Jan 18, 2014 | Living Well
Have you ever felt like you were totally pouring your heart into a project but nobody cared? You were being diligent, thrifty, and doing some really good stuff. Still no one seemed to notice. It was frustrating and discouraging. You wanted to quit.
This sometimes happens to me as I complete projects for my family or for church. It seems they do not appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into making the current project run smoothly. Even though it may look effortless, the secret is much planning and preparation. My complaint here is petty, but our missionaries do much more behind the scenes work than we realize.
Missionaries with YWAM
Josh and Stacy Stateham
When missionaries are on furlough, they travel to churches to report on their successes and to solicit money to return to the mission field where they continue and expand current projects for spreading the gospel. We understand what they do is hard. But it looks so interesting and adventurous. Isn’t that a perk of their profession? Aren’t they called by God and receive comfort from knowing that?
Yes, but it is not enough because we all are called by God to be a part of the evangelism team that spreads the gospel to all parts of the world. God never intended for missionaries to work in a vacuum without the support of the local church.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20a
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
How can you and I be a part of a missionary team? First, we can send financial support to one or more missionaries. Second, we can regularly pray for specific missionaries. Third, we can encourage missionaries with notes or cards.
Resolved Day 18: I will select a missionary to encourage today.
Jan 17, 2014 | Living Well
When I was young, I thought adults knew everything. Didn’t they have all the correct answers to life’s questions? I came to that crazy conclusion because they were always correcting me. They knew how I was supposed to behave, and they knew how to work even the most difficult problems on my math assignment.
The older I get, the more distorted that world-view becomes. It seems I know less now than I did when I was eighteen even though I know much more now than I did then. Adults who arrogantly think they have all the answers are not only repulsive, but they also are demonstrating their lack of true knowledge.
Effective adult education was one of Jesus’ talents. He knew how to best teach a lesson to his disciples. He used stories and real-life experiences.
It was a teaching moment on the mountain when Jesus fed the 5000 men in Galilee. He had the disciples assess the situation and the needs of the people, gather their resources (2 fish and 5 loaves), and organize the huge crowd into groups. Then Jesus performed a miracle of multiplying the food to feed the large crowd. He taught the disciples he was the one who provides.
And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. Mark 6:41-42
Am I teachable? Do I study God’s word to gain insight into how to live my life in such a way as to be pleasing to him?
Resolved Day 17: I will be teachable today.
Jan 16, 2014 | Living Well
Is the month of October — Pastor Appreciation Month — the only time you express gratitude to your pastor? To a lessor extent the youth pastor and pastors with other titles may be recognized. It is sad that usually the only time we let our pastors know we care about them is when the calendar says it is that time of year.
One greatly under recognized church worker is the pastor’s wife. She is expected to be pleasant even when people are making her husband’s job difficult. The pastor’s wife is held to a very high standard. She must raise perfectly behaved children. It is her job to be the adoring wife who is a rock for her husband whose job is emotionally draining and stressful. And like her husband, she must be sure she stays close to the Lord and is daily doing God’s will. Theirs is a very public and challenging life.
Our pastors are not the only church employees who deserve a special thank you. How about the church administrative assistant, custodian, music leader, technology expert, volunteer coordinator, small group leader, Sunday school teacher, or committee chair? All of these people would enjoy knowing you recognize their hard work, talent, and service for the Lord.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:14
Resolved Day 16: I will regularly encourage and acknowledge church employees and volunteers.
Jan 15, 2014 | Living Well
If a video was made of your face for twenty-four hours, what kind of expression would be most common? Anger, love, calm, distress, arrogance, humility, thoughtful, reckless, curious, bored.
True, our facial expressions are predominately reflections of our inner selves. However, I contend they are also habits.
Recently I have been thinking about my expression as I go throughout the day. As I enter a store I purposely brighten my face. I greet store employees with a smile. I thank the clerk for checking me out and bagging my purchases. Especially if they seem tired or the person in front of me was difficult, I tell that checker they are doing a good job. While walking around the track at the local park, I smile at people I meet or wave at them across the way even if I do not know their names.
I do not project pleasantness perfectly, but what I have noticed is that it makes my daily tasks more enjoyable. I feel more relaxed and happier.
In Thessalonians, instructions are given about how Christians are to treat other Christians. Since I do not know if the strangers I meet are believers, I assume they might be and encourage them anyway as this passage directs.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Another passage instructs us to treat strangers kindly.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
Do you have the habit of being a sour-faced, grumpy Christian or do you display the joy of the Lord?
Resolved Day 15: I will say encouraging words to a stranger today.
Jan 14, 2014 | Living Well
Do you sometimes take your friends for granted? Do you get so caught up in your own activities and problems that you do not recognize the signs of discouragement in your friends? Do you neglect to give out words of encouragement just because you appreciate and value their friendship?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you are normal. Isn’t it sad that at times our self-centeredness makes us callous to the needs of people we hold dear?
The Bible talks about encouraging others. The early Christians understood the importance of encouraging friends especially during trying times. The Jerusalem church wrote a letter of instruction and support. It was hand-delivered by two church leaders to the believers in Antioch.
So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. Acts 15:30-32
Encouragement might take the form of a call for the purpose of complimenting a friend. Maybe a surprise request to set a luncheon date could brighten a friend’s day. A note of appreciation often is cherished and saved. Even a small, inexpensive, thoughtful gift can be touching. What can you do today for a friend who needs support?
Resolved Day 14: I will write words of encouragement to a friend today.
Jan 13, 2014 | Living Well
My dear husband studies the Bible every morning.
Husband bashing is a sport for many women. Wherever a group of women are together, it is a contest to see who can come up with the most humiliating husband misstep.
Thoughtfulness and kind words should be the hallmark of a loving relationship. I contend that the husband bashing sport is part of the reason divorce is so prevalent. How can you love, cherish, and live peaceably with someone who is the target or your jokes and ire?
One thing I like about my friends is that they do not engage in this sport. This does not mean that our husbands never do something frustrating or silly. We just prefer to not make sport of our spouses.
I have learned over the years that kind and honoring words enhance our marriage relationship. This holds true both for words I speak directly to my husband and words I say to others about my husband.
The last half of Proverbs 31 describes the characteristics of a woman who fears the Lord. Even though this verse does not specify words about her husband, it does not exclude them. It states her words are wise and kind with no exceptions given. Do your words honor or degrade your husband?
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26
Resolved Day 13: I will speak many words of encouragement and love to my husband today.
