The Story Behind Everyday Encouragement
Everyday Encouragement is my “Life Ministry,” meaning it is something I incorporate into each day of my life, no matter where I find myself. My purpose in this ministry is to use my gifts and talents to encourage others whom God places in my path. The daily mission is to listen to my heart as I interact with others, and allow God to lead me in whatever direction He desires as His vessel of encouragement and love. In a sense, I’m a “domestic missionary,” obeying the call of God without having to leave my home town. The mission fields for this ministry are the ball fields and playgrounds where I sit to watch my boys play, the grocery stores where I shop, the school where my children attend, the doctor’s office waiting rooms, the banks where I do business, my office, etc. Wherever I journey, I listen for God’s calling and obey His directives, providing encouragement…everyday…to someone God places upon my heart.
This blog came as a result of a desire to reach out in the Internet community as well. My goal is to post as God directs and pray that the right people will land here and read His message to them of encouragement, love and hope.
The ministry of Everyday Encouragement is a great example of something good emerging from tragedy. The divine inspiration for this ministry was born at a time of personal loss in my own life. During a period of sustained mourning, I could not shake the overwhelming sadness that clung to my heart. My spirit seemed to lift when I stepped outdoors and breathed in the beauty of God’s creation. I soon began photographing various scenes from nature. When I downloaded the photos in my computer, I was amazed at the intricate details of God’s handiwork, and I felt the urge to share those images with others. An idea soon sparked to print the images on greeting cards, inscribe a verse on the inside, and mail them to friends and family who needed to know that someone cares and is thinking about them. By doing that simple gesture, my focus soon shifted from my own internal sadness to the desire to help others who are in pain. Based upon the gracious reactions of the recipients of the cards, I realized that God was nudging me toward my new ministry. God used this sad event in my life to point me in the direction of my true purpose here in life. The greeting card ministry began as the main focus of the ministry, but it has now branched into many new arenas, including this blog. My prayer is that all who journey here will be “encouraged in heart and united in love.”
Statement of Purpose:
“My purpose is that you will be encouraged in heart and knit together by strong ties of love, and that you will have the rich experience of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding. For God’s secret plan, now at last made known, is Christ himself. In Him lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:2-3
everyday encouragement 
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory… Forever. Amen
“An Awakening”
When I was diagnosed with Breast cancer a few years back, I reacted like most who receive a cancer diagnose; first thing came to mind was a “death sentence”. However, I found out later that it was truly “an awakening” for me. I began questioning God, why would you do this to me? What had I done in life so bad to have this placed upon me? But instead of bemoaning my fate, I decided to look for the positive side of it. There has to be a reason for it all.
I also realized that I was about to face a new beginning, new hope, do and see more with a whole new prospective on life. When I think of the “gift of life” that was given to me, I know that I will develop and gain strength from all my experiences. After going through all that I did during my breast cancer period, I was left with, what the MD’s called “Neuropatic Pain”, which is severe nerve damage. The pain is usually with you all day; at times worse than others. I was later diagnosed with “Lymphedema”. Of course I just kept smiling and saying to myself, “Oh lucky me”. For a while, I wasn’t happy with the way I looked around my breast area after my first surgery, nor the pain I had to endure each day, but I decided to snap out of it. Even after being diagnosed with another cancer (colon) a few years later. Which totally took me by surprise. I had already had my time with cancer, I thought to myself. Why another one? I even make jokes at times, while crying inside asking, “what am I”, the cancer carrier? But even with the pain I had to endure through each diagnose, and all the struggles I’ve dealt with all my life, I still feel truly blessed. I think about the individuals that are no longer among us. I also realized that there will always be someone worse off than I am. I reminded myself, that I “still have my life”, so who am I to complain.
One day during one of my surgeries, I experienced something of a miracle and felt the compulsion to write it down. I turn that experience into a poem and I called it “Peace”. Writing had become therapy for me. I took that poem, along with many others I had composed during my breast cancer period and placed them into book form. I was blessed enough to have that book published and it’s titled “True Simple Poems of Life, Faith and Survival”. I later had another inspirational children’s book published and I’m working on my third. I’m hoping that anyone who has the opportunity to read my poems, get out of them, what I placed in all of them. My poems are from the heart, as real as any could ever be. With the words and phrases of each poem of statement, I wish to make a positive impact on someone who’s ill or otherwise, where they could develop the strength to embrace life in a whole new way. I never anticipated becoming a writer, I just became one. I truly believe when you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease as cancer, it’s for a reason, “you have a purpose” and I want to live to find find out exactly what that is for me.
That’s what I’m all about now, inspiration. I would have never become a writer, producing inspirational poems and stories, if I had not gone through all that I did. I’m a true example that you can survive cancer not once, but twice, providing you catch it in time, have faith and allow that faith to direct your path. I’ve not saying all will be easy, but you must believe.
Karen Rice
x2 Cancer Survivor/Author
Houston, Texas
Hi Karen,
Thanks for sharing your story, which is another example of something good coming out of bad circumstances. You have such a great attitude, and I’m sure that shines through in your writing. There’s no telling how God will use your gift to inspire others. Like you, I never intended to become a “writer” either, but the words just seem to spill out as God lays them upon my heart. If I can make a difference in one person’s life as a result, then I will feel that my mission is accomplished.
Grace, Peace and Blessings to you!
cbcooksey
everyday encouragement.
Thanks you so very much. That’s my purpose in life now (beside enjoying my grand-kids) is to share my story with any and everyone. I have a purpose now!
Dear Cindy,
God is an awesome God!! He allowed me to meet with you today.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful site which provides timely inspiration and encouragement.
FYI: I already began sharing the site with family and friends. You are a blessing.
Again, thank you.
Alberta
Thank you so much for your kind words, Alberta! I liked how you mentioned today that “nothing is a coincidence.” I know we didn’t meet by accident — It was truly a divine appointment. I’m thankful for our new friendship.
I just wanted to take the time and personally thank you for doing what you do. Simply writing encouraging words everyday that people like myself stumble upon is amazing and again shows God works in mysterious ways. I resonated with your blog, the only thing that counts and took it to heart. I go back and read it when I need to remember, faith expressed through love is the only thing that matters most in life. Thank you again and if we ever have the opportunity to meet or work together in some way of helping spread testimony and his word, I look forward to it.
Hi Shayla, I just saw your comment on my blog from several years ago! I’m sorry I didn’t see it way back then, but your words just encouraged ME and makes me realize why God placed this ministry on my heart. Thank you for letting me know. May God Bless You!
I wonder if we might have permission to use your delightful ‘always be thankful’ image in a creative Bible study resource we are developing to help people in deprived urban communities in the UK to work through the trauma of the Covid pandemic? We are including a section on Gratitude and we’d like to use your image as one of the illustrations in that section. We are a small charity and our resources are distributed free of charge.
Best wishes
Dawn A Lonsdale
Unlock Chief Officer
Registered Charity: 313454
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for reaching out to me about this, and – yes – you can use the “always be thankful” image in your Bible study resource. I pray that God will bless many through your Bible study. Blessings to you!
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for encouraging me along the way.
Hi Terry, Thanks for stopping by here, and you’re welcome! You have always done the same for me, too. 🙂 May God Bless You!!