Month: January 2020

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Thessalonians 5:11

Our household is sad to say that college football season is over, and with it go the Fromm and Swift era for our Bulldogs. We all have some great memories from this year along with some disappointments, but all in all, ending the season ranked in the top five in the country is awesome!

The best take away for me from the past season is the picture above that epitomizes the word, encourager. An encourager is one who inspires another with courage, spirit or confidence. I see the result of the encourager (Kirby Smart) on Jake Fromm’s face. We’ve all seen that look on the faces of children and adults when they hear those encouraging words of pride from coaches, teachers, parents or friends.

Teachers, coaches, parents, and other leaders have the demanding job of holding their students, players, children and others accountable while remaining encouraging. Every one of us face that in our daily life if we are true to our calling as Christians. In our churches today, we are called to be encouragers – building one another up, inspiring one another, and strengthening one another in the faith – not discouragers.

Although God has called us to be encouragers, sometimes we find ourselves doing just the opposite. We concentrate on weaknesses instead of strengths, we criticize rather than compliment good qualities, and we tear down rather than build up self worth and self esteem.

Just like the picture illustrates, we need to concentrate on the good things that people do and just tell them. It makes a world of difference to hear encouragment rather than criticism. We all hold the fate of others in our hands, and we hold the power to change their lives or destroy it.

There is not one among us who doesn’t appreciate a word of encouragement. It is always special to receive positive affirmation in one way or another. After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, several items were found in his pockets. Among the things, he had tucked away in his wallet were nine complimentary newspaper clippings along with a souvenir five dollar confederate bill. I’m sure it was rare for everybody to encourage him, but it meant everything to him to have those few encouraging articles.

I can’t imagine all the ups and downs that occurred before the picture above was taken, but I see in it the reward of the encourager as well as the encouraged.

In this new year, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all made it our goal to encourage at least one person every day, not only for them but for ourselves.

In the history of our country, we have faced many perilous times, and today is no exception. It seems that our leaders might need a prayer which was prayed around 1957 by the Chaplain of the Senate, Peter Marshall. It seems appropriate to share that prayer today.

God of our fathers in Whom we trust and by Whose guidance and grace this nation was born, bless these Senators of the United States at this important time in history and give them all things needful to the faithful discharge of their responsibilities.

We pray especially today for our President, and also for him who will preside over this chamber.

Give to them good health for the physical strains of their office, good judgment for the decisions they must make, wisdom beyond their own, and clear understanding for the problems of this difficult hour.

We thank Thee for their humble reliance upon Thee. May they go often to the throne of grace as we commend them both to Thy loving care and Thy guiding hand.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Isn’t it remarkable that a prayer prayed over sixty years ago could be so relevant today??

When we have the opportunity to help, we should do it.  Gal. 6:10 

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.”   Fred Rogers

The recent fires in Australia have given new meaning to the word helpers.  The fires have burned over twenty four million acres, destroyed over 2000 homes, and killed over twenty five people.  When I see the news coverage of the outpouring of help and helpers that are coming to the aid of the Australian people, it reminds me of how we are all called to this ministry of helping in different ways.  We can’t all be on the front lines of a disaster, go on mission trips, or give millions of dollars, but we can all try to bless others through our efforts to help.  Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”

We are here to show the same love and compassion Jesus showed when it comes to helping others. When it comes to serving God, if it doesn’t cost you anything – it doesn’t count.  Jesus said if you help others, your return will be great, and the way you treat others is the way you will be treated in return.  

When looking for those who need help, it’s important to remember that we don’t expect them to reciprocate, that we encourage them, and that we make them feel special.

Sometimes people need to be strengthened; other times we need to be stretched.  Sometimes people need comfort, not correction; other times, we need correction not comfort.  Sometimes people need a handout; other times, we just need a hand up.  

Years ago during a graduation service at the church, Sam Halverson sang a song entitled Thank You For Giving to the Lord by Ray Boltz for the special music.  The words are beautiful, and it was a way of thanking the helpers such as small group leaders, teachers and parents, for all the ways they had been responsible for changing the lives of these graduates.  The words to the chorus say it all:  Thank you for giving to the Lord:  I am a life that was changed;  Thank you for giving to the Lord: I am so glad you gave.

As we reflect on how many helpers all of us have and have had along the road of life that have given of themselves so that we might grow,  accomplish our goals, and find wholeness and satisfaction, it is humbling.  Their sacrifice is why we are where we are today.  We never know how many lives might be changed if we take that first step toward being a helper.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.  Anne Frank

 

Everything is possible for him who believes.                Mark 9:23

Years ago when Randy and I served Calhoun First United Methodist Church, the church sponsored a group of children and adults called The Winner’s Club.  It was the dream and ministry of a couple, Deacon and Inez Belue.  They were called to create a group for special needs children and adults, to help them dream of the things they could do.   The group loved to sing, so the couple worked with them, and they traveled around singing for churches and organizations.  The music was inspiring even if it wasn’t perfectly performed, but on stage, they had overcome their handicap.  These people had dreams, and this group helped them realize some of them.

Recently, I watched the movie, The Peanut Butter Falcon, and it brought back memories of The Winner’s Club and some of its members.  The star of the movie is Zak, and he is a Downs Syndrome boy who is living his life in a nursing home where he was placed until the case worker can find a home for him.  Zak has dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, and he desperately wants to attend the Saltwater Redneck Wrestling School.  He escapes the home and the adventure begins.  

The star of the movie is Zack Gottsagen, and he is a Downs Syndrome young man who dreamed of being a movie star.  The writers met him at a camp for people with disabilities, and when he told them his dream, they tried to dissuade him by telling him how hard it was to be a movie star for the ordinary person much less one with a disability.  Zack replied, “Cool.  Sounds like we do it together then.  You guys write and direct, and I can be the movie star.”  The movie is his true story.

The movie shows the power of dreams.  I came away realizing that human beings can’t be defined by their academic degrees, affluence, personal problems, or chromosomal disorders.  It shows the reality of life with a disability or handicap, and the realization that everyone has a dream.  In short, it reaffirms the value of every life.

The Bible implies that Jabez had some kind of handicap or disability, but he was stronger than whatever afflicted him, and his faith kept him going.  He kept his eyes on the future rather than dwelling on the past. I have friends who work everyday to overcome these circumstances and those who have a dream usually end up achieving great things.

When God gives us a dream, sometimes the circumstances required to fulfill that dream won’t be to our liking.  In the midst of the conflict, ask God, “What is it that You are saying or trying to show me in this situation?” Sometimes God ordained dreams aren’t just born, they have to be reborn.

I’m forever grateful for the friends I know who live their dreams every day and are all winners.

Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.                          William Carey

P.S.  Unfortunately, this movie is not for young adults or children!

 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Most every morning finds me at the pool for a water aerobics class. Before and after class begins, (if I’m early or stay late), I enjoy watching the swimmers who come to do laps. Swimming really is quite an art, and if one is good, it’s pure poetry in motion.

The seasoned swimmer literally uses their stroke and pushes water that is in front of them behind them. They are moving whatever stands in the way of their goal. They are confident, rhythmic, and they make swimming look effortless as they glide through the water toward their goal. These people are comfortable in the water, and they trust the water and their skill to make it all work.

Then there are those who are afraid of the water. We have a lady who wants to swim so badly, but she fights the water all the way and her body sinks like a rock. She doesn’t trust the things she has learned, and her fear is obvious. The fear will take you under every time. The situation would be comical if it weren’t so painful to watch.

Sometimes when I ask people how they are, they respond with, “Well, I’m keeping my head above water and pressing on.” These are times when we are just treading water. The fact is we can only tread water for so long, before, eventually, we will drown. The waters that we are treading through don’t determine our destiny; they either carry us over or take us under.

There are those times in life when we, like a swimmer in water, have to feel comfortable enough to take hold of the faith God has placed within us and keep moving forward through those times when we feel like we are sinking and there’s nowhere to turn.

It’s these times when the swimmer in us presses on and fights our way through while being confident that God is on our side because He surely is. Don’t quit pressing on, for if you do, God can do nothing more for you! No matter whether we are treading water or comfortable swimming, God is there for us.

The beginning of a new year offers the perfect opportunity to press on confidently and with a renewed faith in God and His plan.