I was talking to my mom this afternoon and she was sharing how depressed she felt after watching the news last night. She said, "I want to know, so I listen and watch, but then I really don't want to know and wish I hadn’t listened and watched." She told me she told her friend, Marilyn, "I hope we don't have nightmares about this tonight." But then, she told me she “slept like a baby…remembering that God has it all in hand.” What a mom, eh!? She’s such an encourager – and I’m sure she doesn’t even realize it!
Another amazing encourager I’ve come to know better lately than ever before is Mary Y. Mary was recently forced by tragedy to change from being a mom of a beautiful, vibrant, talented 16 year old daughter to a mom whose beautiful, vibrant, talented 16 year old daughter gone home to live with Jesus. I mention Mary when writing about encouragers, for two reasons, first, because I know she reads this blog regularly and two, because she needs to know what an inspiration she is to me – and I’m sure – others. I KNOW she’d rather NOT be an inspiration and HAVE ANNIE back, but I also know that no one can hide within a tragedy such as this and the real heart of Mary has come through with clarity. Mary has helped me more than she might ever know. The strength and peace that is totally beyond my understanding is so evident in her life. She can smile. She laughs. She goes to work. She lives. I know she is and will always be heartbroken from her loss, how could she not? But the fact that she knows she will someday be with Annie again, and the way she shared Annie’s purpose with those other teenagers at the memorial service touched my very soul! Knowing Mary, she will counter with faltering feelings, tears, remorse that’s sometimes unbearable and disbelief that others might be inspired and encouraged by her – but those of us who know her – see with amazement, God’s hand on her life! SHE is the ultimate encourager for me right now.
Then there’s Judy at church. Judy spends her weekdays taking chemo therapy, but just as sure as the sun shines, I see her in her own little spot in the congregation every Sunday – standing, worshiping, praying, listening and looking as though she’s as healthy as the next! SHE, too, encourages me simply by her presence. I thank God for women like these each and every day.
You may agree, that struggling through difficult economic times like these, facing unprecedented challenges and constantly hearing discouraging, frightening news might bring out the best in some and the worst in others. I know, from experience, that those of us who are surrounded by encouraging friends and family fair much better than those who are isolated and feel alone, so now more than ever before, is the perfect time for all of us to become encouragers!
In these challenging and confusing times many people are questioning God's sovereignty and authority in
First, in Christ, we can show courage in the face of adversity! We trust that as long as there is God, there is hope. Second, we pray for and accept peace that passes understanding! When we're truly tuned into God and His promises, though we can't explain it ("beyond understanding"), we FEEL peace in knowing that He is ultimately in control - not the people of Washington D.C., not our local government, not our forecasters, not the stock market...but God! And in living that peace, others might see Him reflected in our lives. Third, we can share our Jesus-centered love with one another, in ways we’ve maybe never done before.
In my college courses, workshops and presentations that I offer, I stress to teachers the importance of building relationships with their students. It’s far harder for a kid to be disruptive and disrespectful when s/he knows the teacher likes him or her. We build relationships by sending notes, calling them, spending time together, sharing stories and being there when they need someone the most. I also remind teachers how much WE LOVE receiving mail that isn’t junk and isn’t a bill. Just think about the times when you get to your mailbox and there’s a surprise in it from someone – right out of the blue!
Just yesterday, we routinely carted in our handful of mail and chucked it to the counter like always – knowing it will be a collection of utility, mortgage and doctor bills augmented by a bunch ‘o junk from various stores doing their best to cope with these rough economic times – nevertheless, tempting us to come in and spend our money with them. But you know what? Out from the toss, slid a picture postcard with a HANDWRITTEN NOTE on the back! It was like a TREASURE had arrived! I’m not kidding – the second I saw it, I grabbed it like it was a piece of dark chocolate or something – and started devouring it. Before I got to the first punctuation mark, Mike said, “WHO’S THAT FROM?” so he, too, had been captured by the surprise.
Our friend, Pauline, will turn 50 on the 27th, but her family surprised her with a party before the big day – in order to really catch her off guard and unsuspecting! You know how it is, it’s important to come up with something intentional and ridiculous for a gag gift, and the wilder, the better! So Mike concocted a surprise that went quite well with the 70’s theme for her party! After a visit to 7th Heaven and a purchase of some Zig Zags, he filled a snack pack baggie with mostly Oregano flakes, but various other herbs and flakey spices from our kitchen cabinet – and tucked the combination neatly inside her card. He wore blue-lensed round glasses and sandals, I wore bright blue eye shadow and used my white-ish cover stick as lipstick – so that nice 70’s pasty-lip look was evident…and off we went to the party.
My point in all this is, people LOVE surprises. People LOVE being remembered. People LOVE encouragement and kind words. People LOVE knowing they’ve come to mind. Well, I’m not positive Pauline LOVED her surprise “gift” the instant she saw it – it actually freaked her out because she quickly slipped it away into hiding under the table and looked away to hide her blush – but once she figured out what it really was, she cracked up! And…Mike and I LOVED receiving her handwritten, thank you post card in the mail yesterday!!! Ya see, ALL of us enjoy surprises and all of us LOVE to feel valued!
Seriously now, I can't pretend that everything is fine or the pain of job loss, foreclosure, and other realities many are facing aren't just as real for Christians as they are for non-Christians, but the reality of the recession presents an opportunity for us to demonstrate to others, who would perhaps never otherwise be open to receive Christ, that He IS still very much in protect-His-own mode. There is an abundance of lost souls out there who know neither the truth of Heaven nor how to be certain they'd live eternity there if they were to die today, nor the reality of Hell. Now is prime time, when people are not feeling quite as invincible as perhaps they once have and may be seeking peace, courage and hope, for us to Pray and Contact them.
So, let's be PC. Let's give PC – that “term” that so often offends, a whole new dimension!
Let's be PRAYers and CONTACTers!
The hit song title by David Cook, THE TIME OF MY LIFE, is an extraordinary title for all of us to keep close to our hearts and embrace. THIS is THE TIME OF MY LIFE when I am going to make an extra effort to pray first, then contact others, primarily non-Christian acquaintances, co-workers and even strangers, and simply be a friend.
Just pray and ask God to bring to mind the face of someone who could use a call from a friendly voice or a note from you. When you contact them, tell them that God put them on your heart. That in itself could be a huge comfort. Openly and actively decide to be an encourager to those around you -- especially those God brings to mind in prayer.
Be aware of His divine nudges, too. When they come, act on them right away. It's easy to put it off (especially if it feels uncomfortable) or postpone it and then forget - so do it as soon as someone's face or name pops into your mind. Even if you don't know the person that well – contact them anyway. Your message, out of the blue, could be a life changer.
I’ve experienced out-of-the-blue nudges! About six years ago, during a sultry summer mid-morning, I was washing my hair when my friend, LeAnn, just came to mind. There was no reason in the world why I should think about her - but I did. The instant I got my head from beneath the water and wrapped in a towel, I gave her a call. I don't remember exactly what transpired in the conversation, but upon my questioning that she was OK and assuring me she didn't need anything, she said, "No, I'm great!" So we chatted a bit and I went on about my day. LeAnn called me a short time later and told me she'd JUST, the instant I'd called, discovered she was pregnant with her second baby, Parker! She was so excited she couldn't WAIT to tell someone, but she hadn't even had a chance to tell her husband, yet, so she couldn't let ME know before he knew! I'd listened to that nudge, I prayed, I made the call - and what seemed to come up as a surplus phone call ended up being amazingly timely. It was so fun for us to compare minutes and the way things had transpired that morning - to see just how that nudge came to me when she'd found out her life was to be blessed with their Parker. Ahhh...God is so good - and He has a sense of humor, a love that is beyond all understanding and He gives us peace - when peace shouldn't be anywhere near.
The same Jesus who nudged my heart years ago, still nudges me now. I always listen and I always act in obedience. Not all the time do I receive clarity as soon as I did with Parker being on the way, but I DO know that God speaks to us when we ask Him to and when He knows we will listen to Him. I am so incredibly encouraged by that!
So let's be encouragers! Let's use this awful time in the economy, impossible circumstances and other difficult moments in our lives to encourage others who are hurting, fearful or without hope.
So there must be a reason that the words "fear not" appear in the bible 52 times (or more depending on how it's counted I guess). Yes, we should fear God, but not circumstances. "The fear of God is the beginning of all knowledge" Psalm 1:7. Oh, how difficult it is to remember, though, what Jesus said "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27) when times are tough. Another Schuller quote, "Tough times never last. Tough people do"
In 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" means I have to be willing to turn my anxieties over to God. In other words turn over MY control so my heart isn't troubled. So it seems I need to be honest with God since He already KNOWS what worries me AND what I fear. God will never be overpowered by the things that threaten me.....or any of us.
Posted by: Cliff J | February 22, 2009 at 08:19 PM