August 19, 2019 – Click here to listen
I tend to think often of my failures in life and not my triumphs. I was thinking of this problem this morning and my thoughts went to some of the positive things, indeed miraculous things I’ve accomplished, and some are very impressive. I do not say this to boast but to encourage. I truly believe that most people are held back by their low self-esteem. I had an especially bad case of it. My father and others had drilled into my head since I was a tiny little kid that I was stupid, a black sheep, and would never amount to anything. When I read the Bible and became a Christian in Philippians 4:13 God said the opposite. He said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I decided to take the advice of almighty God and ignore the destructive remarks from those around me and went on to accomplish many great things in life with my family and finance, and of course in my walk with God.
I often wonder how I might have fared if I had been encouraged as a youngster. Though it was tough being laughed at and mocked as a kid, it did bring about an inward resolve to prove to myself and them that I could actually accomplish big things through Christ. Perhaps it is the only way I might have done what I did. One thing sure it taught me that Christ is the greatest source of hope that there is bar none.
Do you encourage your kids and grandkids? I saw a video over the weekend of a 12 year old girl who was shy and introverted. She saw a ventriloquist in church and wanted to give it a try as a remedy for her shy ways. Her mother bought her a ventriloquist’s bunny which she named Petunia. I strongly urge you to watch this video. I don’t know if it is just me or not, but my eyes leaked quite a bit when I watched it. (Oh, what the heck, tears streamed down my face as I wept watching her perform with her bunny.)
If this little girl had not seen the ventriloquist act in church and her mother had not encouraged her by buying the bunny for her 10th birthday, her life might be quite different now and for the rest of her days on this earth. God saw to it that she got her encouragement.
Encourage someone today won’t you?
Hebrews 10:24
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”