Intentional Encouragement

Commonplace...expected...unimpressive...run of the mill...average. Astonishing...remarkable...stunning...amazing...awe-inspiring. Which set of adjectives describes your view of God?  Seriously; just for a couple of minutes, reflect on your perspective of God.  I read the statement that title's this post a week ago and it has, in some ways, haunted me for the past several days. I believe wholeheartedly in the God of the Bible.  I have had a relationship with him through His son, Jesus since I was 5 years of age.  I have studied for many years from a biblical and theological perspective about who God is and what He has done in the world.  I can dissect His attributes and describe His plan and purpose as revealed in the Bible.  Those are all very important things.  But have I reduced God to a topic of theological conversation, or do I allow the information and experience I have with God to magnify him in my thinking?  Have I become so accustome...

Sunday evening, I met with our college students for our weekly Bible study.  Right now we're going through Galatians.  The topic for the evening was that we still live by faith after we are saved.  We don't get saved by faith and then live by our own strength.  Paul mentions Abraham in Galatians 3 as an example.  We spent a little bit of time reviewing Abraham's walk of faith (the ups and the downs). The fact that Abraham had several experiences in his life that were major steps backwards and that he is still referred to as the father of faith has caused me to think today about some other people in the Scripture who had opportunities to begin again.   Their stories are varied, but the truth is the same.   Our Heavenly Father is “the God of the second chance.”   In general terms, we could look at the children of Israel throughout the Old Testament and observe that God gave them repeated opportunities to start over. Jonah is a great example.  ...

     I read the above statement in a devotional sometime back and it caught me a little off guard.  At first, it seemed a little like the song "Don't Worry; Be Happy."  The full statement expands the idea: “The simple rule of a successful life is this: Love God and stop worrying” (Italics mine).  It sounds so easy.  Just stop worrying.  I've been thinking about that a little bit, and since I have been neglecting my commitment to post more regularly here, I thought I'd give you a few thoughts about it.      The idea that I'm working over comes from Psalm 145:20 which says, in part: “The L ord watches over all who love him…” (NIV).  There is great truth here.  Consider a couple of things.      Not everyone really loves God.  Most people who believe that there is a God would say they probably love him to some degree or another.  But to love God is to obey him; to submit to him; to ho...

      “To keep me from becoming conceited… a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…’  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (From 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)       We are in another season in our church family where many people are suffering.  There are battles with cancer other dreaded diseases.  There are those who are facing struggles with mobility; from backs to bones to joints.  There are some who have undiagnosed pain and physical symptoms that the doctor can’t find a source for.  These provide us opportunity for discouragement and frustration.  Of course, I haven’t even mentioned those who...

      I am preparing some thoughts for a funeral that I have this afternoon.  The dear saint lived 82 years and was a delightful example of faithfulness to her Lord; to her family and to our church.  I officiated at her 88 year old husband's funeral last September who likewise had been a faithful servant of God for many years.       At the graveside of a believer, I always turn to 1 Corinthians 15 and speak of the certainty of the resurrection.  My eyes wandered down to the last verse of that chapter and I thought I'd share some words of encouragement with you today from there.       “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” ( 15:58, ESV )        That’s something to remember when you are in the midst of your service for Christ.   As anyone involved in ministry knows full well; i...

     I have been reading a book recently written by a friend of mine (you can read her blog and secure a copy of her book here ).  It chronicles the first couple of years of the missionary journey that she and her husband have been on for more than 25 years now.  I have followed along as she shares her fears and her faith; her pain and her joy. She writes honestly about the "culture collisions" that were part of her routine as she learned to cook, bathe her children, do laundry and keep her house clean in the rain forest of Liberia just a few degrees above the equator.  I have been inspired by the courage of the couple as they conquered new forms of food; new modes of transportation and faced challenges that I have never faced.  I'm thankful for Kim's honest revelation of her reactions to the various situations they endured, because I can much more readily imagine myself there knowing that I wouldn't be alone in my struggles.      Mostl...

I'll be headed out soon for some vacation time with my family.  I'm looking forward to that time immensely.  We'll spend quiet mornings walking along the beach with the sand squishing up through our toes.  The cool water will refresh us and we will do our best to take in all the beauty.  Even the sounds and smells of the ocean town we're staying in will help us to relax and refresh.  I've got the next 2 books from my reading list all picked out to finally attack.  We're meeting dear friends from a former church I served in, so the fellowship time will be delightful as well. Mostly though; I'm looking forward to just taking a break. The last time I took "time off" like this from my ministry was last Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here mulling over the reasons for that this morning. Is it because I think my ministry can't make it without me?  I've been at this long enough to realize that there will hardly be a hiccup while I'm gone...