聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Although I rarely turn on the TV before heading out for church on Sunday mornings, today I did. Scrolling through the usual news channels, I realized I鈥檇 already heard it all, over and over again.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I came close to turning it off but I鈥檓 glad I didn鈥檛 because with a few clicks I came across a program with well known Bible teacher, Dr. Charles Stanley. My time was limited but in those few minutes I listened I was reminded of one of the primary responsibilities of believers in Christ鈥nd no, it isn鈥檛 to proclaim the perils of hell to 鈥渟inners鈥�, nor is it to point out all the foibles of fellow (all genders included) Christians. Rather, it鈥檚 about encouraging, supporting and lifting up each other.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Merriam-Webster dictionary gives a number of definition options but here鈥檚 the one that caught my attention and my heart: 鈥渟omething that makes someone more determined, hopeful or confident鈥�. Aha, I thought to myself, I can鈥檛 think of anything more powerful or needed than to deliberately cheer and gladden the heart of someone. We only see the external; God wants to use each of us to minister to the pain or sorrow that others often hide.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Because I鈥檝e often been the recipient of encouragement over the years, I鈥檝e made it a habit to try to regularly pass some on. Here are a few suggestions: take a baking treat to your emergency/police headquarters (a dozen doughnuts from 鈩immies once a month always goes over well); write a note of thanks to local government for their service (you don鈥檛 have to agree with all their decisions) and, don鈥檛 forget to thank your pastor for the work that goes into his or her weekly sermons.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥溾�herefore comfort each other and edify one another鈥︹�� (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 PS: A warm and genuine smile also counts.
