The Write Encouragement

Phil 1:3-4

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;



How many words do you speak throughout a given day compared to the words that you write? One estimation of our spoken words reports that a woman speaks approximately 8000 words a day, and a man speaks about 6000 words. These estimates outnumber our written words by far--even though Internet messaging goes on 24/7. Is it any surprise that sometimes we can't remember what we said or what someone else said? The power of the written word cannot be underestimated.

God valued the written word and gave us the Bible as His letter of encouragement--a permanent record of His love and concern for us. Many of the books in the New Testament are letters, known as epistles, written to churches and individuals. It's interesting to note that when the apostle Paul wrote a letter, he consistently began with a word of encouragement (Romans 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Written encouragement conveys a thoughtful investment of your time. Why not take a minute and think of someone you know who needs a word of encouragement today. They won't forget it!

Written encouragement is one of the most effective tools God has given to His children.
David Jeremiah

From: Turning Points Devotional Magazine Dr. David Jeremiah

Selfishness (An Egocentric Lifestyle)

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Having children was not easy for Sean and Carolyn Savage, so in February of 2009, they attempted to have another child through in vitro fertilization (IVF). They soon discovered they were pregnant, but mistakenly with another couple's embryo. The Savages made a selfless decision--to give this baby a life--life with his biological parents.1

Often we're surprised when we read stories like this. We live in a world filled with self-centered people...a world that teaches a person has a right to do whatever they please to further their own desires. In fact, "self-centered" is not the preferred word any longer, most prefer "egocentric" to describe this self-proclaimed way of living. Sadly, egocentric thinking is accepted and even promoted by many today.

So how were the Savages able to act so selflessly? As Carolyn said, "We tried to focus on the gift, not the loss." Serving others in selflessness costs us something, but there is always a reward. .When we make the choice to live by the Spirit, rather than our flesh, our lives speak the simple words, "GLU" (God loves you).

Self-serving needs are not meant to be satisfied; they are meant to be put to death.
Edward T. Welch

1cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/seancarolynsavage030311.aspx

From: Turning Points Devotional Magazine
Dr. David Jeremiah

Think "Encouragement"

Colossians 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;


Jonas Salk, the great scientist and discoverer of the vaccine against polio, understood how to think and work with confidence. He was once asked, "How does this outstanding achievement, which has effectively brought an end to the word ‘polio' in our vocabulary, cause you to view your 200 previous failures?"

"I have never had 200 failures in my whole life," he replied. "My family didn't think in terms of failure. They taught in terms of experiences and what could be learned. I just made my 201st discovery, and I couldn't have made it without learning from the previous 200 experiences."

Salk's example is illustrative to the Christian life. To support and encourage others we have to stay encouraged ourselves; and we have to learn to think, believe, and live with assurance and conviction. Based on the promises of God, we have every reason to be optimistic. It's the uplifting "can-do" attitude of a biblical encourager that stokes the flames of God's work in the lives of others.

Learn to think "encouragement."

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Thomas Edison

From Turning Points Devotional with Dr. David Jeremiah

If You Don't Write It Down...

Philemon 1:19

In a popular Tom Clancy novel, one of the characters continually jotted notes in a small notebook. "You have to get used to me," she said apologetically. "Whenever I have an idea, I write it down right away." It isn't safe, she explained, to entrust important matters to memory alone, adding, "If you don't write it down, then it never happened."1

Perhaps that's not literally true, but the point is valid. The written word is a powerful way of encouraging others. It can be anything from an ordinary note to a friend to an autobiographical account of your life and testimony for your children and descendants. When something is written, it achieves greater permanence in its effect. Some people keep precious messages of encouragement on their refrigerators for years, or inserted in their Bibles, or filed with their keepsakes. Even email and blogs are helpful in this regard, though nothing can quite replace ink on paper when the hand that is writing it is yours.

Who can you encourage with a written word today?

Share your stories with your children over and over. They need to hear them more than once in order to really remember them.
J. Darline Peipman, in her commentary on the Book of Ruth

1Tom Clancy, Debt of Honor (New York: Berkley, 1994), 581.

Prayer Request

I ask all those who will, please pray for my sister. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour about five years ago. She found out that she has stage tree a cancer and is going through chemo and will start radiation soon.

She is up beat about it all and loves the Lord. I just ask that you pray for God's will in her life.

Thank you for your support.

Louis