Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Stamina to say what needs to be said








Currently Reading



Text in a Whirlwind: A Critique of Four Exegetical Devices at 1 Timothy 2.9-15 (Journal for the Study of the New Testament. Supplement Series, 196.) John Mark Holmes

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. ~Jim Stovall

The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged. ~Ovid

Appreciation can make a day - even change a life, Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. ~Margaret Cousins

Do you hear yourself say things again and again like this...?



Cracked me up! A mom's work is never done and a mom's sentence is never finished.
When my family was listening to this, they each laughed out loud at different places...something just tickled their funny bone more than other statements. ("That's you mom" or "I've heard that more than once")

Although you may not have a soundtrack accompaniment to deliver your words of guidance (but wouldn't that be super cool?!.), continue to share your words of hope. People are turning to you, formally and informally, for your perspective, your input, your guidance. Let your language be seasoned with God's grace.

You may feel like you are saying the same things again and again, and no one is hearing them. No one seems to pay attention to what you are sharing. But keep giving encouragement, continue bringing hope.

Your spouse needs to hear hope from you. Your siblings need to hear encouragement from you. Your friends need to hear praise from you. Your children need to hear love from you. Your neighbors need to hear understanding from you. Your colleagues need to hear patience and flexibility from you. Pray to God that He will be the influence over your words, your speaking.

Keep saying the words, God's words, that need to be heard. Keep reaffirming that someone of their personal beauty, both inside and out. Say it again and again and again...it needs to be heard! Share the love of Jesus and God's desire to draw people close to Him. Say it again and again and again...it needs to be heard! Avoid being subtle and try to segue Jesus into your conversation, be transparent about your sharing of the Gospel. Share the story of salvation from sin with a friend who needs to know God. Continually offer the story of God's love, evangelizing this family invitation to become a child of God. Continue to encourage the strength which is shown, especially through weakness.

Use every opportunity to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative - there is too much despair in this world and not enough hope.

"Because, because, because, because!"

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9-10 NIV



2 comments:

Nancy Mon said...

My friend Lisa P is good friends with Anita. From everything Lisa has said, Anita is down to earth and very funny. I love this song. I wish I had thought of it.Only I am not a mom. :)

Marta Ager said...

Hello! We are needing to quote this verse a lot here in the UK..