• Apr. 7, 2008
Encourage one another...
What makes your heart smile?
This is a question I've been pondering a lot lately, and I've come to the realization that one of the joys God pours out on me is that of the written word.
My husband and I started dating almost exactly 20 years ago. To this day, I have every letter he ever sent me. Yes, I mean letter...written on real paper, sealed in an envelope, and mailed with a stamp. There are hundreds of them. He and I dated long-distance for 3 1/2 years, and these letters are a treasure to me. They tell of the blossoming love and growing commitment we established during those early days of our relationship.
I treasure the heartfelt words that friends and loved ones have written to me over the years. I read...and re-read...these notes of love and affirmation. I even have a "Monday morning" box that I sometimes turn to for a bit of encouragement at the start of a new week. This box is filled with numerous notes, cards, and Bible verses...all pointing me to the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
Admittedly, my email inbox is far-too-full. I laughed as I recently told my friends that I'd done some pruning and clean-up of my inbox. I got rid of all the stuff I deemed "unnecessary." I'm embarrassed to write this, but even after my "pruning," I had 500 emails remaining...
The insides of a couple of my cupboard doors are graced with notes of encouragement; notes from my husband and friends...notes that remind me that no matter what I'm facing, God is on His throne.
All these notes cause my heart to soar. They're reminders that we're in this life together. God has called us into community with one another and has graciously provided those to come alongside and point our eyes to Him.
And it caused me to ask myself, "Who needs a note from me today? Who is God leading me to encourage...to build up...to affirm?"
And I ask the same question of you. Who can you reach out to and encourage today? Whose heart can you direct to Jesus as you communicate your love and prayerful support?
You never know how timely, valuable, and treasured those words may be. My guess is that they will be longer-lasting and further-reaching than you could ever know...
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
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• Mar. 26, 2008
Big Contented Sigh...
I've been newly mindful...freshly aware...of all the unexpected blessings God pours out on me from day to day. There are so many little things that make my heart smile...so many things that point back to my Father God's goodness and grace.
In reflecting on these simple pleasures in recent days, I determined that it would be wise to chronicle these sometimes ordinary, often extraordinary blessings. With that said, I'm beginning a new category on my blog entitled, "Things That Make Me Smile." Among those things today...
Thank You, Father...
