One of my encouragers is Scott Brookshire. I’ve known Scott by reputation for over 30 years but personally for the last 6 years since I have been attending the Men’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study at Temple Bible Church. Last week Scott encouraged me greatly in my writing and gave me this awesome idea. Throughout The Year of Encouragement, we’ll have a time called “Flowers for the Living.” I’ll simply give you an idea to thank and encourage people who have made an impact on your life, then ask you to share with me and the other readers who you thanked and why. You can respond on Facebook or on my blog. So, for today’s Flowers for the Living Feature, I would like for you to write someone and tell them what you appreciate about them. Tell them how they have impacted you, the neighborhood, the community, the church or on a broader scale. I can’t wait to hear your stories! I’ll go first…thank you Scott for being a constant source of encouragement to me. You always have a good word for me each Thursday morning and you were the very first person to ask me to lead our group in a hymn when I didn’t know if I would ever be able to lead people again in worship. Thank you my friend, I’m forever grateful!
18 Nov
Day 12/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Let’s get real. We all deal with sin and unholiness. Even the giants in the faith deal with unholiness. “Then I said, “Woe is me for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:5-7.
If you are dealing with a recurring and chronic sin issue, let me encourage you to ponder these few things.
Realize what is making you unclean. God sent his angel to put the burning coal on Isaiah’s lips. Obviously the prophet had a problem with his tongue. Maybe he would curse, speak untruths, or would use perverse speech. Maybe Isaiah had an anger problem and he would lash out at the people around him. You know where you need cleansing, so today, ask the Lord to bring on the coals!
God initiates the cleansing. Isaiah wasn’t looking for God when he had the vision of the Lord seated high on his throne. This was God’s way of giving Isaiah get a little glimpse of heaven! It was God who knew Isaiah needed cleansing to prepare him for the work ahead. Only God is holy and only through Him can we find cleansing.
We are cleansed for a mission. Isaiah had a big job ahead of him. In verses 8-12 of chapter 6 he gets his marching orders and realizes that without the cleansing of the Lord, then he would be ill-equipped for the mission.
You only get clean when you get real close to God. Isaiah’s personal space was invaded by an angel carrying a hot coal! God will draw you to himself even if He has to take extreme measures to get you there!
Many thanks to Jon Walker for his thoughts on this topic. Be encouraged friends, for the Lord is near!
17 Nov
Day 11/365 – A Year of Encouragement
A few weeks ago Hurricane Sandy slammed into the shores of New York and New Jersey creating death and destruction in its path. Many homes in the path of Hurricane Sandy were destroyed but yet some remained intact. The reason some houses were not destroyed was because of their solid foundation. What’s the name of your storm….betrayal of trust, declining health, financial setbacks, relationship failures? All these can be consequences of our bad choices. Everywhere we turn, we see lives and families destroyed by the storms of life. Many of those storms are our own creation, our sin. My pastor has said many times, “You can choose your sin, but you can’t choose your consequence. God’s desire, however, is that our lives and relationships survive the storms because of a strength that fills us from within. That power is released when we step out in faith and let Jesus live his strong life in us. The switch that turns on the power is faith and obedience. Our lives do not have to be destroyed in the storms of life if we have the solid foundation of faith in Christ. The wise soul is someone who not only listens to what Jesus teaches but also builds their life on the foundation of obedience, allowing Jesus’ powerful message to make a real difference. The foolish soul doesn’t apply Jesus’ wisdom to the way he lives. The difference is revealed when the storms of life rage. The person who lives by God’s Word can withstand any storm.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)
Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!
16 Nov
Day 10/365 – A Year of Encouragement
The Christian songwriter Don Moen wrote an essay about encouragement and I thought I’d share some of it with you today. In Titus 2:6, Paul told Titus to encourage the young men to be self-controlled. Encouragement persuades people to live godly lives and develop godly character. We should continually encourage each other to live godly lives and develop godly character. For instance we can: Encourage people to resist evil when they are tempted. Encourage people to aspire to godly character traits (i.e. loyalty, dependability, reverence, punctuality, etc.). Encourage people to pursue holiness.
There was a man in the early church named Joseph, but the apostles gave him a nickname – Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” What a compliment! Joseph’s life was so marked by his constant ministry of encouragement that it warranted a name change! We have unlimited opportunities to encourage others. How do we encourage others? You know how: speak affirming words, write encouraging notes, and make phone calls and emails. As we dispense generous quantities of this particular “one another,” we will become more effective Christians.
15 Nov
Day 9/365 – A Year of Encouragement
What’s your story? Yes friend, we all have a story to tell. One of the saddest things I experienced in the ministry is sitting with a widow or widower to talk with them about their spouse and they couldn’t tell me how or when their departed spouse came to faith in Christ. Don’t let another day pass without you telling your spouse and children your story! Remember, you are not guaranteed tomorrow so you best make good use of today! You have so much history to share with your spouse and kids….they need to know where you came from, how you grew up and what life was like when you were a child. Your kids need to know the story how you and your spouse met and fell in love. They need your story! Proverbs 10:31 “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.” As you share your life and faith story with your family you will extend wisdom to them. Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!
14 Nov
Day 8/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Yesterday is gone and there is no guarantee of tomorrow; all we have is today. How much time do you waste regretting the missed opportunities of yesterday or thinking about the future? Friend, you are not guaranteed a tomorrow; all you have is today! Sure there may be an opportunity to make up for yesterday’s mess up or future opportunities for making money and doing business but I’m talking about the missed opportunities of touching someone’s life. Think about all those times when you should have called a friend or family member and didn’t do it; you missed the blessing! It’s those missed opportunities to make that call that we’ll never get back. I learned a long time ago when those thoughts come into my mind to make that visit or call, to write a note of encouragement or send that special email or text message that the Holy Spirit was speaking to my spirit to get up and move! You see, God knows when someone needs a special touch from you and He gives you the opportunity to exercise your faith and be obedient! It’s a powerful thing when you contact someone and say “I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.” We must take advantage of every one of those opportunities. My challenge to you today is to listen for the Holy Spirit because He will speak into your spirit when He wants you to reach out and make that contact. Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!
12 Nov
Day 6/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Some of you reading this are stuck in a rut. These ruts can be significant challenges; here are a few. The physical rut – “I can’t seem to lose this weight.” “I sleep too much, and drink too much.” “Every time I start an exercise program, something gets in the way and I quit.” The emotional rut – “I can’t seem to get over my divorce.” “I have a hard time getting close to someone.” “Someone hurt me and I can’t forgive them.” The vocational rut – “I can’t find a job!” “I’ve been working at the same job for years and I’m stuck.” “I can’t decide what to do after I graduate from college.” The spiritual rut – “My prayers aren’t getting answered.” “I’m in the middle of a spiritual desert.” “I’m not sure what I believe anymore.” The financial rut – “I’m getting deeper and deeper into debt. My financial life is a mess.” The relational – “My marriage is hurting.” “My kids are a mess.” “My sister won’t talk to me.”
It’s usually hard to get out of a rut all by yourself. Ruts cause discouragement, fear and paralysis. You may be in a rut so deep that you are ready to give up and quit. Let me give you a push, a foothold, a fresh idea. Let me come alongside and give you some help. First thing, do not give up….don’t quit! There are better times ahead.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)
Listen close to Pastor Rick Warren as he gives some great advice in times of discouragement. If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience. You may be going through difficult times right now and feel like dropping off the planet. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair. It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!” But you can. You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on. Remember, you are never a failure until you quit. Don’t quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.
Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!
11 Nov
Day 5/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Friends, some of the people who need encouragement the most are those who stand before us every Sunday. Encouragement strengthens and reinforces someone who is on the right course. We often need encouragement, not because things are going wrong, but because we’re just tired of doing that which is right and good. Even that which is honorable and good can, in time, become mundane and laborious. Galatians 6:9 calls it becoming “weary in well doing.” For instance, have you ever thought how difficult it must be for a pastor to prepare a new, fresh message each week? Every Monday morning he starts his week with a blank sheet paper! Even though he may enjoy research and sermon preparation, after years of preaching it can become wearisome. How about those pastors in smaller churches who hold down a full-time job in addition to the stresses of shepherding a church? Those guys need our encouragement. How about those who lead us in worship? Every week, there is much time spent in thoughtful, prayerful work considering what elements of worship can encourage the church to enter into a moment of worship. There is much time spent in rehearsals making sure that the music paves the way for powerful worship. Friends, this week let’s encourage our pastors, worship leaders and our other ministers on our church staffs. They need to hear from you! Be enouraged today friends for the Lord is near!
10 Nov
Day 4/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Encouragement gives hope, courage, and emotionalstrength to those who are struggling. Jesus said, “In this world you will have problems.” This isn’t a threat; it’s just a statement of fact; perhaps even a warning. Life is tough. Disappointments come, things break, people who you thought were your friends will turn on you. Yes, even those you love the most; your spouse and/or children will make major mistakes
and disappoint you; relationships turn sour. When these problems come, discouragement and depression are not far behind. When discouragement casts its heavy shadow, we need a good dose of encouragement. Every interaction we have is an opportunity to be an encourager. Think of those you know who are stressed, hurt, discouraged, afraid, sad and disappointed. You can be the light of encouragement to them! Ask the Lord to give you the wisdom to know how to be a blessing to those who need a good dose of encouragement. Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!
9 Nov
Day 3/365 – A Year of Encouragement
Have you ever been at the point of giving up? I have and I bet most of you have been there too. What is it that gets us through those difficult times? For me, it has been those dear saints who made it a point to be an encourager to me. Many of them have moved away, and some have passed away. This has caused me some sadness because I’m wondering, who will fill their shoes? Then it hit me; maybe I’m the one who needs to be the encourager. God puts us in situations where we need the greatest work. If we need to learn patience, He puts us in situations where we tend to be impatient. If we need to learn to love, He puts people in our lives that are hard to love. Get the picture? We all need to be encouraged, so maybe we should become the encourager.
Years ago, the great UCLA basketball coach, Pepper Rogers was having a bad season. He was getting lots of criticism from the press, the alumni and even his wife, who was one of UCLA’s biggest fans! Reflecting back on that time, Pepper said, “My dog was my only friend. I told my wife that every man needs at least two friends in his life. She bought me another dog!” Coach Rogers needed a healthy dose of encouragement, not another dog!
Thirty-five times in the New Testament we see a recurring word pattern; an action verb followed by the phrase “one another.” For instance, we are told to: prefer, accept, greet, encourage, forgive, comfort, wait for, and honor…one another. Learn how to do these key verbs and you’ll learn how to relate to others in a loving, Christ-like way.
The most frequently mentioned “one another” in the Bible is to “Encourage one another.” Perhaps it is the most mentioned because it is the most needed! Hebrews 3:13 says we are to “encourage one another DAILY!”
Be Encouraged Today 