Category Archives: Encouragement

Feb10

Reflections

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Chapel Reflection

As Water Reflects a Face,

So a Man’s Heart Reflects the Man.

Proverbs 27:19

 

This week I attended two Memorial Services on the same day….a first for me.  As I sat and listened at both services, I thought about the words which were spoken for each precious soul.  Both ladies were wonderful Christian people, and both served God throughout their lives in their own special ways.  Each ulogy reflected upon a life of ministry and love.  The first service was for a beloved 93-year-old grandmother, whose Homegoing was more of a celebration than a typical funeral.  Yes, there were tears, but at the same time, there was rejoicing over the fact that she was in her new Heavenly Home, reunited with loved ones and awaiting the arrival of those left behind.  Family members all spoke of the legacies she left for them.  Not material possessions, but things that truly matter like character, work ethic, hospitality, perseverance, loyalty and love. 

  The other service was for a beloved teacher and coach at my sons’ school.  Her life cut short by complications of surgery.  Though she never had children of her own, the evidence of her love for children was seen in the faces of the hundreds of students who attended her service and in the words of several athletes who spoke of her impact upon their lives.    She seemed to be the kind of person who made everyone’s life better, just by knowing her.   Although her life ended too soon, her legacy will live on in the students, athletes, family members and friends who were privaledged to know her. 

     After hearing about the positive imprint these two women have left on so many hearts, I began to think about what impressions I am making on those who are closest to me.  What legacy am I leaving for others?  What are  my heart and my life “Reflecting?”  After spending this extraordinary day traveling to attend two funerals, I feel the need to pause and take account of how I am spending my time, what are my priorities, in whom am I “investing,”  whose lives am I blessing, and what type of “inheritance” am I leaving for those around me?  Our days are numbered, and we have no guarantee of living a long, full life.  I hope to be making every day count and fulfilling the purposes to which I am called.  I hope to be “reflecting” things from my heart and life that will make other lives better for having known me.

Jan16

Wonderfully Made

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Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

God knew you before you were even formed in your mother’s womb…
He knew His plans for your life from the beginning of time…
He knew everything about every day you would live…
He alone knows you intimately and completely.
Seek Him for the answers to whatever you are searching for.
Ask Him for His vision upon your life…
Ask Him to point the direction in which  you should go…
Be still and Listen for His answer.
Turn to Him for the solutions to your problems…
Read His word and “hear” Him speak to you from the living scriptures.
He loved you from the beginning of time…
and He will Love you FOREVER.

You are His design…wonderfully made!

God's Art

God's Art

Jan14

Blessing of Peace

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Peace on Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Peace on Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face shine upon you
and be Gracious to you.
The Lord turn His face toward you
and give you Peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

While reading this beautiful blessing, I felt the overwhelming urge to pray this as a prayer for all my friends and family. What more could I pray for others than these simple, yet powerful intersessions? 

No matter what is happening in the lives of others, this prayer would apply to all.

Basically the prayer asks the following precious requests of the Lord for others:

That the Lord…
1  Bless them
2. Keep Them
3.  Make His face SHINE upon them
4.  Be Gracious to them
5.  Turn His face toward them
6.  Grant them PEACE.

When reading these verses, I envision being held in our Father’s arms, as though He were cradling His child.  His FACE is TURNED and looking toward His loved one and SHINING the comforting, soothing warmth of His intent gaze upon His own.  In that spot He KEEPS us close to His heart and BLESSES us with His love and GRACIOUSNESS.  As we focus on Him and  His love, we relax in His embrace allowing His PEACE to  flood our souls and wash away any traces of fear, pain, heartache, worry or discord.  What a BLESSING!!

May the Lord grant you this beautiful blessing of PEACE!!

Jan1

Let the New Begin…

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Colors of Hope

Colors of Hope

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a New Creation.
        The Old Life is Gone.

A New Life Has Begun!

   2 Corinthians 5:17

Peace and Blessings to you as you begin ths NEW YEAR!!!

Oct11

Trust God Alone…

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“Do not put your trust in princes,

in mortal men who cannot save…”

Psalm 146:3

In the midst of our presidential election, it seems we have become caught up in thinking that one candidate or the other will solve all the problems for our country.  We think that if our candidate doesn’t win in November, our hope is lost.  No matter how our outward circumstances look, we should never look to a leader (man) as our ‘savior.’  Trust in God alone.  He is the only SAVIOR your life (and our country) will ever need.  Turn to Him and He will be your fortress and your rock.  He will also bring you peace and comfort, hope and joy.   He promises to be our “ever present help in times of trouble.” 

 Trust Him Alone!

 

Sep24

Texan Quote

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“If all you ever do

Is all you’ve ever done…

All you’ll ever get

Is all you ever got.”

Lesson to be learned:  Do Something New Today!!

Jul4

Encourage

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My personal Definition of Encourage:  “To Inspire With Heavenly Hope” cbc

In my personal life ministry, which I call “Everyday Encouragement,” I strive to reach out to others whom God places in my path on a daily basis with some form of encouragement meant personally for them.  I listen carefully to God’s prompting and try to touch the lives of those he places upon my heart.  In doing so, I hope to make a positive difference in their day.  I encourage you to think about doing the same in your life.  You never know what others are going through, and your smile, comment or good deed may be just the thing they needed  in order to turn their situation around. 

Here are a few other words that can mean the same thing as encourage.  Maybe this list will help you think about ways in which you can “inspire others with heavenly hope.”

  • Bless
  • Comfort
  • Cheer
  • Uphold
  • Inspire
  • Buoy
  • Promote
  • Reassure
  • Enhearten
  • Inspirit
  • Rally
  • Boost
  • Exhort
  • Influence
  • Assist
  • Help
  • Urge Forward
  • Give Confidence

Think about what a difference it would make in your world if everyone went about their day with this “everyday encouragement” idea in mind.  Be the change you want to see in your world!!

Jul3

Hello world!

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What started as a simple idea has turned into my personal ministry…finding a way each day to encourage at least one person whom God has placed in my path.  As wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, client, customer,  or acquaintance, there are moments EVERYDAY in my life that I can find a way to offer ENCOURAGEMENT to those around me.

There is a Proverb (11:25) which says, “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Try it, and see how true this is.  No matter how badly things might be going in life, you can always look around and find people who are hurting more than you.  By reaching out to others, the focus is no longer on your own troubles. View life through a lens looking outward, as opposed to looking inward.  Your outward vista will be personal and unique because no one else walks the exact journey you are walking, making you uniquely qualified to touch those with whom you come in contact wherever you are.

I challenge (encourage) you to take one simple step toward someone in your path today.  Give a smile to the cashier at the grocery store, pay the waitress a little extra tip, call a friend who has been on your mind, take time to listen to the elderly person in line with you at the grocery store, send a note to someone going through a rough patch in life to let them know their situation is not forgotten, send a card to a co-worker going through chemo, or email a divorced friend who is spending the weekend alone without her children.  The list is endless, but you get the idea.  Who knows what a better place this world could be if we each made this our personal mission each day.  Try it and see.