Five A.M. Encouragement

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. - Philemon vs. 20-22 (Paul's encourages Philemon to obedience)

Almost 20 years ago I met a preacher's wife at a women's conference I attended. At the time we met, she and her husband were going through a tough time with the church Jim was ministering to. I made a pledge to Margaret that for the next year I would be available as a sounding board as they worked through the problems in their church. I promised to answer her emails with a return email. I remembered her birthdays and other special occasions. I called her from time to time to chat and make sure she was doing okay. Our friendship did not stop after that first year.

This weekend was supposed to be filled with chores such as catching up on laundry and getting the house in order. This Thursday we're heading south on a short vacation, to visit friends and attend a wedding. Instead it became yet another opportunity for us to open our home (we had two sets of guests last week.) At 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning our phone rang - it was Margaret. Her brother has passed away in Missouri, and she needed to take an early plane out of Columbus on Sunday morning. She wanted to know if she could spend the night with us.

Have you ever noticed that encouraging others doesn't always come in a neat little package, tied up with a shiny bow? Instead our opportunities to encourage sometimes come at inopportune moments, or when we just don't feel like encouraging! But, I've found that these are God's little nudges to remind us that others have refreshed our faith and spirit along the way. Others have often sacrificed time and money to keep our faith in Christ strong.

Five a.m. came early this morning. Margaret is now on the plane heading to Missouri. From beginning to end, she was here less than 12 hours. Will God give me back the time I lost (or thought I lost) doing the things still on my agenda? Absoultely! He's already given it back to me this morning, with a beautiful sunrise that I would have missed had I still been in bed. The cool of the morning that is currently drifting through my patio door has deposted a sparkling "dew on the roses." As I sit here writing this, the birds sing their happy tunes, and all is well with my world! And, my laundry? It'll get done before we leave Thursday...

- author, Cindy Daniels

Do you have a special place in your home where guests can stay on a moments notice? It could be a guest room, a futon, a pull out couch or a sleeping bag! Tell me a story of when you opened your home but hadn't planned to.

Encourage Me, a book by Chuck Swindoll

Today, I'd like to spotlight Chuck Swindoll's book, Encourage Me, Caring Words for Heavy Hearts. This book was my inspiration for beginning an encouragement ministry over fifteen years ago. It's a great book to have on your bookshelf, because no matter when you pick it up, it's as fresh as the day you bought it. I believe that's because Chuck uses God's word and His concepts to refresh us. I've included excerpts from an internet promotional of Chuck's book. I could not have summarized his book any better. Feeling discouraged? Know someone who's discouraged? Here's a great book - I guarantee its words will begin the healing process you and others so desperately seek.

"Are you discouraged? Do your shoulders ache with the weight of carrying your problems alone? Do you wish you could find someone who understands, someone who won't condemn you for your failures or ridicule you for your mistakes? Let Chuck Swindoll put a friendly arm around your shoulders and show you how the burdens can be lifted from your heart. Encourage Me offers tender insight into the needs of the human heart and how God wants to meet those needs through the gift of encouragement. Swindoll says, "Encouragement is awesome. Think about it: It has the capacity to lift a man's or a woman's shoulders. To breathe fresh air into the fading embers of a smoldering dream. To actually change the course of another human being's day . . . or week . . . or life." This classic devotional is a treasury of thoughts on finding the encouragement you need -- and learning to share that encouragement with others."

- author, Cindy Daniels

What do you read when you're feeling discouraged?

The Encouragement of a Friend

Some days are just plain hard. Your day starts with a missed wake-up alarm, because your electric went out during the midnight storm; a traffic jam slows traffic on the highway to work; you miss an important deadline. Or, maybe a child gets sick at the worst possible moment and keeps you home from something you'd been looking forward to. Then, there are the days when we hear the worst possible news: cancer, death, unemployment, foreclosure.

No matter what kind of day you are having today, there is hope. Proverbs 18:24 tells us "a man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. " Do you have such a friend? Someone you can call even in the middle of the night? There are many I can call in my church or community that will respond quickly to my need. If you don't have such a friend, you'll want to reach outside of your comfort zone to develop new relationships. Be the kind of friend you want others to be and you'll soon discover you're never without a friend. And, don't be afraid to make friends of all ages, races and career levels - it will give you a much broader outlook.

For the ultimate friendship, turn to John 15:13. This passage tells us "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus is that kind of friend! He knows when we are having a bad day or a good day. He knows when your family is going through hard times. And, most of all He layed down his life for us. Nothing we do deserves the gift of His precious life. We cannot repay Him for the free gift of salvation any more than you can pay back a friend for a gift they have given to you.

Joseph Scriven, an Irishman wrote the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" The words are as follows:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

So, next time you're having a bad day, call on Jesus. His cell phone is never busy, He's available 24/7, His services cost nothing, and well, the gifts He gives us are priceless!

- author, Cindy Daniels

What traits or qualities do you look for in a friend?

Encouraging the Children in Our Lives

It's that time of the summer when our church holds their week of Vacation Bible School. It's the time of year when we get the chance to spiritually influence our kids every day for an entire week. It's a time of fond memories for me - cookies and Koolaid; silly songs and games; scissors, paint and glue; Bible stories; and of course loving, caring teachers who made a difference in my spiritual walk.

VBS teachers take care of your child's spiritual needs for one week, and perhaps a family vacation in natural surroundings takes care of teaching our children about God's creation for a second week. But, what are your plans for teaching God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to your children the other 50 weeks of the year?

Cheri Fuller in her book The Fragrance of Kindness gives us some creative ways to encourage our children with words:

• Tuck notes of encouragement and relevant scripture in lunch bags
• Write a love letter to your child and push it under their door.
• Write an "I'm sorry I lost my cool" note, decorate it with stickers and colored markers.
• Show up at a sporting event, school play, or other important day in your child's life and say, "I'm proud of you!"
• Pray with your child when they struggle with direction in his/her life.

The Bible give us clear direction on speaking important and timely words to your children in Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up...You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates"

- author, Cindy Daniels

What are some ways you plan to spirtually encourage the children in your life?

What Are You In Fact Doing to Encourage?

I Thessalonians 5:11 states, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Verse 12 goes on to say, "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you."

Our spiritual leaders, elders, deacons, pastors, and teachers, many times have a tough go of it. They're instructed in Thessalonians to maintain a positive spirit and always be praying while warning the unruly, comforting those who are weak, and encouraging the timid (verses 14-18) in all of life's circumstances!

I don't know about you, but just reading the responsibilities our leaders are expected by God to carry out, gives me a whole new appreciation for the position of spiritual leader! Which brings me to my next point - when was the last time you encouraged someone who has spiritually influenced your life or the life of your church? I'm afraid we've become a generation of people who expect our leaders to do all of the work while we continue to sit back and criticize what we think they should be doing. The scriptures tell us in various passages that we are all ministers and teachers, not just those elected by the church.

No wonder our leaders often get weary in serving us! No wonder they don't do all of the things we think they should do! What in fact are you doing to encourage them? May I offer a few suggestions?

• Pray for them, their families and the people they serve, praying that they will remain strong and courageous in the Lord
• Give them a hug and tell them personally how much you appreciate their service
• Invite them and their families to dinner, a cookout or outing your family is going on
• Talk directly to them when you have a concern or disagree with a policy or program, don't speak unkindly about them - this is their number one discouragement
• Walk beside them - go with them when they visit new members or the sick
• Offer to teach a class, babysit in the nursery, go on a mission trip, or finacially back a camper or youth program

Make it a point this week to encourage a spiritual leader. You'll be glad you did!

- author, Cindy Daniels

What are some other ways we can encourage our spiritual leaders?