THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT

A friend knew I was going through a hard time and gave me words of encouragement. As the words came out of their mouth something took place in my spirit. Literally a transformation, and then my motivation and inspiration soared. I was reminded in that moment of the power of encouragement. Why is it we so often neglect using this powerful tool?

Just prior to entering the Promise Land God told Moses, “But commission Joshua and ENCOURAGE and strengthen him for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land.” (Deuteronomy 3:28) In a very critical moment in this young leaders life God reminded Moses to encourage him. The Hebrew word for encourage is chazaq which means, “to make strong or firm”. Encouragement has power.

Here are 7 things encouragement will do for our friends, family and acquaintenances.

1. It helps them see the work God is doing in or through their life.
2. It motivates them to continual improvement.
3. It enhances their confidence and courage.
4. It expands their vision. When they know the progress they’ve made has been recognized and appreciated it causes them to dream bigger.
5. It validates their giftedness. Most people struggle with clarity in the area of their giftedness. A specific word of encouragement can help bring needed confirmation.
6. It creates relational bonds.
7. It teaches them to encourage others.

Mac Lake, edited by KG

THE BEAUTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Many want to impress, but few want to inspire or encourage. I love how Constance Rhodes puts it, “The trouble with seeking to impress is that it requires so little of our heart and soul. But to inspire and encourage…that must be the greatest of accomplishments, for encouraging others allows us to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.”

T-I-M-E SPELLS ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHILDREN

When I asked my husband what he would do differently in raising our three children, he immediately said, “I would spend more time building great memories and being involved and encouraging in the intimate details of their young lives.”

This is a heartfelt anguished answer from an engineer/father who struggled sharing time and feelings when the children were young. There was training of employees to be done and businesses to be run. Although we worked hard to eat meals together, took family vacations, went to games and even coached little league teams, time flew by and kids grew up too fast.

Spending quality and quantity time with your child gives them a sense of identity, belonging and knowledge that they are loved and wanted. No one has ever said 'I wished I would have spent more time at work,' but they have wished they would have spent more time interacting relationally with their loved ones.

Fathers, spend time with your children today!

POWERFUL ENCOURAGING WORDS

I have found a powerful but simple group of phrases that never fail me in understanding and encouraging people. The effect these words have on loved ones and friends is profound.

It takes a genuine attitude to reach out with encouraging words. Try them and see for yourself the difference you can make!

“THANK YOU” Words of gratitude mean recognition of the good another has done to you or for you—simple or deserving of a lifetime of devotion
“I LOVE YOU” We need to hear words of love expressed out loud. The story of the insensitive husband who said, “Of course I love you and if I change my mind, you’ll be the first to know!” Telling a child ten times I love you might not be powerful enough to overcome yelling at them once.
“WHAT DO YOU NEED?” Being conscious that those around you have needs that you can help them with is powerful.
“I’M SORRY” Indispensable to any person who wishes to heal the hurt that they may have caused—very hard for us to say. We need to admit we have done something wrong which can be very humbling.

Our thoughts take us to our words, so work hard to learn this new language of positive thoughts and words. It takes 21 days for new habits to form and words repeated often enough become truth in our hearts. So start believing encouraging, affirming words; carry positive phrases with you on a card, tape them to the mirror and review them in the car and as you wait in line. You will be amazed at the difference this makes in your attitude and how that translates to others.

YOU CAN DO IT!

Abraham Lincoln said, "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

Because of where you are today, you know that success requires lots of hard work, determination, courage and faith. You know that even when you felt like it you would not and did not give up.

You kept going when less-committed people threw in the towel and quit. You believed in yourself and your mission when others did not. You stayed the course, focused on your purpose and did your best work.

You put in long hours studying, practicing your sport/craft and preparing the plan. You told yourself you can do it. You gave it your all and you never looked back.

You did it. You accomplished your goal. No matter the result if you did your best, you are a true winner.

Congratulate yourself. Celebrate your perseverance. This moment is worthy of recognition.

YOU DID IT!

'HOLD MY HEART' ENCOURAGEMENT

I heard the words to this song by Tenth Avenue North and was blown away. This describes exactly how I've been feeling. These words encourage me because they tell me I'm not alone and not the only one in the world feeling this way. (I tend to believe that when I'm depressed.) Encouragement, no matter the form, makes a difference in my life.


How long must I pray to you
How long must I wait for you
How long til I see your face?

(I'm only) One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in the sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If you're everything you say you are
Won't you come close and hold my heart?

I know He doesn't always tell me why He does the things He does. He doesn't always give me everything I want. He doesn't protect those I love from all harm and disappointment . But He does promise to hold me (and all who ask) in the midst of the storm.

The tension between my wrestling and my rest begins and ends with giving my heart to Him. He can handle all that is in there.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE AN ENCOURAGER

Life is messy. Life is tough. Each of us at some time or another experiences disappointment, loss and severe life altering circumstances. As my husband says, it's not if, it's when!

That is the reality of life in a fallen world. We become sick and injured, or our loved ones do; we suffer relational problems, depression, divorce, have financial disasters, and lose jobs.

Everyday life is a struggle, not to mention war on every continent, criminal activity increasing, natural disasters and epidemic illnesses multiplying which involve human suffering. Pain and unfulfilled loneliness are costing us financially, physically and emotionally. We have never been emptier inside with so much stuff around us.

Can anyone change what is happening in our society? What simple steps can each one of us do to begin to turn the tide in life?

Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” BT Washington says, “Helping someone else is the secret of happiness.”

Never underestimate the power of one who is willing to make a difference. The benefits will last forever!

EMPTY NEST ENCOURAGEMENT

Sometimes best laid plans and dreams for your kids comes together and sometimes with good intentions, they do not. You cannot make decisions based on your adult kids mishaps. What happens when your day rises and falls on those sons and daughters successes or failures? Is something off balance here?

Life happens and not in the way that we always envision. And that is ok. As author Margo Balsis shares, “I’m learning to give up my demands for answers and formulas that promise ‘success’ in every way and am praying II Chronicles 20:12. ‘Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’

Because my children are grown out of my house and on their own, I have to realize a new layer of letting go. The layers are like peeling an onion; there is always one more. They have come this far by faith. I have too. This prayer from Ken Gire has been instrumental in creating my peaceful place within.

“My children are not the work of my hands. My hands are not the hands that hold them, not the hands that mold them, not the hands that work all things together in their lives for good. They are the work of God’s hands. I am merely a tool in those hands; a tool He has used in some way for a short time to shape them. So God give me the strength to open my hands, not knowing what all You want me to give, knowing only that it is to Your hands that I give it. Help me to love Your hands more than whatever it is that I hold in mine.”

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT

How many encouraging words do you need to hear every day? Is one encouragement card or telephone call or even a weekend seminar that has motivating inspiring words enough to keep you challenged and in a positive frame of mind?

Of course it is not. Can you eat once and never again? How about cleaning your house or your body? To think you can receive all you need for a lifetime from one encouraging encounter or one article or phone call is unrealistic. We need encouragement daily.

Someone once said, 'it takes seven words of encouragement to balance out one word of discouragement.' I've found that to be true in my own life. When someone close criticizes me I am usually crushed, heartbroken and beg for at least one upbeat comment. I know I need to be encouraged regularly and to be around others who are encouragers.

To keep yourself encouraged, inspired, motivated enough to be able to pass it along to others you must receive encouragement on a regular basis. You must feed your mind and soul positive stuff to keep it going in the right direction. Positive input equals positive output.

Check out howtoencourage.com for ideas, tips and benefits of an encouraging lifestyle. Never underestimate the power of positive words in a life.

NEW TESTAMENT ENCOURAGEMENT

Our pastor encouraged us to read through the New Testament last fall. He called it ‘NT-Ninety’ or the New Testament in Ninety Days. Although I’ve done lots of Bible Studies, I had not read through the Bible in a long time, so my husband and I read several chapters a day according to the plan. Besides the benefits of understanding the basic flow of the Bible, what we did not expect was how our lives were daily enriched in big and small ways. It was amazing how issues we studied and discussed that morning came up during our day. Somehow I don’t think that was coincidental. We felt the presence of Jesus in a fresh new way as we studied his everyday life and were especially challenged as we saw his graciousness in encouraging encounters with friend and foe. The people either loved Jesus or in the case of the religious leaders, wanted to destroy him. He lived out in the flesh what encouragement embodies and is the perfect example for us to follow.

ENTHUSIASTIC ENCOURAGEMENT

I read this incredible post yesterday and it validates my thoughts and writings on my encouragement blog and website howtoencourage.com exactly.

EVERYONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT!

Here are some thoughts from Barry Buzza's article in the Tri City News on January 21, 2010.

"Because everybody needs to give and receive encouragement. It takes courage to live in our world and life has a way of sapping that courage from us. The stress of work, bills, sickness, traffic, relationships, grief over loss, failure, accidents and family — even good stresses such as moving to a new home or neighbourhood, starting a new job, getting married or having a baby — tend to sap our daily intake of courage. Then we add a negative comment from a spouse, a child who disappoints, a pointed quip from a fellow worker, a pushy driver behind us, a negative news report or an assignment bigger than we can handle, and the discouragement side of the scale outweighs the encouragement side.

We all need to be encouraged regularly, to be around others who are encouragers and to give back our own words of encouragement. Someone once said, and I’ve found it to be true, that it takes seven words of encouragement to balance out one word of discouragement."

I love the ministry of encouragement. I think that is the single most important thing we can do for others…and it’s alot more than just words. It involves awareness, insight, communication, understanding, risk, courage, I could go on and on. Who knows what tragedy could next be avoided if we take the time to encourage our fellow sojourners on oftentimes tough path of life.

For more info see How to encourage

HOW TO ENCOURAGE IDEAS

I admit I have been depressed lately. I'm not sure all the reasons why and I do believe in searching my soul first to find out what some of the real reasons could be. Maybe I must face the fact that living in this fallen world can cause emotional pain and only when I reach heaven will all my fears and tears be over.

Sometimes it can be traced to physical needs. Have I gotten enough sleep lately? How about my eating habits? I did give up sugar after the holidays and it has helped immensely. Have I been consistent with my exercise program? I think I am back on track getting my heart rate up which correlates directly with my energy level.

Maybe I need some good girl-friend time. In my life, friends have provided much encouragement, pointing my thinking to the Truth when I have veered off-course. Just verbalizing what is going on inside of me to a genuine interested ear brings encouragment.

Sometimes we think only professionals can help and of course there are occasions for experts who are trained in these fields. But God has placed within His body the resources to minister to needy people and some of them can be our friends. The goal is to learn to take the ointment of His Word and apply it to hurting people.

I'm dialing her number now.

For more encouragement ideas see howtoencourage.com

ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR YOUR FUTURE

How do you feel about your future? Are you excited, energized and enthusiastic to face a new season of life? Some weeks it’s just too tough to eke out my daily living with zest and zeal. Some days the negative news messages overwhelm me. I struggle with enough energy to find that upbeat mood to go on.

But then I realize it’s up to me to search for passion and positivity. Sometimes the journey can be long and I get stopped up in hard places. But I have to keep going. I find that real encouragement that is authentic comes from honest assessment of what happening inside of me.

But how do you deal with cancer, earthquakes, financial disaster; the twists and turns of living in this fallen world? Is it enough to make you want to settle or think of quitting and walk away? It is so depressing and devastating to our spirit. Is there any hope for change?

I believe healing is available.
I have been there.
I don’t have to be perfect but I have to be on the path.
Get out and seek help if you need it. Spend a day in silence. Call a counselor. Go on a retreat. Tell someone.
What will mean if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul?
(Mark 8:36)

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO MOMS

Scientists have proven that as women we use thousands of words everyday, (I don’t know--did we really need science to tell us that?) I read last week that women spend between sixteen and twenty thousand words a day. Now, add the MOM factor, and I definitely think we get bonus points!

As you and I spend our twenty thousand words today – what messages are we telling our loved ones, whether directly, or indirectly, about who they are, about what their family thinks of them, about who God is and exactly how He views them?

A huge part of what makes our homes the type of home where our kids can dwell well – are the messages we communicate to them day in and day out through our words. Words are powerful and we can use them to discourage or encourage, sometimes without our awareness. That’s why I believe we need to understand how we can destroy or build up with our words.

Go to www.howtoencourage.com for more information on encouraging words.

'HORROR IN HAITI'...ENCOURAGEMENT?

I can’t comprehend what I am seeing on TV. Can you? The ‘horror in Haiti’ aptly describes it. I cannot reconcile the reality of the devastation and suffering of people with what I know to be true and trustworthy in the world.

Where is God in all of this? I am crying out to Him. ‘How can you allow this to happen?’

I know we live in a fallen world, but this, this is over the top. I am wrestling with what I know to be true of Him. I can't stand it.

Looking for something to quiet me--encourage me even, I read from Rob Bell’s book, Velvet Elvis, and he talks about being in Rwanda a few years ago with Pauline who spends her free time caring for aids patients. He says he hiked farther and farther in the slums for what seemed like miles, where he eventually ended up in a dirt-floored, one room shack about six-by-six feet.

He writes, “A woman was laying under so many blankets that all we could see was her mouth and eyes…Pauline had become her friend and had been visiting her consistently…As I knelt down on the floor, I watched Pauline, standing in the corner weeping. Her friend was going to die soon. What overwhelmed me wasn’t the death or despair or poverty. What overwhelmed me was the compassion. In this dark place Pauline’s love and compassion were simply…bigger. More. It is as if the smallest amount of Light is infinitely more powerful than massive amounts of dark. The ground was holy. It is sacred.”

Is that part of an answer I can hang on to? There is nothing else, is there?

Unless I believe there is something else, something more going on here.

Again Lord, help my unbelief.

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PAIN

I stopped my exercise schedule over the holidays. It's not that I wanted to, but just too much stuff was going on.

Then I ate lots of sugar in those delicious Christmas cookies and all kinds of food I don't usually eat at all those parties.

Then my quiet time got messed up, because I was running and running. I'm not exactly sure where I was going.

That's when I figured out I was exhausted.

I crashed and burned.

But not from the Christmas season alone.

Because I had ignored who I am.

At that moment I made some decisions. I had to change.

I spent a quiet day reading, meditating and praying. A true Sabbath.

Some of my junk came up-worry, fear for love ones, for myself.

But there was something else. Peace. I had not felt it for a long time.

I haven't arrived yet, but at least I'm on the path. I know where I'm going. I feel hope. I feel alive.

Because without pain, do we ever change?

ENCOURAGING WORDS

"The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you." (Deut. 23:14)

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15)

Does God still provide miracles and a way of escape for his people today?

Absolutely yes!

But the secret is to realize God doesn't always view things as we do. Remember, "...My ways are not your ways." (Isaiah 55:8)

Robert J. Morgan says in RED SEA RULES, "God doesn't have standardized, same-size-fits-all solutions to our various problems. He treats every situation as singular and special, and He designs a unique, tailor-made deliverance to every trial and trouble."

Lord, I want to believe that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called accordingly. (Romans 8:28) I know you are in control and all things are in your hands.

Please help my unbelief.

ENCOURAGING WORDS AGAINST FEAR

Have you ever been afraid? Afraid of the unknown because you have a feeling something bad might happen to you or someone you love? Because you might not be able to handle whatever it is?

I have been dealing with that nameless dread lately. It’s a New Year; I should be optimistic and looking forward. But I’m not. I’m struggling with some circumstances that could be huge in the lives of my loved ones.

I read something from my favorite new little book, RED SEA RULES by RJ Morgan, today that is fabulous. It hit me right between the eyes. Could it be the answer I have been looking for?

“At the Red Sea, God put His people in a position where His presence had never been so real to them. Using difficulty, He cultivated within them a greater appreciation for Himself. ‘God’s presence in the trial is much better than exemption from the trial,’ wrote one commentator. ‘The Lord’s presence is never so sweet as in moments of appalling difficulty.’

Wow! God’s presence is better than not having the trial. That makes me stop and think. I really do not want any problems as I have been afraid, by myself, I could not handle whatever difficulty might arise. And you know I am right about that. I can't. Fear causes dread and discouragement. But I failed to include God’s presence in the equation of my life.

And that makes all the difference. Maybe the future looks brighter after all.

“When you find yourself between sword and sea, remember that difficult times can sensitize us to God’s nearness. He’s never so close as when we’re shipwrecked on omnipotence and driven to despair into His chambers where we find Him a ‘very present help in trouble.’ (Ps. 46:1)”

ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR THE WAY OUT

The Lord will make a way for you where no foot has been before.
That which, like a sea, threatens to drown you, shall be a highway for your escape.
Charles H. Spurgeon

Did you ever feel like giving up? There seems to be no way out of the mess you are now facing? Whether it is of your own making or not does not matter. Your reality is just that.

Asaph in Psalms 77:19-20 makes some profound statements about the miracle God performed at the Red Sea. It seems the Israelites were in a bad situation with their backs not only up against a wall— but a wall of water—with nowhere to go. Exodus 14 tells the original way of escape that God made for His people.

Now Asaph was facing a similar dire situation. But in that story and in that God, Asaph found strength to face his trouble. Listen to this verse and let it encourage you today.

“You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by using Moses and Aaron.” Psalms 77:19-20

Who is your Moses/Aaron who will be used by the Lord to help you through the deep waters? Or is God asking you to be that ‘leader of the flock’ going through a difficult experience? It will be one or the other.

Look around, be aware and ask for eyes to see.

CHRISTMAS DREAMS

I just read a quote that triggered my thoughts and put me on a new direction for my day.

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." Langston Hughes

I've had a yearning to sit by my fire and watch the snow fall, read and dream a little. I woke up this morning with a long list of to-do's, but also to a beautiful snowfall. I decided this was the day.

With coffee in hand, carols softly playing and Bible next to me, I sat, read and reflected on Jesus, the real 'reason for the season.'

The flames warmed me as my heart was grateful. This was the special gift my soul was longing for all month. I was encouraged.

I can go forward and enjoy family and friends now.

All is well with my soul.