Whatever it Takes...

Many times we ask God to change our situation,

 after we put ourselves in the situation,

 and God allowed it so the situation can change us.

~shared by a friend on Face Book

Have you recognized an experience such as this
in your own life?
I have,
and indeed it is sobering.
But wonderful to know
that God takes 
care of His own...
in whatever  way He 
needs to for us
to be drawn ever
higher in our walk
to eternity.

Of Sons...

Hey Mama,

Your son. Just noticing how loud he is. Man, he's a talker. And he sure makes his wants known. Some call that "whining." And why is he so scruffed up, sweaty and dusty all the time? Oh, and can he eat. That boy can put it away. How on earth do you afford it...

Mama, you wanna know something? That little crackerjack tiger is going to be a man someday. A man who will love you fiercely and who would protect you against anything that dared to come against you. He talks a lot because he's figuring out who he is; his identity is being formed now. He whines at times and expresses himself fully - but that's because he'll be a leader someday and he's learning and testing his limits. Some day his expressions will be eloquent and clear. He will walk and speak with a confidence that will make your heart swell.

Yeah, he's sweaty because he's not afraid of physical activity and hard work. Dirt? It doesn't phase him. As a man, he won't be sniveling and lazy, afraid of getting his hands dirty. Like his dad (and his mama), he will work hard; his family will be his everything. And as you are getting the word of God into his heart, his great Lord and Savior will be his Everything.

Keep walking, Mama. Don't give up. Yes, he's a pressure cooker of popcorn, ever-going off and not all that well reigned in. But he's a work in progress, and ultimately he is the Lord's business. You plant, God waters and harvests. You pour into him, and reap the blessings later.

See that boy? Close your eyes and fast forward a decade or two. See that man? He's yours now and you'll be his then. Those scrawny little arms are the ones that will lift you up in your old age.

Embrace this time. What a gift

~from The Old School House Magazine...

This could not have come at a more timely moment for me.

 Yes, sometimes my son's seeming boundless energy and other things mentioned in this encouraging note

 'get to me' sometimes. 

Oh Lord, 

when I am weary of taking that time 

for him, 

please remind me 

of eternity 

and of his future

 as a man. 

Amen.

Morning Musings...Encouragement Part 2

Goodmorning...

Here are some random thoughts I've been thinking about encouraging and being encouraged:

1. Not all encouragement feels like encouragement. As an encourager, be sure your words are from God and when they are not understood or received, move on in love and blessing your friend in spite of the hurt you might feel at being misunderstood or rejected. It is God's work. Not ours. We are but vessels in His hands.

2. If someone gives you counsel/encouragement/help you don't understand or agree with, I suggest that it is still most courteous and respectful to acknowledge their help. Ignoring their words because you don't know what to say is often the road most taken, but I suggest that it is not the road best taken. You can say something like, "Thank you for thinking of me. This is a very emotional time for me, and I don't know what to think, but I will consider your advice." or "Thank you. I don't know what I'll do yet, but I will think about what you said." or "I have chosen to go (this way in the matter), but I appreciate that you felt free to share. It is a blessing to have friends who care".
And someday down the road, you  may remember their encouragement,
 and actually be able to use it.

3. If someone you give encouragement to does not appreciate your words, don't keep flinging it in their face. Just move on and pray for them instead. Love them and sincerely find a way to wish them well on their journey.

4. Keep your life open to the ministry of encouragement, no matter how lonely you are or how often you are rejected. There are millions of ways to encourage others... A note sent in one the MANY ways we have to send them these days (text, email, snail mail,  hand delivered, chat online, etc etc etc)...or a bouquet of flowers, or some food for a busy mom (just make sure it is food they would appreciate, if you can)...or doing some sewing for a busy homemaker, or whatever it is you can find to help others. This means we will have less time for hobbies, etc so there is time to devote to the ministry of encouragement.

Do you know your friends? Do you respect them? Sometimes respecting a person means that you don't share much with them because they resist you and your words. I have experienced this. I think the best way to 'bless' that person is to release them and let them be who they clearly want to be...and secretly pour out prayers to God on their behalf. God can work where we are pushed aside.
(after all, it IS His work...)

I have been encouraged in so many, many ways. The brothers whose sermons are preached and recorded via video or CD have no idea that I, an often lonely housewife in love with Jesus, have been encouraged to grow and love Him more by their sermons. The friend whose card of encouragement I received on Saturday didn't know how very much I needed it when she sent it, but she sent it in obedience to God. (Thank you, Mrs B...) A friend gave me a basket full of mums last fall...and a friend sent me some flowers a few months ago during a time when I was feeling pretty discouraged...my brother sent me a song clip this morning "Walk your Talk" and I was encouraged to know that he feels I do that (bless the Lord!)...that same brother told me yesterday after he saw a picture of me that I look pretty :-) how nice to hear that when you are fast heading out of the 30's and into the 40's (but I hope it is the beauty of Jesus he saw on my face...)...my husband took the time to ask me this morning (even tho he was on a time crunch) how I am today (he knows better than anyone else that I am struggling with some physical and emotional things right now)...
a friend took the time after church on Sunday to hear my physical struggles and because she is knowledgeable on such things, had some good advice for me, which I greatly appreciated...
another friend asked me after church on Sunday if I am ok because she saw me go outside,
after an announcement about some longtime friends caused the tears to gush from my heart in
a geyser that would have caused major distraction had I stayed in the sanctuary...

I say all this to say that there are millions of ways to encourage people. In order to encourage, you have to know something of the person, usually. But sometimes random acts of kindness can encourage as well. Mind the Lord. He is faithful to show us who we need to be reaching out to and when.

Are you lonely? Do you feel neglected by the people in your life (many people experience this)? Get up in Jesus' name and bless them and others. Lose yourself in worship of Him who came to serve, and not to be served, the One whose name you profess. And in that profession, you take up His life, the way of death to yourself and joy in His new life. Try it. It is a fantastic way to live.

There are days when we feel really neglected or rejected...The truth is, no human being can fill the hole that Jesus only can fill in our hearts. Don't look to people to do that, and you will find yourself blessed and amazed at how many times God uses people to fill a need in your life. Be open to that need being filled however He chooses for it to be filled. 

I have found that the best way to encourage people is God's way. "...speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs..." "...by love serve one another." And I have also found it to be painfully true that some do not appreciate being encouraged this way, no matter how lovingly it is shared. To this I say, keep doing things God's way but it does seem appropriate to keep out of people's faces if they don't appreciate being encouraged with Scripture, etc. Perhaps they need a few encounters with God before they can truly be encouraged by people. Don't walk away bitter, just humbly let God use you wherever He chooses.

Love and blessings to all,

Marcia

Untroubled...

"We become troubled because we have not been taking 

Him into account. 

When a person confers with Jesus Christ, 

the confusion stops,

 because there is no confusion in Him. 

Lay everything out before Him, 

and when you are faced

 with difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, 

listen to Him say,

 'Let not your heart be troubled . . .' 

(John 14:27)." 

--Oswald Chambers, 

in My Utmost for His Highest.

Seeing Only In Part...

Thanksgiving on Thursday...

I'm remembering a time when I was encouraged...

(I missed posting about encouragement on Tuesday, which I had planned to do...)

One day a few months ago I was feeling kind of lonely...and somehow satan knew this and was really piling on the discouragement over neglect from various relationships in my history...

I was fighting it in my spirit but was really feeling crummy. 

Then, a simple message sent through Facebook from a woman I have not seen in probably 10 years, recommending a blog she thought I would like, was like water from a thirsty land. 

God used this dear woman, who had no idea that I was struggling, to remind me that He has my times in His hands, and that He cares about me (I wasn't doubting that, but He sure found a way to reassure me nonetheless.)

So today, I send thanks to God for the blessing of encouragement.

And thank you, to my friend Sharlynn. You are a blessing to me and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Here's wishing you all a very good day. This is the day He made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Love and blessings,

Marcia

I Will Give Thanks

On Grief...

"My dear friend, when grief presses you to the dust, worship there!"

Charles Spurgeon