What do we do to encourage one another?? How do we take part in the building up of the saints? Where can we find help and hopeful words? I think the answer is simple. We can find these things in the Word and in the words of our friends and family who are in the Word.
Who has been an encouragement to you this week or in the last few weeks? I can think of many of you who have faithfully prayed for me because you know that morning (all day) sickness is especially hard for me. You have called or emailed with thoughtful words and help for my soul. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.
I can also think of the books that I read. These books written by faithful men and women who have gone before me in life and in faith have strengthened me.
I am thankful for the Word of God. I have been so sick lately that I would often eat and go straight from the dinner table to the couch. Ryan was faithful during this hard time to read the Word out loud to our family and I was able to listen from the couch too sick to hold my head up and read for myself.
I am also thankful for the hopeful words from Ryan. This weekend he shared with me that he was so encouraged to take part in the Sabbath. He told me of how his life almost seems despairing on Saturday and then Sunday comes and the Word is preached and his soul feels revived and refreshed. I was so thankful for this reminder of God's grace to us thru His preached Word. It was an encouragement to me to hear that the Word is fresh to him and it is changing his life as he sits under it.
Today I was also encouraged to hear of a good family friends recovery in the hospital. We thought that he was facing eternity just days ago and now he seems to be recovering well. But we know that his eternity would be spent in Hell so I am encouraged that the Lord spared his life so that we might share the Gospel with him.
A few days ago I was so discouraged about my situation of all day sickness. Now it seems to have passed and I have tried to think all day of encouraging things in the Lord that will allow my delight to be in Him and not my temporary circumstances. I am thankful for the things mentioned above. I am thankful for these things...
PS If you would like a good laugh you should read my husbands blog : www.redeemedson.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I am encouraged by friends' blogs! Sometimes deep fellowship is hard being far away, but internet helps us to stay connected and find encouragment from other believers. I have enjoyed www.girltalk.blogs.com - using the "categories" column on the side has been good. I looked at the beauty one this week - it has a lot of interesting thoughts and encourages a good, biblical perspective on the idea of "beauty" that I find SO easy to forget in today's world. How about this quote from the Oct 17, 2006 entry:
"Truth be told, what we all deserve is not to feel beautiful but rather to be condemned to hell for sinfully seeking to attract the worship of our fellow creatures instead of living to bring glory to God." Wow!
I have definitely found encouragement in the Word lately, too. It is so rich!
Seeing other friends live their lives/lose their lives for the Gospel is an encouragement, as well. Keep up the good work, sistahs!
Let me add the rest of the thought on beauty - the original quote is not quite as encouraging by itself. Here is what follows:
"God did not send Jesus to this earth to die so that women could get over their self-esteem problem and feel better about themselves. No, He sent his Son to die to rescue us from our sinful, futile quest for physical beauty and to reveal to us the satisfaction that comes from knowing God—whether we are beautiful or not!
What freedom and hope is found in Christ! We don’t need to feel beautiful about ourselves to find happiness! In fact, we’re better off not even thinking about ourselves. Rather, God has offered us in Jesus Christ forgiveness, hope, freedom from sin and a joy that never ends."
Posted by Carolyn Mahaney on October 17, 2006
Amiable dispatch and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you as your information.
Easily I agree but I think the collection should have more info then it has.
Post a Comment