Category: Encouragement

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A Full Heart

Yesterday was so nice. A day to be surrounded by family and those who weren’t here in person were in my heart and in phone conversations and text messages. Teaching the littlest grandchildren the reason we celebrate – it’s Jesus’ birthday!

My cup runneth over…God has been so good to me. He saw me for who I was and He loved me in spite of my shortcomings and my faults. He sees me now through His eyes of grace and His desire is for my good.

He has placed all I need before me and He has promised to go with me on this journey. He will provide – He won’t abandon me. His desire is for me to become all that He has designed me to be.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMP

That which runs over isn’t wasted because God isn’t wasteful. The overflow is for sharing with others. What do you have to give? Encouragement? Joy? Love? Forgiveness? Understanding? Peace?

“Jesus said: Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. 38 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.” Luke 6:37-38 CEV

If you wonder what packed down, shaken together and spilling over looks like I’d like to paint you a word picture. Yesterday our son-in-law was in charge of collecting the Christmas wrapping in a trash bag. At first, the pieces of paper were just tossed in, no problem. But as more gifts were unwrapped he started pushing the paper down to compress the contents of the bag. Finally, the bag was full and running over. No more room!

When we think we can’t contain anymore of God’s goodness, love and forgiveness, press it down and He will add more. He will add so much more that understanding, forgiveness and love will spill over into the lives of others.

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God Overlooks Our Reputation

How do you see yourself today? Are you someone who has struggled most of your life with relationships and careers? Do others look down on you because of your education or lack thereof? Maybe you’ve done some stupid stuff and it has caused people not to trust you or you’ve wounded and broken relationships.

Many years ago, there were some shepherds out on a hillside watching their sheep. Shepherds had a poor reputation in their society. They were considered the lowest of the blue collar workers, rogues, and liars, but God… God saw them as men who would be faithful to spread the message that His Son had been born!

“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.” Luke 2:8-20

God was willing to use the shepherds and He’s willing to use us too. He sees the best in each of us and gives us opportunities to use what He’s placed in us to touch others. God, the Father, has a message and a plan for each life. Let’s follow the example of the shepherds and go tell somebody what God has done. It’s a wonderful message about a wonderful life.

Thank you Father for your love!

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Loving Parents Are a Gift

This morning I was thinking about Mary and Joseph’s parents. Nothing is written in Scripture about them except that Joseph’s father was named Jacob (Matthew 1). But there are some things that we can assume about them and their character because of what we see in their children.

Mary’s parents must have been godly people; teaching their children the Scriptures and the prophesies of the coming of the Messiah. They also must have given their children good moral guidelines for their lives. Mary knew of the stories of a Messiah that would come because she wasn’t completely confused when the angel appeared to her. She also knew Jewish law said that a woman who had sexual relations outside of marriage should be stoned and so when she found herself with child she went to see her cousin Elizabeth for three months.

When Mary returned home she was “found” with child. What would her parents do? Her “condition” brought the entire family under criticism. Would they turn their daughter over to the proper authorities for judgment or would they love and protect her in spite of her circumstances?

Let’s look at Joseph’s family for a minute. Mary is engaged to Joseph when she is “found” to be with child. I can imagine Joseph’s father coming to him and saying “Son, you’ve disgraced the entire family. You’ve ruined the family business – no one will come to us for carpentry any longer. How could you have done such a thing?”

Joseph knows he isn’t the father of Mary’s baby. Who is? God tells Joseph it will be ok. She, Mary, is pregnant by divine means and the child she is carrying is the Messiah! WOW!!! He, too, has to have knowledge of the Scriptures for this to be a concept that he can embrace.

Both Mary and Joseph’s parents had to be a support for them because the rest of the community surely was criticizing and ridiculing at every turn. As parents, they knew they had raised their children correctly, raised them in the Scriptures and to love God! They must have prayed with them and for them since they were tiny and now it was time to show the unconditional love and support that their children needed.

What an example to us as parents today! We’ve raised our kids to know right from wrong; to know what honors and dishonors God. We, as parents, must learn from our heavenly Father. He loves us when we are unlovely; He forgives us and restores us when we fail; He is always seeking to have relationship with us even when we don’t want His advice or to be influenced by His knowledge. And He never loses faith in us, He never writes us off. Father God instructs us, He corrects us but most importantly He always loves us!

“God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father 17 will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 CEV

May we be parents who always encourage and help and love as the Father has loved us!

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No Room in the Inn

I think it’s important that we realize the stories in the Bible aren’t fables or make-believe. They will have greater impact in our lives if we read them as if we were there. About ten years ago I started reading these verses in just that way.

“Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:5-7 CEV

What was it like to be the inn keeper who turned them away? They must have gone to several places before one kind proprietor volunteered to let them use his stable. Or what about Joseph? He had promised God that he would provide for Mary. He loved her deeply. He risked reputation and standing in the community when he continued his relationship with a pregnant Mary. How did he feel?

Mary had been on the road several days while traveling to Bethlehem, only to get there and find that all the rooms were taken. There was no 800-555-5555 for reservations and now there was no room. Weary from the road trip and with contractions starting, I’m sure she was grateful for the opportunity to lay down. I think she probably found comfort in the smell of fresh hay.

No room meant God would supply their needs and He did!

When we hear the words “no room” do we get resentful or do we lay back and rest in what God provides? No room at the company, no room for us at the college, no room in the social circle, no room on the team, no room in the heart of a loved one…no room.

“There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. 3 After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. ” John 14:2-3 CEV

One thing we will NEVER hear from the Father is “no room”; He has enough room for all who come!

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Listen for the Bugle

Isaiah, the prophet said this about Jesus.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, “He is a nobody!” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

According to Isaiah Jesus was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

Remember how the disciples became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” Mark 4:38 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they would have approached the problem differently. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

Those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in their faith and accept Him for who He was, the Son of God, just like us. We cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need. But then, He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him but what you see. Say like the young virgin Mary, “with God all things are possible”!

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A Hand to Hold

A week or so back we were talking with friends about memories we have made since moving into our Arizona home. So many good times, so many good friends. One memory in particular came to mind.

About three years ago, our youngest daughter and her family had come to visit for the weekend. Sam, our grandson, was about 15 months old. I was in the kitchen cooking and his parents and Pappy were outside on the patio. He stood at the door waiting for someone to let him out but no one came. Sam had been watching our dog, Glory, go in and out the doggie door so he crawled over to it and tried to go through.

He got stuck, high centered in fact. The outside patio is considerably lower than the kitchen floor and as he went through the door, his hands went down to the patio but his feet in the kitchen came up and he no longer had any traction to move himself forward.

I was laughing almost uncontrollably. His Mom saw what was happening and she came to his rescue by offering him a hand to hold, a hand to help.

There are so many of us like little Sam. We just need a helping hand. Sometimes life gives us what seems to be insurmountable obstacles. Our own efforts lack the ability to bring us through successfully. We need a hand to hold.

“For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you,  ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NLT

I have heard the Lord whisper those same words of encouragement to my heart in times of struggle. “Just take my hand”.

“You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me,  your help has made me great. 36 You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.” Psalm 18:35-36 NLT

During this time of year, there are so many around us who need a helping hand. They need to know that whatever obstacle, situation, or heart ache they face they aren’t in it alone. They need to know there is a hand to hold. Jesus said when we help the least of those around us we are reaching out as if He were the one in need.

Extend a hand to someone in need. It may be the best gift they receive.

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God’s Workmanship

Yesterday Dave brought in all the Christmas decoration tubs so I could start decorating. I love decorating for Christmas. The center pieces, Nativity sets and ornaments all remind me of family and friends. I found some angels yesterday that I had purchased the first year Dave and I were married, they are still in good shape.

One of the things that has changed in the last few years since we’ve retired is our tree. It’s now one of the pretty artificial ones. There aren’t too many places in southern Arizona where we can go cut our own but that’s what we did for many years.

I remember all our times when the kids were little and we went out to the forest and cut our own Christmas trees. In Idaho, we would make a day of it with family and friends. Even when it was just Dave and I in Montana, we drove up to the hill behind our house looking for just the right tree.

Trees grown in the wild are never the perfect shape like the ones you find on the tree lot or at the Christmas tree farm but the fun is the adventure you have while searching.

Once we got more adventure than we had planned for and it was very exciting and a bit scary. Stuck in the snow, sliding backwards down the trail, unable to stop and settling for any tree that was close to the road’s edge as we were getting off the mountain. Awww, I digress – that’s not the point of my story.

Each tree had it’s own beauty and charm. Each tree had grown from a small seed that fell from the pinecone years before we had come. Each tree was a testament to God’s recreative power and each tree took us to nature, God’s beauty and reminded us of His love.

In thinking about those trees, their imperfections, their beauty, I was reminded that we are like those trees. We all have our own little quirks and characteristics but we are all a creation of beauty designed by the Master Creator, our Heavenly Father.

“You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:9-10 ERV

Take time this Christmas season to be someone’s tree. Maybe you are a Charley Brown tree or maybe you are majestic like the tree in Rockefeller Plaza. Just let your light shine and bring joy into the lives of those around you.

Let people see that you are God’s workmanship, created by Him to do good.

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The Air I Breathe

Have you ever been desperate? Thinking all hope was gone and there was no where to turn – what do you do? That’s a time when many turn to God – they have exhausted their own resources; their wisdom, their finances, their influence and even their health and then they say “God help!”

I’ve been there and so have many of you! I would never criticize any who finds yourselves in that place. I only want to encourage you with this truth – God does care and He will help – He will provide a way out! When I think of that helpless, hopeless feeling now it brings me to a place of comfort and peace because God did meet me there – He did provide all that I needed and more!

There’s a song by Michael W. Smith that says “I’m desperate for you” – that’s the place I want to be each and every day. Desperate for the Lord – I want to be so dependent on Him that I can’t imagine a day or an hour of living without a sense of His presence in my life. Again from the song there’s a line that says, He’s the very air I breathe. Do you know what’s it like to be that desperate for the Lord? I hope so!!

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1-9 ERV

Verse 9 in the King James version says “ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” To be longing – that’s desperate. It’s more than desire; it’s a need, a deep need – a “I can’t go on any further without you” need.

When Jesus was teaching the Sermon on the Mount he said this:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 KJV Now read it in the Easy to Read Version
“Great blessings belong to those who want to do right more than anything else. God will fully satisfy them.” Matthew 5:6 ERV

Are you satisfied – fully satisfied? They will be satisfied! That’s a promise from God. Do you long for Him today? I hope you do!

I hope you are as grateful for God’s presence as you are for the air you breathe and the food that sustains you.

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Be A Comfort

Yesterday morning I went to the hospital early to see Mom. She had a good night and was feeling much better than she had the day before. Shortly after I arrived she received her breakfast. She said it tasted good but not as good as the chocolate pudding she had the night before.

In just a little bit, a sweet nurse’s aide came in and asked if Mom would like to have a sponge bath. She thought that sounded nice. The aide was so sweet as she went about her task – warm water, wash cloths, a clean hospital gown and then she changed the sheets on the bed. Mom felt like a new woman! To top it off, she leaned over and gave Mom a big hug before she left.

Comfort!

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

Mom was dismissed from the hospital yesterday afternoon, my sister and brother-in-law are taking good care of Mom, we are so grateful for all they do!

The littlest kindnesses are sometimes the greatest sources of comfort. Where do you find comfort?

“When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. 19 And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.” Psalm 94:18-19 CEV

“When I am hurting, I find comfort in your promise that leads to life. 51 Conceited people sneer at me, but I obey your Law. 52 I find true comfort, Lord, because your laws have stood the test of time.” Psalm 119:50-52 CEV

Our true comfort doesn’t come from the external things in our lives but from the eternal – from God’s Word and His love.

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.” Philippians 2:1 CEV

My prayer is that we will all be used of God to make others “Comfort-abled” today!

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Be Someone’s Blessing

What does it take to be a blessing? How do we treat the unthankful? Jesus gave this instruction to his disciples:

“I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy. 37 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:35-38

Jesus instruction was clear – we are to be an example of God to those we deal with each day. We were all sinners by nature but Jesus freely gave His life so that we could be brought into right relationship with God the Father. He gave freely and so should we.

Look at that second phrase in today’s verses, lend without expecting to get anything back. What have you lent…your time, your friendship, your assistance, your tools, your car, your money, your love, your compassion, your attention and genuine interest. When we lend without expecting to get things back then we’ve really made them a gift and in giving we’re an example of our heavenly Father.

Search for an opportunity to give to someone who is, by nature, unthankful. Maybe they were raised to be skeptical and feel that anytime someone gave something it was with a hiden agenda – so give today, genuinely give. Who knows you may be the one God is using to break through their shell and bring out an attitude of gratitude.

Let’s make this our prayer. “Lord, what can I do to please you today? I know I don’t have to work to earn Your love. But I like to do things that make you happy – things that bring a smile to Your face, something that will let You know that I love you?”

“My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. 14 The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 ERV

The verse above was Paul’s instructions to the Christians at Galatia. He was reminding them of what Jesus taught and Jesus words were a repeat of a lesson God gave to Moses when the Israelites first came out of Egypt. God’s command from the very beginning was that we walk in a loving way towards those around us.

“Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Don’t try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18 ERV

Be forgiving, be generous, be loving, even to the unlovable and be the reason that someone else is thankful! It will make your Father smile.

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