our experiences of God’s grace and mercy. Though there is nothing that can take the place of fellowship with another believer, I couldn’t take my mind off of the view I had seen through Agnes’ “see-through” house. The more I thought about that view, the more I realized that I want my life to be “see-through” as well.
Like my neighbor’s home, I would like my life to have an open front door – a sign that people are always welcome. I want to be available and approachable at all times. Often though, I close the door, hiding my mess, seeking privacy, and masking my loneliness with busyness. It is not that I don’t want the company of others, but instead, I am sometimes afraid of what they might think if I let them inside. Unfortunately, what I often neglect to understand is that it is not what my life looks like that is important to others, as much as the encouragement that I have to offer when they come in.
Also like Agnes, I would like to remember to leave the back door open as well. While an open front door symbolizes a welcome sign to all who pass by, it is the light that shines through me that enables them to see me before they come in. Though the light of Christ is open and wide for all to see, many miss it unless it is framed by an ordinary life. When others can see Christ shining through me, illuminating my real and tangible characteristics, His beauty comes into focus. When I invite others in, but keep closed the door that lets in the light, they get but a faded glimpse of who I really am.
A home bathed in light is beautiful no matter what the contents. A home full of warmth is welcoming no matter its splendor. Leave the front door of your life open, throw open the back door to let in the light. When others see through your life and capture the awesomeness of God, you will be amazed at the company that will stop by!
No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer.
It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room
have light to see where they’re going.
Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.
Luke 11:33,36 (The Message)
by wendy | Jul 30, 2020 | Encouragement, Godly Relationships, Hospitality, Prayer, Tips for Encouraging Others
Tuesday seemed like a day for everything bad to happen! All day long I received news of difficult things that people I know were going through. Several people fell and were seriously injured, a house burnt down, a friend began to notice signs of dementia in a loved one, several of my kids had stressful days, it seemed to go on and on. Even those who didn’t experience specific trauma seemed weary – the world seems weary.
I often have to remind myself that, while I want to be supportive, I need to not take on the weariness of others. Instead I must search for ways to encourage those that are weary. I need to pause, pray, and preach to myself so I can find my strength in the Lord and pass on that strength to those that need it.
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.”
Isaiah 50:4
Here are a few ideas for encouraging the weary:
1.Share the Word
God’s strength is available for each of us. His word gives us hope – and hope strengthens us! Share Scripture on your social media, write a verse in a card (or use one of the enclosure cards in the newsletter this week!), memorize Scripture so you can share it in the moment, post Scripture in your home, car, and office.
2. Give a gift
My Bible Study group once gave me a gift card for a massage when I was going through a very difficult time. A friend sent me a book of uplifting stories when I was down. Gifts are wonderful expressions of encouragement and can be practical and meaningful at the same time. An inspirational print, a gift card for coffee or a treat, a pretty scarf or t-shirt, a new mug – so many ideas!
3. Sit and Listen
Invite someone over to sit in your space and relax. Whether you offer a cup of coffee, breakfast or lunch, or a glass of ice water on the back porch – just providing someone a safe place to rest is key.
4. Say a Prayer
After listening to someone pour out their heart about their struggles and exhaustion, ask if you can pray with them. A simple prayer to ask God to give them rest and to thank Him for what He is doing is all that is needed. The best encouragement we can offer is to carry someone right into the presence of God!
5. Share Your Story
It is difficult to find hope in the midst of weariness. A tired and empty spirit is often dry and weak. When you share your experience of how God has lifted you out of those times, you share hope and give strength. Even if your experience is not identical (it never is!), just the reminder that God is able can be enough to pull someone out of the pit of despair and give them an anchor to hold on to.
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
Jeremiah 31:25
by wendy | Jul 16, 2020 | Encouragement, Godly Relationships, Hospitality, Tips for Encouraging Others
The Bible specifically tells us to care for the widows among us.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
James 1:27
I think widows often go unnoticed and underserved because they are so often the caretakers. While widows of today might not be in such dire straights as they were in biblical times, we must understand that they are still in need of our encouragement. Take some time to look around and think about who the widows are – in your church, in your neighborhood, and in your family.
Here are some specific ideas for encouraging widows:
1.Visit!
Living alone is – well – lonely. Even the most independent widow would probably enjoy some company from time to time. My friend, Tracy, and I have been having coffee chats with our neighbor widow, Agnes, for years.
2. Listen
Older widows have so much life experience to share. I often ask Ms. Agnes, “How did you handle this?” and “What was that stage like for you?” Her stories and wisdom give fresh insight for many of my life issues.
Younger widows have much to share as well. Though they may not have lived as long, grief and sorrow develops wisdom that we can all learn from.
Beyond the wisdom, everyone has a need to be heard.
3. Take along for shopping/errands
One of my favorite things when my children were small was pick up my Granny and take her along for shopping and errands. She enjoyed the outing and the kids – I enjoyed the extra set of hands and the adult company.
4. Take a meal or leftovers – eat with them whenever possible
Cooking for one and eating alone is no fun. Share your leftovers – especially in freezable portions – but more importantly share a meal and eat with her!
5. Invite to join your family for special occasions – or just for the day
Don’t wait for your house to be quiet and clean or for the time to prepare the perfect meal. Many widows would love the opportunity to join in your family time even if that feels chaotic to you. What you consider to be a zoo might just represent the fullness of life someone else has been missing.
6. Pray
Pray for and with the widows among you. Ask them specifically how you can pray for them and ask them to pray for you.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself. ”
Luke 10:27
by wendy | Jul 15, 2020 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Focus on God, Godly Relationships, Hospitality
My sweet elderly neighbor has recently returned from the hospital. Agnes is such an important part of our community here – she truly has a servant heart. Though her mind and spirit are in excellent shape, her body is declining and she needs assistance in order to stay in her home. It is a hard thing for Agnes to accept as she has always been the caretaker, but she is also so grateful for the people who are offering their help.
It has brought such joy to my heart to see the many people volunteering their time to stay with my dear friend. Agnes calls us her “committee” and there are more than 10 volunteers, along with family and some hired help that have come together to assist her through this time. It is an amazing testimony to what it looks like to follow God’s commands about looking after the widows.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27
My word study helped me to understand the words and phrases James used in this passage:
- “to look after” implies a range of actions from visiting to inspecting, or being concerned about the needy
- “religion” is defined as the expression of worship
In other words, we express pure worship when we are concerned about and act on behalf of the needy – or those who cannot look after themselves. James goes deeper into this concept later in Chapter 2 when he goes as far as to say that our actions define our faith.
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
James 2:17
It is important to note that James in NOT saying that we are saved by our actions or deeds, rather genuine faith will PRODUCE good deeds. When we recognize the grace and mercy of God to save us, we are then compelled to have grace and mercy for others. God acts on our behalf – we act on the behalf of others in gratitude for what God has done for us!
In our society, we are accustomed to widows and orphans being cared for by the government or other entities. Many widows are even able to manage their own care – vastly different from biblical times. So are we to assume that this command is no longer relevant? If it is, who are our widows and orphans and how can we fulfill this command?
In many places in Scripture, God notes the difference between wicked and righteous as those who take care of the poor and needy. For example, in contrast to the wicked son of King Josiah, it is said of his father:
“He defended the cause of the poor and needy.”
Jeremiah 22:16
Josiah loved God by loving others and we are to do the same. Widows and orphans are examples of those who have great need and we should consider them our responsibility even when there are other options for them. But they are not the only examples.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40
When we are discerning who we should look after as a part of our worship and faith, we should ask these 2 questions:
- Who are the poor and needy among us?
- Who are the least of these?
There are many ways to serve – numerous opportunities to follow the command of “doing for the least of these.” As we pray about what God would have us do, let us never forget that we are called to follow God’s example.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.”
Psalm 68:5
Could he be calling your family to serve the lonely today? Perhaps you are the answer to someone’s prayer.
by wendy | May 28, 2020 | Encouragement, Godly Relationships, Hospitality, Prayer, Tips for Encouraging Others
As I said in in the previous post, “the key to growing and maintaining a successful community is encouragement.” Here are several ideas for encouraging your people:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:5
Encouragement of Words
- Send notes of encouragement.
- Send a text or message of a verse that speaks to you.
- Call to say, “I am thinking of you.”
Encouragement of Hospitality
- Invite someone over for coffee, lunch, or just a visit.
- Pack a picnic lunch or snack and deliver it to eat on a friend’s porch.
- Plan a “tea” or coffee party and invite several friends to join you.
Encouragement of Prayer
- Choose several people in your circle to add to your prayer strategy.
- Send a message to ask how you can specifically pray for someone.
- Invite a few people in your circle to meet together for prayer.
Encouragement of Giving
- Purchase a gift card to send to someone who needs a special treat.
- Make a batch of homemade cookies or a loaf of bread and deliver to a friend. Don’t forget to include a note!
- Plant a set of teacups with herbs and tie a verse to the handle of each.
Encouragement in Action
- Offer to help with a big project – planting, painting, packing to move.
- Pick up coffee or bagels and deliver to a friend who is swamped with work.
- Babysit for a mom so she can have an afternoon of relaxing fun.
Encouragement of Presence
- Sit with a friend who is waiting – for doctor’s results, for a job opportunity, for a baby or a surgery.
- Offer to drive around with a coworker or neighbor who has just moved to the area.
- Offer to shop with a mom of young kids – entertain the little one while she runs errands.
Encouragement of Experience
- Offer to take a younger woman to lunch and ask her about her dreams. Share a little of your story with her.
- Join a group of women at church – invite a woman from a different generation to join you.
- Invite some friends to join you in your hobby. Gather the supplies and be ready to teach them. Send them home with a kit and something finished.
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.
