Encourager or Discourager

I have had the benefit of having many encouragers in my life over the last few years.  As I struggled with my mom's Alzheimer's and eventual passing, my dad's declining health and passing, my husband's health issues, and just the usual events that life throws at us, I have had a church family and dear friends who have stood beside me and encouraged me in some of my darkest times.  They surrounded me with prayers, kind words, cards, phone calls at those times when life looked its bleakest.  I know that was God working in the lives of others to bless me and my family.  The lesson I learned through all of that was life gives us opportunites to be either encouragers or discouragers.  You know who the discouragers are.  They never have a kind word.  They are constantly complaining about something, and it is usually over petty things.  I sometimes wonder if they are ever happy because it seems they are just looking for something to be negative about.  We are bombarded by discouragers.  Do you watch the news?  Is it encouraging or discouraging?  I sometimes cannot believe how discouraging our culture has become.

I know that I do not ever want to be seen as a discourager.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of being a discourager, especially if everyone around me is being negatie.  I have made a conscious effort at looking for ways that I can be an encourager to someone, especially the people I am around that are leaders--my minister, elders, deacons, and bosses at work.  I know that they all have to deal with a lot of discouragers. If you have not encouraged one of them lately, I challenge you to do so today.  Write your church leaders a note encouraging them in their faith.  Tell your boss how much you appreciate his/her leadership.  You will be amazed at what kind and encouraging words can do to brighten someone's day. 

If we all lived our lives under the conviction of Ephesians 4:29--  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen--what a different world it would be.  That is my challenge to me and to you!  May God bless you as look for ways to be an encourager, and may He stifle the next time we are tempted to be a discourager.

Enjoy Today

"Man plans;  God laughs."  We are masters at planning our lives.  There is only one problem.  Life usually interrupts.  Last Wednesday morning I got up and was looking forward to church that night since the ladies' class was going to start a Bible study with the ladies from the new retirement center next to the church.  I received a call from my brother around noon telling me that our older sister had had a stroke!  There were phone calls between my brother and my sister's daughters, who both live out of the area, to arrange flights and pick ups at the airport.  My plans just went to the wayside, but isn't that how life is.  I hear people saying, "When I retire, I will .....,"  "Tomorrow I am ....,"  "Next summer we are going to ....," but there is not a one of us who can predict what the future holds.  Life is precious.  The time to get out and do is now.  Some dear friends of ours talked about all they would do when they retired.  One year after his retirement, the husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Their life certainly took a turn they never saw coming. 

Please don't put off going on that vacation, going to see family, spending time with those you love, and most importantly, telling those whom you love what they mean to you because not a one of us knows what is waiting for us in the next minute, much less the next year.  Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed today. The Lord has given you this moment.  Please make the most of it.  It is a gift.

A New Endeavor

I have thought about doing a blog for a long time to just record my stream of consciousness as I journey through this experience we call life.  I have been bothered for a long time about all the negative we receive from so many areas around us.  There are so many who want to discourage instead of encourage.  I want this to be a thought-provoking, uplifting and encouraging place for anyone who happens to find it.  May God use this to be a blessing.  I pray it will fill you with Joy,  it will give you hope in Grace, and encourage you to never miss an opportunity to laugh.