Intentional Encouragement

     I was reading from 2 Kings 4 the other day in my devotions and was reminded about an important principle.  It's not "how much" I have to offer to the Lord that is important.  It's how much of what I have, that I'm willing to use for His glory.      The first 7 verses of the chapter I mentioned talk about a woman whose husband died.  He left her with 2 children and a great deal of debt.  She ran out of any substance she had to pay the creditors and finally was in danger of losing her children to slavery to satisfy the debt.      When she cried to Elisha, he asked her what resources she had.  She responded by saying that all she had left was a jar with some oil in it.  Oil was a precious commodity, since it was used in so much cooking and also for its healing properties.  She had just a little bit in a jar.  It wasn't enough to do much of anything.      Elisha's...

     Things are gearing up at our church for the fall ministries.  Our school started yesterday.  Several other of our major ministries are slated to re-launch in the next couple of weeks.  Just in case you have a tendency (like lots of people) to evaluate your spiritual progress and effectiveness for God based on inaccurate standards, let me reproduce for you a 5 part recipe for disillusionment that I have borrowed from Patrick Morley of Man in the Mirror ministries.  It's reminder of how to keep things in proper perspective as we make our plans and preparations for the ministries ahead. Go with the natural flow of life.    Don’t give much thought to knowing Jesus more intimately on a  day-to-day basis.    Let life’s natural currents take you where they may.    Presume that spiritual growth will occur naturally.    Don’t expend too much time in reflection; it will give you a headache.   Immers...