This month is often remembered as 'Mother's Day' month.
This month we are addressing womanhood.
My goodness what a big subject, as you may have guessed we are only going to tackle one little area.
I've mentioned to you in the past that I really like that word encourage.
'Encourage' is what a washing machine does to clothes to cause them to become clean, it agitates the daylights out of them, but they come out better than when they went in. Do you have people in your life to encourage you?
'Encourage' is also patting someone on the back and saying, "you've done well and you're doing just fine now, keep it up."
'Encouragement' was one desire I had in developing this web site. For years I walked pretty much alone. I had no idea how much help and irritation I was missing by not having others with whom to share my hopes, desires, dreams, fears, problems or concerns.
Then I met a lady I felt I could trust (that's such an important issue, trust) I shared a hope with her and she said, "Let's pray about it." It's my prayer for each of you to have at least one trusted person like my lady! What a blessing she's been to me. We pray things through; to be honest, I believe she has spent more time in prayer on things than I have.
My life's had many ups and downs since she's come into it. And I would be dishonest if I didn't tell you that I don't always want to hear what she has to say. Because when I've heard, I'm faced with doing something about it. Her ENCOURAGEMENT has been an inexplainable blessing. I can only hope that I've been able to bless her along the way.
Don't misunderstand me, I did have the Christian Church Family, but I didn't share things with them. I kept them to myself. I'm a bit of a dreamer and I've taken much criticism over the years because of it. I didn't want to be laughed at or be put down. I didn't need someone to burst my balloon or take the air out of my dream.
But, we women were not meant to be void of friendships. We were meant to encourage and walk beside one another. The Word says that we are to encourage one another while it is still called today. And in another place it says that the older women should teach the younger. We are richer when we share with and learn from one another. Isolation is one of the tools of our enemy. For when we stand alone things look so very overwhelming.
This is the kind of aggitation I was missing:
Yes, I know what you said you want to do but, have you prayed about it? Have you shared this with Christians who have walked in their faith for a time? Have you prayed with others about this? Remember that if you're fighting God's will he just may allow you to have your own way, is that what you want? To stand on you own in this matter? What outcomes are possible? What blessings could there be in it for you? If you take the time to pray this through 1 on 1 with your Heavenly Father and with Christians that you respect, what possibility is there that you will know God's will in this matter? If you are in his will, what possible outcomes may there be? What blessings may there be?
Sometimes she re-directs me and sometimes I think she wants to laugh at my impulsiveness but she restrains herself and simply says, well let's pray about this. I believe that's the difference...re-direction is in love and is tempered with patience and grace. Wouldn't it be great if we would all react to one another in that manner. Funny how the Lord lets me know how silly I was being. When the truth comes from our Lord, it doesn't hurt as much. Sometimes He gives us both the same ideas. But it's only when we come together to share that we learn that he's placed the ideas in both our hearts.
This is the same kind of agitation I wish for you.
Interestingly, when the woman was brought to Jesus, he DIDN'T say, well you blew it, you messed up really bad but we may be able to make something good out if it. Nope, what he DID say was, "Woman, where are your accusers?"
Since there was no one there to accuse her, he DID say "nor do I". "Go and sin no more." Remember who accuses you - the enemy and yourself (and you more than the enemy).
I give you permission to change, change the things in your life that you can change, I encourage you have the peace of mind to accept the things that you cannot change and I pray for you to have the wisdom to know the difference.
That may seem like a bold statement. But sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to grow and change, other times we need a push to cause us to go into motion, and still other times we need affirmation from someone else. Well, hang in here with me till you get to the end, I think you may understand a little better then.
I used what is known as the "Prayer of Serenity" when I was giving you 'permission'. "Lord, grant me the COURAGE to change the things that I can, to SERENITY or peace to accept the things that I can not change and the WISDOM to know the difference.
It's a simple prayer, but the impact of it-oh my. Without his COURAGE and strength some things would be difficult to change, others would be down right impossible to change. Without his help it would be so hard to maintain PEACE while having to accept the fact that I have no power to stop cancer or lung disease or control the excercising of another persons will. And without God's WISDOM how would I ever be able to know what needs changed let alone how to change it.
Just now, as I wrote that sentence I sensed a helpless feeling, an overwhelmed feeling. Have you ever felt helpless or overwhelmed? At that time did you fall back into Jesus or did you try to stand-alone? I've done both and I'm telling you --what a difference when I would fall back into Jesus! Not only could I face what I needed to face but also I had peace about what I needed to do next. Do you know that he is standing behind you? Whispering in your ear, "I'm here, you're not alone! You can do it. You've searched out the wisdom of others, prayed it through, you know what you need to do - now go and do it. I'm going with you."
Are you like some who have spoken to me saying that they KNOW what they want to do? Perhaps with your life - marriage, vocation, vacation whatever. My first question, have you prayed about it? Have you shared this with your spouse, Christians who have walked in their faith for a time? Have you asked them to pray with you about this? Have YOU taken the time to talk to your Heavenly Father about it?
Do you remember being taught to make the + and - list to help in making decisions? Question: "What possible outcomes may there be?" "What blessings may there be?" Remember that if you're fighting God's will he just may allow you to have your own way, is that what you want? "Would you really want to stand on you own in this matter?" If you take the time to pray this through 1 on 1 with your Heavenly Father and with Christians that you respect you may become firmer in your conviction or you may decide that you were on a wrong track. Peace of mind comes when you know God's will and that only comes with quite conversation with Pa Pa God.
We weren't created to stand-alone. God has provided others to walk with us to ENCOURAGE us. We lose when we don't appreciate and make use of this very precious gift. And don't forget - he's given us a way to Him to come BOLDLY into his presence to share our hopes and dreams, our fears and concerns.
Are you standing alone outside in the coldness of this life and world or does the warmth of God's presence and Christian fellowship and friendships surround you?
If so what can you do to change that?