Need Encouragement? Give Encouragement!

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

The third time He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’ (John 21:17, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Giving is not just about money. That does not mean we should be less than generous with the money God has given us. We should be quick and happy to share the financial resources we possess. But Kingdom giving encompasses every part of our lives.

The only miracle besides the resurrection of Jesus reported in all four Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand. As a teacher, I know the importance of repetition. If a truth is worth repeating four times, it is an important truth, and we need to listen up!

Huge crowds followed Jesus to the Sea of Galilee. Many of them were lame, blind, crippled … all seeking the healing touch of Jesus. And He healed each one. It took three days. When it was time for the people to return home, Jesus realized they needed food to make their journey home and shared that need with His disciples.

I can imagine the blank stares of the disciples as they tried to figure out how to feed the crowd. It probably seemed ridiculous to even consider feeding 5,000 men (and about 10,000 women and children). Jesus’ response in Matthew 15:34 was simple: “How many loaves do you have?” And with the meager resources at hand, a few loaves and fish, Jesus fed the hungry.

Most of the time we consider the many ways we can feed the people God has placed in our world. Those people are there for a reason.

We can give the gift of reassurance to a neighbor whose husband has lost his job by inviting her over for a cup of coffee and a listening ear.

We can serve a loaf of support to an elderly friend who needs help buying groceries.

We can encourage a young mom by offering to keep her kids for a couple of hours to give her a much-needed break.

We can bless our family by preparing their favorite meal… just celebrating life together.

You have heard the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Truer words were never spoken when talking about encouragement. We all need encouragement – especially during the tough times. Those “tough” times can come in all shapes, sizes and forms and can vary from person to person.

We have one grandson who can run an extremely high fever, have a deep cut in his ear that is bleeding profusely, and have a headache that would put me in bed … all without a word of complaint. The doctors are amazed at this child’s high level of pain tolerance.

We have another grandson who has been known to dissolve into hysterics at the sight of a splinter embedded in a finger and turn ghastly pale and almost faint at the mere smell of the doctor’s office. The doctor’s have been amazed at this child’s low level of pain tolerance.

The difference between these two children does not reflect a right or wrong reaction. As one of my friends often says, “It is what it is!” When each child is in pain, they both need understanding, compassion and encouragement.

When the people in your life are in pain, they need your understanding, compassion and encouragement. God will take your “loaves” and meet those needs. How many loaves are you willing to give?

Let’s Pray

Father, I am amazed at how You love me through others. Thank You for the gift of encouragement. Help me receive that gift and then learn how to give it away to someone else in need. I want to be Your hands and feet to those who are hurting around me. Give me eyes to see them, Lord.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Today's Devotional Sponsor:

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” -- John 10:27

God Will Lead Your Way

by Lynette Kittle

How are you making decisions in life? Do you believe it’s all up to you or do you rely on God to direct your steps?

You may believe since God gave you free will, it’s for you to choose what to do and where to go. And yes, God has given you the ability to choose but He wants you to choose His ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages you to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.”

So by choosing to follow God, you don’t have to depend on your own knowledge because He will lead you. By doing so, you’ll gain the ability to hear His voice. John 10:27 describes how “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Of course, you still have the choice to listen to God or go your own way. If you choose to venture out on your own, you may want to ask yourself if are you listening to your own voice or following another’s leading?

If you’re not sure how to distinguish the various thoughts that come into your mind, 2 Corinthians 10:5 directs you to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

So in a practical, living-it-out daily kind of way, what does this look like?

When the devil tried to lead Jesus astray in the wilderness, Luke 4:1-13 describes how He handled bringing thoughts into captivity. He turned to God’s truth in responding, understanding “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

As Hebrews 4:12 explains, “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Through studying the Scriptures, Jesus was prepared to reject wrong thoughts from leading Him astray. Like Him, you, too, can prepare yourself to recognize and take ungodly thoughts captive by studying God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

If you want to be confident you are hearing God’s voice and following His leading, the key is to know God’s Word. Studying Scripture equips you to recognize His voice and gives you the ability to distinguish between what is true or false.

Dare to Believe God

from Streams in the Desert

God... calleth those things which be not as though they were(Romans 4:17).

What does that mean? Why Abraham did this thing: he dared to believe God. It seemed an impossibility at his age that Abraham should become the father of a child; it looked incredible; and yet God called him a "father of many nations" before there was a sign of a child; and so Abraham called himself "father" because God called him so. That is faith; it is to believe and assert what God says. "Faith steps on seeming void, and finds the rock beneath."

Only say you have what God says you have, and He will make good to you all you believe. Only it must be real faith, all there is in you must go over in that act of faith to God.
--Crumbs

Be willing to live by believing and neither think nor desire to live in any other way. Be willing to see every outward light extinguished, to see the eclipse of every star in the blue heavens, leaving nothing but darkness and perils around, if God will only leave in thy soul the inner radiance, the pure bright lamp which faith has kindled.
--Thomas C. Upham

The moment has come when you must get off the perch of distrust, out of the nest of seeming safety, and onto the wings of faith; just such a time as comes to the bird when it must begin to try the air. It may seem as though you must drop to the earth; so it may seem to the fledgling. It, too, may feel very like falling; but it does not fall -- it's pinions give it support, or, if they fail, the parent birds sweeps under and bears it upon its wings.

Even so will God bear you. Only trust Him; "thou shalt be holden up." "Well, but," you say, "am I to cast myself upon nothing?" That is what the bird seems to have to do; but we know the air is there, and the air is not so unsubstantial as it seems. And you know the promises of God are there, and they are not unsubstantial at all. "But it seems an unlikely thing to come about that my poor weak soul should be girded with such strength." Has God said it shall? "That my tempted, yielding nature shall be victor in the strife." Has God said it shall? "That my timorous, trembling heart shall find peace?" Has God said it shall?

For, if He has, you surely do not mean to give Him the lie! Hath he spoken, and shall He not do it? If you have gotten a word -- "a sure word" of promise -- take it implicitly, trust it absolutely. And this sure word you have; nay, you have more -- you have Him who speaks the word confidently.

"Yea, I say unto you," trust Him.
--J. B. Figgis, M. A.

Chicken Crock Pot

from http://susanrecipe.com/2016/09/chicken-crock-po.html

INGREDIENTS:

2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder(I prefer garlic galore)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large chicken

Directions:

Combine all the spices in a small bowl.
Place the chopped onion and celery in the bottom of the crock-pot.
Remove any parts from inside the chicken.
Rub the seasonings all over the chicken.
Place the prepared chicken in the crock-pot on top of the onions breast side up.
Cook on high for 4–5 hours or on low for 8–10.