tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76256885277245939262024-03-13T04:39:15.504-07:00How to EncourageBenefits and tips for a lifestyle of encouraging others. Discover the difference a friend can make. You never know when a moment and a few encouraging words can impact a life.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-87048168223840457952011-12-01T05:58:00.001-08:002011-12-01T06:12:12.099-08:00HOW TO ENCOURAGE WHEN FACED WITH SUFFERING, SICKNESSThis perspective on suffering encouraged me beyond my fears and turned me to look at Jesus. God could have stopped Jesus' death, but did not so that good and grace could come for me. How can I not trust someone that gave His only Son? What do you want to develop in me because of this? But the struggle is there to keep looking back.<br />
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"Should you pray for a miracle? Well you're free to do that, of course. My general impression is that the God who is able to do miracles--and He certainly can--is also able to keep you from getting the problem in the first place. So although miracles do happen, they're rare by definition...Above all, I would say pray for the glory of God. If you think of God glorifying Himself in history and you say, where in all of history has God most glorified Himself? He did it at the cross of Jesus Christ, and it wasn't by delivering Jesus from the cross, though He could have...God is in charge. when things like this come into our lives, they are not accidental. It's not as if God somehow forgot what was going on, and something bad slipped by...God is not only the one in charge; God is also good...If God does something in your life, would you change it? If you'd change it, you'd make it worse."<br />
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Pastor James Montgomery Boice, May of 2000, stood before his Philadelphia church and this is how he explained he had been diagnosed with liver cancer. Eight weeks later, Pastor Rice left this earth to be with Christ, after he taught his people how to live and then how to die.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-48107427881680091702011-11-12T15:46:00.001-08:002011-11-12T16:00:19.097-08:00VETERANS DAY ENCOURAGEMENT"Never take for granted the freedoms we have in America. Always remember that men and women have fought and died for those freedoms. Always thank veterans and those currently serving in the military. Yes I know it is hard to realize that people actually had to fight and be willing to die for what they believed in. We are all spoiled and don't understand that committment. We might not have to face the reality of dying for our country, but we can remember and respect those who have sacrificed for our freedoms and those who are currently serving in our military. Growing up in some places around the country it might be hard to see, but I can assure you the world is a dangerous place and our country must be strong in order to preserve what we have. Don't be afraid to say thank you and shake the hand of veterans and those serving in the military."<br />
<em>Life Lessons I've Learned-Paul Zeltwanger</em><br />
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Thank you military men and women in all branches of the armed forces. We appreciate your service!<br />Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-79203832938189324912011-11-01T12:19:00.000-07:002011-11-01T12:19:57.636-07:00GOD'S LOVE NOTE ENCOURAGEMENTReading about how much God loves me in Jeremiah 1:15 and Psalm 139 are sometimes difficult to wrap my brain around. I struggle with how can such a big all-knowing, all-powerful God love an insignificant little person like me? <br />
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As a mom, reading several paragraphs from ‘Crazy Love’ helped me get it. Francis Chan says, “For the first time (after my oldest daughter was born) I got a taste of what I believe God feels for us. I thought about my daughter often. I prayed for her while she slept at night. I showed her picture to anyone who would look. I wanted to give her the world. Sometimes when I came home from work, my little girl greeted me by running out to the driveway and jumping into my arms. My own love and desire for my kids’ love is so strong that it opened my eyes to how much God desires and loves us. Through this experience, I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God’s great love for me.”<br />
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And I might add, how much He wants to spend time with me each and every day. Remember to shout words of worship, read about God’s love for you, hide His word in your heart and talk to Him throughout your day. He can’t wait to hang out with you.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-34469474309565329602011-07-22T11:01:00.000-07:002011-07-23T09:20:31.980-07:00ENCOURAGEMENT TO FACE YOUR FEARS pt 2What fears wake you up at night and keep you from taking steps you know you should to tackle your problems? Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of ruin in relationship?<br />
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I struggled with fear this past week as I was asked to do something I didn't think I could. I know I'm not alone in feeling afraid. Fears are normal and a common problem in the human mind. In fact, I might venture to say it's one of the hardest situations to work through in life and I'm not sure we can live life without it.<br />
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The secret is not letting it paralyze us or keep us from experiencing God's strength and care for us. Success is dependent on having the courage to act in the midst of fear, not in never feeling fear. <br />
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What propelled me forward even though I did not feel like doing what I was suppposed to do? How did I deal with and conquer fear? <br />
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I was encouraged by reading this Bible verse and then applying it to my specific situation. <i>Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10</i> <br />
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God is with us and never falls asleep while watching over us. We can move forward with courage and confidence to victoriously face and conquer fear. <br />
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Just go for it, you can do it.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-17895167832024259782011-07-14T09:57:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:58:50.378-07:00ENCOURAGEMENT TO FACE YOUR FEARSMy brother Paul wrote an amazing little book for his four children. It's called <i><b>Life Lessons I've Learned and want to pass on to my kids.</b> </i>Now he's been through some tough circumstances in his life and wants to encourage his kids how to handle those tough times we are all sure to have.<br />
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One of the most encouraging paragraphs talks about facing down our fears. He says, "One of my business mentors taught me, when facing challenging circumstances or major decisions, to always write down and think through all of the possible worst case scenarios. Then he encouraged me to spend the energy to literally put myself into each scenario and process through living out the worst case reality. It made me realize that I would survive anything my mind was worried about. Once you can convince your mind that you can get through anything no matter what happens, you are ready to take that next big step. <i>Who knows, it may be that next step that leads to you achieving your dream!</i><br />
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<b>"He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." </b><i>Ralph Waldo Emerson</i>Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-53577338605379635552011-04-11T12:17:00.000-07:002011-04-11T18:54:49.860-07:00HERE'S TO GIRLFRIEND ENCOURAGEMENTI read an interesting article several weeks ago and was intrigued by what the author said. "I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health is to nurture relationships with her girlfriends." <br />
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Of course, we women have always known this, right girls? <br />
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Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely.<br />
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Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters, mothers and friends and evidently that is very good for our health. It has been said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging, working out at a gym or eating the right food.<br />
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True friendship is a sacred important thing and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get a friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are they’ll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God’s behalf in the lives of people that we’re close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life.<br />
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So whenever we hang with our gal pals, let’s just pat ourself on the back and congratulate us for doing something good for our health and let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends.<br />
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Evidently it's very good for our spiritual and emotional health.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-1535437594105482602011-03-17T12:28:00.000-07:002011-03-17T12:31:06.694-07:00THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENTA 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? <br />
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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 <i>chazaq </i>which means, <i>“to make strong or firm”. </i>Encouragement has power.<br />
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Here are 7 things encouragement will do for our friends, family and acquaintenances.<br />
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1. It helps them see the work God is doing in or through their life. <br />
2. It motivates them to continual improvement. <br />
3. It enhances their confidence and courage. <br />
4. It expands their vision. When they know the progress they’ve made has been recognized and appreciated it causes them to dream bigger. <br />
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. <br />
6. It creates relational bonds. <br />
7. It teaches them to encourage others. <br />
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<i>Mac Lake, edited by KG<br />
</i>Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-54800021212858401612011-03-11T13:21:00.000-08:002011-03-11T13:21:12.541-08:00ENCOURAGEMENT FILE-IT WORKS!Have you experienced any random acts or words of encouragement lately?<br />
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Keep track of them in an encouragement file. When you have a discouraging day, open the file and read. <br />
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That’s the secret a friend of mine in a high powered job used to keep from being depressed when she heard negative talk. “I came home, opened my file, read several letters or emails from people who encouraged me and then I let go of disparaging remarks. I told myself they don’t have a clue as to who I am.” <br />
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Practice the art of self-talk and self-encouragement. It makes all the difference!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-38367499303014202942011-03-09T14:30:00.000-08:002011-03-09T14:35:39.720-08:00I WANT A FRIEND LIKE THAT! Pure Encouragement"For one swim meet, I was the comforter in lane five, which is on the far side, away from the parents. Jessie, my camper was getting tired. 'You're doing great, Jessie. You can make it. Keep going,' I yelled. I could tell she was about to cry as she looked at the long expanse in front of her. She went under for a second, not like she was drowning, but like she was going to give up and turn around. 'Look at me, you're so close! You can make it to me!' She shook her head at me, and she got scared and started to panic and swallowed a big gulp of water, so I jumped in and swam toward her. If she touched me, she would be disqualified, but if she just stayed next to me, knowing that I was there if she needed me, she could make it to the end...<br />
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I swam right next to her, without touching her, very slowly, and as we swam, I talked to her in a quiet voice. I said to her, over and over, 'You're tough, Jessie. You're tough and you can make it. I'm right here, but you can make it.' When we got to the end and she touched the wall, I pulled her out of the water, and she was so tired, floppy and teary, but the first thing she did was look up at her mom and wave.<br />
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After the meet, Jessie's mom came to find me as I was closing up the pool. She held my arm and looked right into my eyes. 'Until you have kids of your own, you will never know what this is like. As a mom, all I wanted to do was run down the bleachers and jump in with my clothes on to finish that race with my daughter, and I'm so glad you did.'<br />
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That's what friendship looks like to me. Friendship <i>(and encouragement)</i> is acting out God's love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives, so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them...When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life." <br />
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Wow, I want a friend like that! More than that though, I can be a friend to someone else who is struggling. This a beautiful picture of pure encouragement. <br />
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This story is from one of my favorite books, <b>Cold Tangerines </b>by <i>Shauna Niequest. </i>Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-35778920906449647962010-09-22T19:11:00.000-07:002010-09-22T19:11:22.464-07:00BEING HUMAN/I AM HUMAN<b>I will make mistakes<br />
I will say things that shouldn't be said<br />
I will do things that shouldn't be done<br />
And these things will bring tears<br />
To myself and unfortunately others.<br />
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But when the time comes<br />
That I have endured enough<br />
To reach out to those that I love<br />
For understanding from my fellow man<br />
Then I will have the strength<br />
To continue<br />
Being Human.<i></i></b>Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-83670994997435235262010-08-21T12:45:00.000-07:002010-08-21T12:45:07.652-07:00ENCOURAGEMENT JEWELRYDoes your child have butterflies thinking about school? How about you? Are you nervous for him, knowing some of what he will face? Will he make friends, will he like his teacher, or will his teacher like him? Will he be able to get his schoolwork done? What about taking that big test or trying out for the team?<br />
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How can you encourage others when you are not with them every day? <br />
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A new Hallmark survey revealed that moms desire to encourage their kids more, particularly at the back to school time-frame. When asked about giving encouragement to their kids, more than three-fourths of moms said they are looking for new ways to boost their child’s confidence during back-to school.<br />
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You can do it. You can give support that says you’ve got her back and that you care about what happens to her every day, not just the hard times. You can’t go to school for him or write that paper, but you can give him everything he needs to succeed by encouraging and supporting him.<br />
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HELP THEM FIND THEIR OWN POWER WHEN THEY READ THIS ENCOURAGING MESSAGE ON THEIR BRACELET ‘GO FOT IT’ OR ‘YOU CAN DO IT’.<br />
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YOU CAN DO IT and GO FOR IT letters are carved in bone on an adjustable one-size fits-all bracelet so no need to worry about size. When you purchase this gift, encouragement will come full circle as you make a difference in the lives of the poorest of poor around the world by insuring employment for single mothers and underprivileged families with these fair trade items.<br />
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Check these out at http://www.howtoencourage.com/jewelry.htmlKay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-9690731886269510092010-08-18T07:46:00.000-07:002010-08-18T07:57:32.958-07:00ENCOURAGEMENTTime sure does fly! I can't believe it's the middle of August. Because of family vacations and work committments, I have not had much time to blog this summer. <br />
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But I sure have had time to encourage. The more I interact with people the more I realize everyone needs encouragement. Everywhere I go I find someone who needs to hear encouraging words. People are hurting. Life is tough. Fear is rampant.<br />
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What is encouragement? Webster defines it as ”to inspire with courage, spirit or hope; to spur on, stimulate; to give help or patronage to, the act of encouraging, giving hope or promise”. To encourage, whether others or ourselves, is to make courageous, not in a passive way, but as an action verb. Encouragement is touching people right where they are, inspiring them to hang in there and persevere in the midst of problems.<br />
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Look around. Really listen to your friend or child. You can encourage someone today. Because you never know when a moment and a few encouraging words can change a life forever.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-13234272916098183772010-07-20T12:01:00.000-07:002010-07-20T12:03:28.552-07:00ENCOURAGING YOURSELF FIRST OF ALLCaterina S. Tudor, Ph.D.Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado, teaches the wellness of encouragement. She believes encouragement de-stresses and creates a positive atmosphere around the encourager. She says it is about “speaking life” to self and others. It starts with you and then cycles around to the next person and the next. <br />
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I submit that only when you know how to encourage yourself can you really encourage another. <br />
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To encourage yourself, act like a good parent or coach toward yourself. Identify your abilities and strong points. Acknowledge any progress you make. Remind yourself that mistakes are learning opportunities. Know how to nurture and rejuvenate yourself. It’s like a bank—the deposits and withdrawals have to balance each other.You can’t give away what’s not there.<br />
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It takes work, but it is worth it.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-5619614310799625882010-07-16T07:44:00.001-07:002010-07-16T07:45:31.708-07:00THE BEAUTY OF ENCOURAGEMENTMany 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.”Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-58708355532480200682010-07-14T17:37:00.000-07:002010-07-14T17:37:52.626-07:00HOW DOES ENCOURAGEMENT WORK?Life is messy. Life is tough. Each of us experiences disappointment, loss and severe life altering circumstances. I would love to have the time to listen to your individual stories, because it’s not if problems will come, it’s when. We get sick and injured, or our loved ones do; we suffer relational problems, depression, divorce, have financial disasters, and lose jobs. Pain and unfulfilled loneliness are costing us financially, physically and emotionally. We have never been emptier inside with so much stuff around us.. We feel the fear for our future and our children and grandchildren. <br />
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Many people don’t know where to turn when crisis happens.<br />
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<b>WE LIVE BY ENCOURAGEMENT AND WE DIE WITHOUT IT, SLOWLY, SADLY AND ANGRILY.” </b> <i>CELESTE HOLM <br />
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</i>I love encouragement. I believe in encouragement because it’s made a difference in my life. Encouragement has positive benefits for the encourager and the encouragee.<br />
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It might sound simple and in many ways it is, however, it can also be incredibly hard work. It is one of the most important thing we can do for others…and it’s alot more than just words. It’s walking across the room to meet that person, it's reaching out to someone who is struggling—with empathy, energy, courage, compassion, communication, awareness and insight—just for starters. It’s taking a risk, but it’s worth it because your workplace, your school, your team, your family--all of relationships in society can be improved by learning how to encourage.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-14180208381966854612010-07-07T07:20:00.000-07:002010-07-07T07:23:19.493-07:00WHAT DOGS KNOW ABOUT LIFE ENCOURAGES MEI love my dog. Well really it’s my son’s dog, but when he left for the military, Jake and I bonded in a way that kept us both alive! One especially lonely evening as I sat sobbing on the floor, Jake lay down beside me and comforted me as if to say, ‘I miss him too.’ From that point on, we were and are inseparable.<br />
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Dogs may be smarter than we think. I know he knows what I say to him. Of course my husband points out that it’s my tone that he knows. I notice when Dale speaks to him, he does obey better. <br />
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I love to watch my dog and cat interact together. They have their own special language. In honor of Jake and Kobe here are some secrets of contented living that most dogs follow—and more humans need to:<br />
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Never pass up the chance to go for a ride.<br />
Always greet your loved ones enthusiastically, even if they’ve been gone for only five minutes.<br />
Sometimes obedience is the best strategy.<br />
Carve out your niche—and let others know when they’ve invaded your space.<br />
Find time to run, chase things, and play every day.<br />
Eat with gusto!<br />
Be dependably loyal no matter what.<br />
Take frequent naps.<br />
Take time to stretch before getting up from your naps.<br />
Don’t bite when a growl will send the message.<br />
When someone’s having a bad day, stay close, be quiet and nuzzle them now and then.<br />
When it’s hot, drink a lot of water and sleep in the shade.<br />
Enjoy long rambling walks.<br />
Don’t take scolding personally—you’ll forget soon enough.<br />
When you’re happy, show it.<br />
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My pets make me happy!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-36838926897620151322010-06-29T07:32:00.000-07:002010-06-29T07:33:16.415-07:00HOW TO ENCOURAGE?Have you seen the comic strip Peanuts where Lucy grumpily picks on Linus and he turns to her and says, "Big sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life?"<br />
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After lots of rain this spring, the weeds and especially nasty crabgrasses are growing. They take work to pull out. As you think about and possibly relate this to relationships, who is crabgrass in your 'lawn of life?' How can you effectively communicate with them?<br />
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The fact is, it takes intentional work and we have a choice to make every day we live. Will we encourage or discourage others? <br />
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You've met encouragers. When you are in their company, you can actually feel your tank fill up. They remind you that God is good, there are reasons you are experiencing your troubles and they positively lift you up. After being with discouragers, you will feel down and depressed. Someone once said that discouragers are the "slow leak in the hot air balloon of life."<br />
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Do you want to learn how to encourage? You can do it. Go for it!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-30542576563476088072010-06-23T11:10:00.000-07:002010-06-23T11:11:36.848-07:00T-I-M-E SPELLS ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHILDRENWhen 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.” <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Fathers, spend time with your children today!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-9236315835483927072010-06-08T17:35:00.000-07:002010-06-08T17:41:28.414-07:00ENCOURAGING LEGACY OF JOHN WOODENSince I am from Indiana, South Bend to be exact, where John Wooden started his illustrious basketball coaching career in 1934, I was fascinated to read about his lasting legacy. In an era of 'more and me' he stands as an encouraging example of what sports can do for the character of those who play his game and apply his wisdom in life. <br />
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One of the most appealing apects of his legacy was his simple one or two sentence instructive messages. Phrases from his book, "They Call Me Coach" speak volumes of the type of man he was, including "What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player" and "Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you." Another familiar favorite, "Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow."<br />
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His players will never forget his teachings or who he was as a person. Abdul-Jabbar said, "Coach Wooden used sports as a means to teach us how to apply ourselves to any situation." Likening him to a disciplinarian parent who coached by example, Jabbar went on, "He really was a very selfless and giving human being and from him we learned about all aspects of life that most kids want to skip over today."<br />
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Even with his astounding accomplishments, Wooden remained humble and gracious. He led Martinsville High School to the Indiana state basketball championship before heading to Purdue where they were national champions his senior season and he was player of the year. He guided the UCLA Bruins to seven consecutive titles from 1967 to 1973 and a record 88-game win streak in the early 1970's. He only person ever to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and a coach. <br />
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His life philosophy came from this advice his father gave him: "Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books-especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day."<br />
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Now that's an encouraging legacy that will last.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-46866920733605931232010-06-01T12:45:00.000-07:002010-06-01T12:45:48.525-07:00GO FOR IT OR LET GO OF IT ENCOURAGEMENTIt's hard to let go of something you want. It's hard to go for it when life is tough. Is it fear or is it good common sense to give up?<br />
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Sometimes we carry things around we were never intended to--such as problems, faults, failures, worries--our own and others. We've overburdened ourselves. It's great to help others, but sometimes in our helping, we go too far. I am in such a situation right now. I want to help a loved one but I'm afraid my helping could be hurting and hindering their personal growth.<br />
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I am working on healthy boundaries for both of us. The baggage becomes too heavy to lug around. Carrying around old wounds and problems will only slow us down. I want to learn to pack lightly.<br />
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Ann Landers said it well, "Some people believe that holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go--and then do it."<br />
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I go forward three steps and then backward two. It's a day by day journey, one small step at a time. But I am determined and I can do it!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-71920387048780483442010-05-20T12:45:00.000-07:002010-05-20T12:46:45.218-07:00ENCOURAGING WORDSRecently one of my adult kids were depressed because they didn't think they were good enough for the job that was before them. I did all the regular mom encouraging things that I knew how to do. And when they called still struggling, I wondered if I told them what my father said to me many times. <br />
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"There will always be those who are better than you and then there will be those whom you are better than. You just have to find the subjects, activities, sports and later on, jobs, where each can do and be your best. There is enough of what you need to go around."<br />
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I came across these encouraging words from Emerson which basically say the same thing as my father did those many years ago.<br />
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"Be yourself; no base imitator of another,<br />
but your best self.<br />
There is something you can do better<br />
than another. Listen to the inward voice <br />
and bravely obey that.<br />
Do the things at which you are great,<br />
not what you were never made for."<br />
<i>Ralph Waldo Emerson</i><br />
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Later, I received the call that peace was made and life could go on.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-1910276985628889662010-05-18T05:59:00.000-07:002010-05-18T06:00:56.334-07:00ENCOURAGEMENT"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." <i>Rosa Parks<br />
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"To be courageous requires no exceptional qualifications, no magic formula. It's an opportunity that sooner or later is presented to us all and each person must look for that courage in his own soul." <i>JF</i>K <br />
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"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." <i>Joshua 1:9</i>Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-86013046434083877042010-05-15T07:16:00.000-07:002010-05-15T07:30:40.661-07:00BE ENCOURAGED!Whatever you are facing today, BE ENCOURAGED! <br />
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While I don't know what each of you are going through at this time, I am fully aware that every other person in life is dealing with something that is extremely important and urgent to them. It could be hurting family or friend relationships, job or financial worries, or even something that you cannot name. Maybe you see things going on in our country that depress and discourage you. There is just a nagging sense inside that all is not well. <br />
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I encourage you to not cave into those feelings. God has a bigger and much better plan than all our worries, and He asks us to keep our focus on Him. This is what I ask for and hope to receive on my journey. It does take intentional discipline; talking to your self, quoting scripture and not letting the negative pull you down. Renew and refocus your mind. <br />
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Because God knows every single detail about my life and your life He knows exactly what is going to happen to me and you. He knows what the future will bring and He promises to care for us just as much as He does the birds. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Seek first His kingdom and all these things will be given to you as well.” <i><i>(KG paraphrase Matt 6:25-34)</i></i><br />
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I believe it. I hope you will too. Be encouraged and find peace in your life today.Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-21552942430446334282010-05-14T12:42:00.001-07:002010-05-14T12:42:56.028-07:00ESSENCE OF ENCOURAGEMENTWe do not live our lives alone,<br />
For other's lives we touch;<br />
Are either strengthened by our own,<br />
Or weakened just as much!Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625688527724593926.post-34874325143572253792010-05-12T17:11:00.000-07:002010-05-12T17:23:11.675-07:00HOPEFUL ENCOURAGEMENTI am blessed in alot of ways. I have food whenever I want it, clean water, a good job, wonderful home and family. Some of my dreams have come true. But I have known pain and frustration because many plans have been foiled even by my own mistakes. <br />
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People have disappointed me--strangers, friends and those I love most. Possessions did not bring peace of mind. Positions left me bothered and wanting more. Life is intense, precarious at times. What happens to us when our hearts and hopes are crushed. What or whom can we count on? <br />
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God is true and His word is truth. But even then there are very few outcomes we can put our faith in. <br />
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According to Paul, the hard things in life give us opportunity to seek out things that matter and make the right choices in the midst of trouble. The only thing that matters and the only truth we can count on for eternity is God and His never-ending love for us.<br />
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"Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5Kay the Encouragerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152892385658719390noreply@blogger.com0