Encouragement, Madea style
This week we are going to deal with encouragement and I want to hear from you. I am going to encourage you with this little video showing encouragement Madea style.
After watching and laughing out loud, I want you to answer a question. Usually I do all the talking on this blog, but this week I am going to do the listening. Now I know you are out there, and I know many of you read this blog. If you just read that sentence you have been recorded as a viewer of this blog so now you have to move from viewer to active participant. Here is the question for this week:
What does a life of encouragement look like?
Let’s move past simply saying hi to someone. Wrestle with it for a few minutes and then share your answers/guesses with us all. I know you can do it, (see how encouraging I am being)? This week’s content is up to you, so don’t let us down.
There have been 9 replies so far
A life of encouragement looks like:
A facebook wall turning into a prayer wall.
A card sent to someone who is grieving 6 months after the funeral.
An email to a local city employee who just got his hours cut.
A twitter to the city manager who just had to make the tough decision to cut employees’ hours.
Dinner for a young family trying to make ends meet.
A bag of groceries left on a single mom’s doorstep.
A ride to a doctor’s appointment while listening to the golden oldies radio station for a senior citizen.
A bag of healthy snacks and bottled water for those sitting bedside of a loved one in the hospital…an air mattress,if the hospital allows…oh, and how about a mini-fridge or small ice chest? (Yes, someone really did this for our family!)
A life of encouragement simply requires listening to the Holy Spirit when he whispers someone’s name in your heart’s ear. Whisper back a prayer for them, and then DO something to let the person know that you are praying for them. I know you think you don’t have the time to do these things, but God’s economy of time seems to be at work when you take the time to encourage others. Your time will be multiplied…or maybe it’s just that your priorities are transformed…
1 | Sandy Duke
Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 10:04am
Thanks Sandy, I think you hit the nail on the head. Great thoughts, who is next?
2 | chad Jordan
Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 8:15pm
A life of encouragement, to me, is like watching runners at a marathon being cheered on by the specators. That is what God is like to me. When I feel like I have used all of my energy to educate the youth in my group, the Holy Spirit is calling for me to go on. The voice of God is pushing me with sweet sounds of wisdom to hold strong. A life of Encouragement is one that is supported through faith and has fruits of perserverance. When time’s are hard just having the Spirit of God’s presence in my heart is enough to keep me motivated. Encouragement is also praying for others like Sandy said. Another prayer Group that I sometimes attend places a prayer request board in our private facebook group. Its so assuring to know that other Christians are praying for your needs. It doesn’t make it easier but it does allow you to move on with confidence that others are with you Spiritually.
3 | Djenne Mobley
Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 9:46pm
A life of encouragement to me is listening to someone with my heart so I do not respond with my head but rather with the heart that God is working on everyday.
4 | Richard Corlew
Monday, May 25, 2009, at 11:42pm
A life of encouragement is simply letting people know and realize that They “can do all things through Christ who strengthens them” and further more that “No weapon that is formed against them shall prosper.”
5 | Terrence McClain
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at 9:03am
Speaking of encouragment, I need some. I just joined a Sunday School class back in late February and starting next Sunday, I will be leading the class.
I am looking for advice, comments, stories about how other leaders started out, etc. I really want to spread God’s Good News to those who haven’t heard it and reinforce the Truth to those who have been saved.
Anything you have to share would be appreciated.
Thanks!
6 | Robyn Disney
Monday, June 1, 2009, at 9:11pm
I am not too different than you, I started teaching my class after only about 5 months in attendance.
One thing I suggest is read up, not only the passages in the book, but surrounding texts, more texts about the subject so you have references to draw from.
I also try to only speak for about half of the class time, leaving the other half or more for discussion. At times I find it hard to get people to start talking, that is when I pull out the Jesus football, literally a little football that I wrote Jesus on one side and The Message on the other, and toss it to one person in the class and ask them to share a similar story they heard/saw/read about, then when they are done, they toss the football to someone else who does the same until the football goes all the way around the room.
To be honest though, I was and still am scared every Sunday, I mean I have prepared but I fear that I will lead His lambs astray. So I let the Holy Spirit teach through me and many times at the end of class I say to myself, WOW!!! Did that just happen, how did topic A and topic B get connected by by the work of The Spirit.
In humility and obedience, the Holy Spirit will teach through you, so pray for the Spirit so that you do not teach but God teaches through you.
7 | Richard Corlew
Monday, June 1, 2009, at 10:08pm
Robyn, just remember don’t try to teach like anyone else you have heard teach. Teach how Robyn wants to teach. Don’t compare. Using techniques is different. I struggle with students (I teach college age) not wanting to teach because they say “I can’t teach like you or someone else.” I tell them that is where they are wrong. Find your own groove and pray for God’s wisdom to help you see your areas of strengths and weaknesses.
Jason
8 | Jason
Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 2:48pm
To me a life of encouragement is lived out by shinning the light and hope you have found to those around you. By that I mean you come to a place of living your life in comfort of who and whose you are that inspires other to do the same.
9 | Sara
Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 1:16pm
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