Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘Encouragement’
7 Ways to Show Kindness Today
Rush Limbaugh died today. He was one of the most loved and hated men in America, like so many who hold strong positions on anything. As I scrolled through the posts about his passing I was struck, not by the many tributes, but by the vitriolic and even violent comments about his death. When “Satan,” “hell,” and other unprintable words are used about any man’s death it reveals more about their heart than his. I could weep as I read the bitter and vile sentiments. No one who knows the love of God or understand the evil of the Devil could post such things. What has happened to our society that people laugh and joke about things sobering and sad.…
Read MoreAn Idea for Your Christmas Cards
Have you sent out your Christmas cards yet? Through the years it has become increasingly difficult to send cards to everyone that we love and want to greet. For the last several years we have simply given cards to family and send greetings by media and email to many others. However you may send your Christmas greetings I would like to give you an idea for those that you receive. Tammy and I always enjoy looking through the Christmas cards and family pictures that come in the mail each year. (Let’s be honest, with all of the technology, we still enjoy getting actual mail in the mailbox!) Perhaps you display them for a few days, but what do you do…
Read MoreLight for Dark Days
We all know that this year has been particularly challenging. Clouds of doubt and a fog of uncertainty have come into a world that was already dark with sin. It is at this time, more than ever, that we must remember our “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). He alone can bring light in the midst of dark days! The brightest days are dark outside of His presence, and the darkest days are light when He is near. When the pandemic halted much of our travel back in the spring I had the privilege of preaching a series of messages to our home church. These four Bible messages came from the book…
Read More5 Books To Read When You Are Having A Hard Time
Someone once said that everybody is having a hard time with something. The longer I live the more I think they were right. We are sinners living with other sinners in a sin cursed world. The oldest book in the Bible says it best, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Now, this is not meant to be a depressing post! It is simply an acknowledgement that all of us at some time will go through a hard time. It is very important who you listen to at those moments. If you are not careful you will only listen to your own thoughts, and discouraged people often overstate their own…
Read MoreEncouragement from a Friend
These are unusual days for God’s people and many are fighting discouragement. A dear friend who labors in a challenging part of the world recently shared an encouraging article full of wise advice and I wanted to pass it along to you. I am doing so with his permission and with the prayer that the Lord will help you do what you can at this time and trust Him with the rest… Missionaries do their best to remain positive and encouraging in reporting and other communication. Who wants a depressing prayer letter? My family does our best to follow this example and not to share all the gory details and discouragements of life and ministry. It might be tempting to…
Read More5 Ideas For Teens @ This Time
If you are a teenager I am quite sure that your social life has been disrupted and your school year has been less than you imagined. (Or perhaps, better than you imagined – depending on your perspective!) After a few days at home most young people begin to get bored. Maybe you are way past that. First let me say, join the club. We are all a little stir crazy. The truth is that throughout life there will be things that disappoint and interrupt. The sooner you can learn to accept and adapt to these changes the better your whole life will be. Please do not think that I am minimizing the impact that COVID-19 has had on your life.…
Read MoreThank God For The Shepherds!
In crisis hours we are all reminded of what is most important in life, and who truly watches for our souls. We are all living through a season that reminds us of the importance of the local church. This season will pass but the church remains. Christ is building His church even now! He is purifying it. The gates of hell will not prevail against it. You can count on that! In good times and bad believers need one another. We need the church. Sheep need to be led and fed. This is why the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, calls under-shepherds to care for the flock. Though schedules have come to a screeching halt pastors are working harder…
Read More5 Things Every Church Member Can Do For Their Church Today
I rarely post on the Lord’s day, but this Sunday is an unusual day for many churches and church members. Social media has been filled this week with updates, instructions, and explanations from pastors and Christian leaders about the current pandemic and the varied responses. These are challenging days for those who have been called to guide God’s people in a church, school, or ministry. They are challenging days for us all! Perhaps your church is not meeting this week as normal – or perhaps it is. Either way there are a few things all of God’s people can do for the work of God where they are… Pray for your pastor. All who lead need divine wisdom. This is…
Read More3 Positive Ways To Use Your Social Media
There is a lot of negative talk in this world. Social media has only amplified it. Sadly, many believers use their social media just like those who do not know God. Disagreements are aired for the world to see. Accusations are thrown flippantly. Complaining is the norm. “My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10). Social media is not going away. For sure there are checks and balances that we all should place on the amount of time we give to it and the type of content we post on it. Perhaps the greatest thing we can do is learn to use it for good and for God. When social media platforms are engaged in things that…
Read MoreResponding To The Critic
Dr. Mike Edwards served for 37 years as the pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Woodbridge, VA. He is a man of wisdom and a great encouragement to those who are serving the Lord. I am very grateful to call him my friend and happy to pass along this helpful article. He and his wife are now traveling in ministry, seeking to encourage other churches and couples in the Lord’s work. You may find more information on their work at sharepointministries.com. As a younger pastor I am not sure I was fully prepared for just how critical some people could be concerning my leadership and my service. After forty-three years of ministry I have now come to understand that criticism is part of the servant leader’s life. Ministry life is truly life in…
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