Tag: encouragement

Morning Reading: Acts 14:21-25 NLT – encouragement and appointments

Reading: Acts 14:21-25 NLT

After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers.

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They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make me an encourager. Give me the wisdom when to speak… or not. Make me a strengthener. Give me strength and courage… to give away to others. Make me a servant. Give me discernment… to help identify and annoint servant leaders. Make me a pray-er… to offer myself as a living sacrifice to advance your Kingdom purpose where you have placed me. To you be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”
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There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven: there is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.

For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word; and our life be filled with glory from the glory of the Lord.

“I’m proud of you!”

Luke 3:22b NLT – And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Peanut Gallery: Jesus was a “blessed child.” At both His Baptism and Transfiguration, the Father made a special point of expressing His approval… the Father blessed His Son.

father blesses son israeliThis blessing – “you’re my child and I’m proud of you” – is something we all yearn for. We want it at the end of life from our heavenly Father. And we want it during our lifetime from our earthly fathers.

It’s that earthly blessing that I’m thinking about here… and many of us never receive it.

One of the saddest recent Christmas stories came out of England:

When it comes to Christmas, it might be safe to assume children will ask Santa for an extensive list of toys, games and treats.

But a survey of their typical lists for Father Christmas has shown many have more serious concerns, requesting “a dad” instead…..

Despite their material requests, the tenth most popular Christmas wish on the list was a “Dad”.

For those of us who have/had loving, encouraging, supportive dads, the gain is immeasurable. For those of us who haven’t, the loss is enormous… it’s a hole in us that we long to fill.

If this unfilled longing resonates with you – or if you wonder how you can bless your children and grandchildren – I commend the book, The Blessing, by Trent and Smalley to you. It provides guidance for families seeking to bless their children following a Biblical model. And it provides healing and help for those of us who have been “looking for love in all the wrong places. “

At a family gathering a few years ago – our 2 kids, their spouses, and 8 grandchildren – we made a special effort to bless our family.

While they all watched, we singled out each of our kids and their spouses, laid hands on them and told them what we saw in them that made them special to us… and how proud we were of them. Then we asked them to do the same for each one of their children. We all prayed together and then had a fun and games evening.

Our kids are spread around the world now, but we continue the practice with them – and now our grandkids – whenever we can.

“A family blessing begins with meaningful touching. It continues with a spoken message of high value, a message that pictures a special future for the individual being blessed, and one that is based on an active commitment to see the blessing come to pass.”

Dr. Gary Smalley;Dr. John Trent. The Blessing (p. 30). Kindle Edition.

Check out Trent and Smalley’s book – The Blessing – there’s even a workbook available for anyone who wants to go deeper. You and your family will all be the better for it.