You Are Not Alone

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Bad Experiences?

 

Don't Quit!

 

E is for Encourage

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)

Take Heart

E is for Encouragement

It costs you nothing to take the time to build up others around you. You're not that busy. Try it today!

Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.
Proverbs 12:25 (The Message)

Belonging

I know quite a few fellow Christians in my town who are currently 'between churches'.

That can't be easy. In fact, I'm quite upset with even the thought of this. You see, I personally need the sense of belonging that you get from a church group.

Scripture underlines this for me when it says that his followers are “fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19b, NIV).

The local fellowship of believers gives me a sense of identity, several avenues of commitment,  as well as a means of accountability. 

Take away the local church and its network (for whatever reason), and my ability to work out my own Christian walk is so much harder. Not impossible, but it's much harder.

Put my life back into the context of a church family - different backgrounds, different races,  different social statuses - and then I can start learning from others, befriending others, encouraging others. As well as making the fellowship stronger, this can then be a powerful witness to the world.

Let's turn to scripture for the last word. Hebrews 10:25 warns us against “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”.

You know I am praying for those Christian friends who are spiritually 'homeless' tonight.

I Know Who My Friends Are

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but..."

I've had opportunity to take stock after a rather chaotic few days which featured a couple of unexpected and challenging occurrences... and, as ever, it is in looking back that you begin to get a different view of what exactly went on ...

At the time, I couldn't really see any 'silver linings' in the thick clouds around me. However, in hindsight I can give real thanks because I am truly blessed by some of the people that I know! 

Of course, my family have been there for me, however I must give particular thanks to my son, John, who has been a particular tower of strength to me over the past weekend. He certainly went the extra mile. I'm proud of him and for what he has done for me and my household. He's my son but he's also a good friend.

I am so pleased to have some good friends close by; you know, the ones who are there for you, amidst the rubble and the chaos! Thanks, guys. You know who you are.

And I am also encouraged by some 'long distance' friends - it amazes me that sometimes the person that lifts you most on a difficult day is someone who you know exclusively over the web; who you have never met face to face!

"I have been and always shall be your friend."

(Spock from Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan')

"I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)..."
(Lyrics to the theme tune to 'Friends')

Encouragement

1 Peter 1:6-7 (New International Version, ©2011)
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I've been reading up on encouragement recently, and note that the operative part of that is the word 'courage' - something that I blogged on recently. It’s so easy to get disheartened, discouraged: particularly when things are going awry, friends let you down. We're told in such circumstances to rejoice - not about the bad things that are happening, but because God can use it for good, work through you.

He gives you endurance. Keep on believing; hang in there, persevere!

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - Friedrich Nietzsche

Courage!

It was my turn to give the bible reading at the end of Singers practice this week and I chose Joshua 1, one of my favourite passages, as it speaks of being "strong and courageous". This thought has stayed with me for the past few days, throughout one of the busiest periods in my workplace.

It was pointed out that this phrase is repeated (with slight differences in emphasis) three times in this passage, just to underline it. To help us remember that "the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Or indeed whatever you do.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear - Ambrose Redmoon