Encouraging Words for Today

It’s been a busy week. Doctor’s appointments, meetings, chores – the list went on and on. Sometimes I wasn’t sure whether I was coming or going. With so many things to do it was hard to know where to start. Trying to get so many things done made it feel like I wasn’t getting anything done at all.

Martha had this same problem. Jesus and the disciples were visiting and there was so much to do. Food to prepare, the table to set, dishes to be done. She was so distracted and distressed she hardly had time to think. But while Martha rushed around, “her sister, Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.” (Luke 10:39 NLT).

Frustrated, Martha complained, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” (v. 40). But Jesus just smiled and replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (vs. 41-42 NKJV).

In this busy world, with so many demands on our time and resources, it’s easy to forget there is only one thing that really matters in the long run – your relationship with Jesus. Everything else is secondary and temporary. A life lived with Jesus is the only life that never ends.

This Sabbath, don’t be a Martha, distracted by all the things you need to do. Instead, follow Mary’s example and do the one thing that really matters – come sit at Jesus’ feet.

I love music, but I don’t have the greatest singing voice. In academy, where almost anyone could get into the main choir, I was one of the few who didn’t make the cut. I can’t blame the music teacher too much. My audition was pretty bad. I can understand why she wouldn’t want to hear me day-after-day trying to keep up with the rest of the choir.

There is one Person, however, who loves to hear me sing. My Heavenly Father thinks I have a beautiful voice, especially when it is raised in praise to Him. As I walk along in the early morning, thinking about God’s many blessings and enjoying the beauty of a new day, my heart is filled with joy and I, like David, “burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). My voice may not sound great to human ears, but my Father cherishes every note.

This morning God would love to hear from you too. Don’t worry how melodious your voice may or may not be. Just lift your voice in praise, “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…and making music to the Lord in your hearts…give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

To your Heavenly Father, it is not the quality of your voice that matters, but the sincerity of your heart and the depth of your love. So, go ahead! Belt it out! Today “glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.” (Job 36:24). Let Him know what He means to you. I promise, every note you sing will be music to His ears.

I remember backpacking with my father and brothers up Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks of New York. We had an amazing time, just enjoying each other’s company and hiking through that beautiful company. But, man, those packs would get heavy by the end of the day! We’d come to regret packing that extra set of clothes and that book to read late at night. Those things that had seemed so essential when we started out just weighed us down the longer we hiked.

Anyone who has ever done any backpacking knows that the lighter you make your pack the easier the journey. The same is true in our journey through life. In Hebrews 12:1 we are told to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set for us>”

Before we can “run with endurance the race” called life, we must first “strip off the weight that slows us down…”. We must set down our burdens of regret, the habits we cling to, “the sin that so easily trips us up.” We must give these things to Jesus and let Him carry them for us.Only we do this, can we truly succeed in this race called life and someday cross the finish line to our heavenly Home.

What burdens are you carrying today? What sin is tripping you up?. Let it go! Set your burdens down at Jesus feet. Then run! Run the race set before you, knowing Jesus will run with you every step of the way.

I generally avoid politics like the plague in this blog. I’ve made the mistake of expressing my opinion a few times in the past and I still have the scars to prove it! Politics gets people’s hackles up, brings out emotions long buried, and, if we are not careful, can divide not just our country, but churches and families too.

So, I won’t be endorsing any candidate or championing any political party’s platform. I have my opinions, but I’ll keep them to myself. I will, however, ask you one question. It’s the same question Jesus asked Andrew and John after they’d abandoned John the Baptist to chase after Him. The question is, “What do you seek?” (John 1:38 NKJV).

“What do you seek?” That is the question Jesus is asking each of us today. “What do you seek?” Peace? Forgiveness? Direction? Purpose? Hope for tomorrow? We each are seeking something different, but everything we are seeking is wrapped up in one Person – Jesus Christ.

Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6 NLT). He alone is the answer to our every need, to the deepest longings of our hearts. It is only in surrender to Him we can find ultimate victory and a hope for a better tomorrow.

Political candidate’s will in the end always disappoint, but Jesus will always come through. Political slogans and political causes will come and go, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

So, the question comes to you again today, “What do you seek?” Or perhaps the real question is, “WHOM do you seek?” Seek Jesus and find in Him everything you’ve been looking for. Vote Him in as Lord of your life today. A vote for Him is never wasted, because only He will never let you down.

My wife is an amazing cook, which is one reason I weigh 28 pounds more now than when we first got married (at one time that number was 43 pounds, but let’s not go there). I’m always looking forward to what she’ll come up with next, because it’s always incredible.

Every good cook needs an official Taste Tester, a role I dutifully (and eagerly) play in our home. In spite of the fact that I chow down almost everything Ana cooks, sometimes she still needs reassurance. That’s when she will take a spoonful of whatever she is making and stick it in my mouth, commanding, “Taste this!”. Now, my momma didn’t raise no fool! I know a good deal when I see it. This is one command I always obey, knowing anything Ana has made will be delicious.

The Bible tells us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8 NLT). Every day, our Heavenly Father is preparing new wonders for us to behold, new delights to feed the hunger of our souls. It may be the song of a bird in the trees, the scent of wildflowers in the breeze, or a beautiful sunrise on the horizon. Perhaps it is the smile of a stranger, the laughter of a child, or the sweet taste of an orange on our lips. Whatever it is, one thing is certain – it will be good.

Even on those dark days, when disappointments and mistakes leave a bad taste in our mouths, God still invites us to taste and see that He is good, to open our Bibles and taste His words, for “they are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.” (Psalm 19:10). He bids us open our eyes and see His hand at work in our lives, causing “everything to work together for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28).

This morning God is cooking up something special for you to enjoy. Trust Him, just like I trust Ana. Don’t hesitate. Just “Open your mouth wide, and [He] will fill it with good things.” (Psalms 81:10). Today, taste and see for yourself – the Lord is good!

I love to work with my hands and I’ve got quite a collection of tools to prove it. With those tools I’ve built custom cabinets, remodeled houses, and created beautiful intarsia, using pieces of different colored woods to create 3-D mosaics, such as an eagle in flight or a woodland scene. The fact is, I’m never happier than when I have a tool in my hands.

The thing about tools is, you have to use them or you’ll lose them. If you leave a tool stored away in a box or you fail to keep it maintained, it will deteriorate and become useless. Moisture will get in, causing it to rust, or the blade will become dull, leaving it useless.

The same is true of the talents God has given us. Our talents are wonderful tools we can use to bring joy to others and make our world a better place, but if left unused they lose their edge and fade away, becoming useless to us and the world.

In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of 3 servants whose master entrusted with different amounts of talents (money), “to each according to his own ability…” (v. 15 NKJV). Then the master left, expecting the servants to put the talents to use.

Two of them did, earning their master’s praise on his return, but one buried his talent in the ground. The master was livid, calling him a “wicked and lazy servant” (v. 26). The master took the talent from the lazy servant and gave it to a faithful one, knowing he would put it to good use.

God has given each of us some talent, some tool, to use for Him. Some have received many tools and others just a few. For some, their only talent is time, but even that can be used in God’s service and to help others.

No matter how many or how few, we each have the responsibility to put those tools to use for the good of others and to advance God’s kingdom. If we don’t use our talents, they’ll deteriorate and become useless, just like those tools rusting away in a box in my garage.

Someday soon Jesus is coming back. Until then I want to put the tools He’s given me to use for Him, improving them and using them for His glory, and “make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5 NLT). I hope you will do the same, so that on that day, together, we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

I love the Fall! The bright morning sunlight, the crisp fall air, the cooler temperatures, all tell me that change is coming. I feel invigorated, released from the heat of summer, looking forward to the days ahead.

My favorite part of Fall is, of course, the beautiful colors of the leaves. All summer long the trees have kind of blended together, all wearing the same dark green, making it difficult to tell where one tree ends and another begins. But those first cool nights of fall hit, change begins to happen. The dropping temperatures stress the leaves, but this only serves to bring out the beauty which was hidden within. Suddenly, each leaf is unique, each tree displays its unique palette of color.

At one time or another adversity comes to each of us. Like the falling temperatures of autumn, hardship stresses our resolve. How we respond tells a lot about what (or Whom) we have inside. Will the stress cause us to wither away or will it allow our inner beauty, the beauty of a Christ-like character, to shine through?

James 1 tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (vs 1-4 NIV).

Today, when things don’t go quite your way, don’t give up, but “Consider it pure joy…”. God is at work, testing you, refining you, “that the proven genuineness of your faith…may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7). Let Him do His work, that your true beauty may be revealed, that beauty “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27).

Have you ever been driving down the road, just enjoy the trip, when a detour sign suddenly appears? Before you know it you’re headed off some side street headed away from where you want to be. Detours are a pain!

Right now there’s a lot of road resurfacing being done in Walla Walla. As I drive around town I run into one detour sign after another, all seeming to point me away from where I want to go. It can be frustrating!

Sometimes life can feel like that. You set off in one direction, with a goal in mind, only to run into a detour that sends you down a completely different path or makes it take longer to get where you wanted to go. You fuss and fume at the change, but you have no choice but to follow where the signs are leading.

The thing we forget about detours is they’re there for a reason. They steer us away from danger, directing us around obstacles, and show us a better way. If we will trust in the engineers who created them, detours may actually get us where we’re headed a lot faster than if we just barged ahead, ignoring the signs.

Our Heavenly Father tells us in Isaiah 48:17, “I am the Lord you God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Sometimes God puts detours in our path, which can be frustrating from our limited human perspective, but He sees the end from the beginning and always directs us in the way that is best for us in the long run.

Today, put your trust in the Father. He knows what He’s doing. When He puts a detour in your way, instead of getting frustrated, follow His leading. If you do, you will never lose your way, and someday you’ll end up where you wanted to be all along – safe in your Heavenly Home.

When I started Encouraging Words for Today several years ago, I didn’t realize how often I would be the one needing encouragement. Trying to come up with an encouraging word day-after-day can be a challenge, especially when life throws you a curve and it’s hard to just put one foot in front of the other, let alone string two words together in a sentence.

There have been times when days and even months have gone by without me posting, because I just had nothing to give. But then someone will express appreciation for something I’ve written or said and that’s just what I need to get started again.

That’s what happened a couple days ago. It’d been a busy week and I’d missed posting several times. Feeling a little discouraged, I was talking to a neighbor when, just as the conversation was winding down, he said, “Oh, by the way, I read your column regularly.”

“Column?” I asked. “Oh do you mean my blog, EncouragingWordsForToday.com?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve always believed in God, but He’s been just someone I just call on when I need something. What you’ve written has made me think I need to get closer to Him.”

I was blown away! I didn’t even remember telling him about my blog, but here he was telling me it had made a difference for him. His words were just the encouragement I needed after the rough week I’d had. Right then, I determined to get back to writing as soon as I could, sharing an encouraging word, just like he’d done for me.

The Bible tells us to “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). The fact of the matter is, we each need each other. We’re all on this journey together. This world can be a discouraging place and you may never know what a difference an encouraging word will make in someone else’s life today.

So, thank you Gary, for speaking up. I really needed it. And let’s all follow his example today and “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’…” (Hebrews 3:13). Don’t be shy!
Speak up! Because even “encouragers” need an encouraging word now and then.

Every patient I see in the clinic where I work gets printed Aftercare Instructions. These contain my recommendations for what medicines they should take and how they should care for themselves so they can get over whatever condition they came in for. If they follow these instructions carefully they have a good chance of feeling better soon.

Sometimes, however, I think Aftercare Instructions are just a waste of paper. Why? A study was done several years ago found the most common item in the trash outside Urgent Care Centers or ER’s was Aftercare Instructions. These patients came to see a doctor, spent hundreds of dollars, and then throw away his advice! Crazy!

Don’t we all do this, however? We come to the Heavenly Physician, seeking healing and relief from our illnesses, our worries and cares, our guilt, and He welcomes us, declaring, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37 NIV). He listens to our complaints, then, through His Word, provides us with Aftercare Instructions which, if followed, could change our lives.

And what do we do? We throw away His advice, ignoring His instructions, and choosing to continue stumbling along, doing our own thing. Then we wonder why our lives are such a mess. And who gets the blame? God.

It doesn’t have to be this way. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

In the Bible God has given us everything we need to lead happy fulfilling lives. If we follow His Aftercare Instructions, we can find healing for our wounded souls and hope for a better tomorrow. Today, don’t throw away His advice. Open His Word, follow His instructions, and there’s a good chance you’ll be feeling better soon.