Thursday, September 15, 2016

Encourage One Another

God is Goodness

But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." Deuteronomy 3:28

Great things can be accomplished with a little encouragement. This is clearly illustrated when God commanded Moses to train and encourage Joshua, as it was he who would lead the Israelites into The Promised Land.

Whether you are five or fifty, we all need encouragement from time to time. Sometimes all it takes is a pat on the back for a job well done or a welcoming smile from someone when charting unfamiliar territory. Just because we have a pressed shirt on and shiny shoes does not mean we are not masking pain, suppressing fear, have anxiety or doubts. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well and failure.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Because God is goodness, like Jesus, we can be an encouragement to those around us.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Why Ask Why?

God is Faithful

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. Psalm 145:13

When passed over for a promotion, or seeking employment, when illness strikes, or when things don’t make sense – we all want to know WHY.

In the story of Lazarus, Martha said to the Lord “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." John 11:21-22 Despite her profound grief and lack of understanding behind her brother’s death, she trusted Jesus. Later that day, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead for all who believed to see the glory of God.

We’ll never know the answer to some of life’s questions. But what we do know is that God knows, and that He loves us, desires the best for us and has a grand plan for us. And when we trust God with all the answers, we find peace that surpasses all understanding.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Because God is faithful, in Christ we can find peace even though we don't have all the answers.