Son of Encouragement

Have you ever read the verse in Matthew 7:16 that says “By their fruits you will recognize them”?  Basically this means you can tell how someone really is by the way the world sees them through their actions.  This could further be explained by someone who really is a sports enthusiast.  This person lives, breathes, and dreams about a certain sport--say football--and you cannot be in his/her presence without hearing how great the Dallas Cowboys are, what a fine quarterback Dak Prescott is and how well he and Ezekiel Elliott mesh, and about Jerry Jones and Tony Romo and what they mean to the team.  

Now me, personally, I have been a Cowboys fan for quite a while now.  My loyalty is secure in them and has been since the days of Troy Aikman.  Jimmy Johnson?  One of the best coaches ever!  However, there are some folks whose favorite teams aren’t doing as well this year (ahem, Virginia) and they are seeking a new team to follow to the Super Bowl.  Why not jump on the Cowboy Bandwagon? Everyone knows they are America’s team, right?  And who doesn’t love a winner!  Also, there has been much hype about this connection that Ezekiel and Dak have found.  Their chemistry on the field is one for the record books, and justifiably so.  They are on a roll right now and they are the ones to watch.

So, what is this to me?  Well, as I said, I’ve been a diehard Cowboys fan for most of my life.  But as I was reading in Acts this week, another fella has stood out to me.  His name is Joses.  Never heard of him?  Or, like me, you kind of skimmed over his name in favor of the other giants (pun intended) like Peter and John?  That’s why it’s a good idea to pay better attention to the scriptures!  

I actually read this story earlier in the week but purposed to go back because of one phrase that really caught my eye:  “Son of Encouragement.”  Wow!  What a nickname.  Here, read it yourselves and see what I mean:

“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,”

Now you know as well as I do that there are a lot of folks in the Bible who have done some powerful and wonderful things, as well as for those whose names are listed in a less-favorable way for things that...Well, let’s just say weren’t so great.  Did these peoples get nicknames?  Let’s see:  there was Jacob--the deceiver.  David--a man after God’s heart.  John--the disciple Jesus loved.  And who could forget the Sons of Thunder (I wonder if mom was alive to tell the tale what stories we would be privy to that caused them to achieve this nickname)?  What about Rahab--the harlot.  Ouch!  That one kind of stings, huh?

I’m sure there are many more but Joses (also translated as Joseph) must have really made some impression to the early disciples to be called Barnabas.  Wonder what he did that was so special?  My husband is referred to by a certain woman at church as “Smiley” because--you guessed it--he smiles a lot.  Was Joses a friendly fella?  He must’ve been.  Generous?  Oh yeah:  he sold his land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  Do you think he was trying to buy his way into their good graces, to pay for their favor?  Mmmn, I don’t think so.  Although, I must say, being supportive is definitely a trait that draws others to you.  I mean, who doesn’t enjoy getting a high-five for a job well done or pats on the back after a harrowing speech or an understanding look when those around just don’t seem to get what you are trying to teach?

Barnabas went on to be named as an apostle and journeyed with Paul at times.  You can read more of his story as you wander through your studies and when you do, remember:  he was called the “Son of Encouragement.”  When people read your story (and trust me, although it may not be written down on parchment, you are still being known through your daily walk), what will they remember about you?  What nickname will come to mind?  Hopefully, it will be a positive one!  And if for some reason you have been stuck with a label that is no longer appropriate for who you are now?  My prayer is that God will allow you to be used to show your new name that has been written down in glory and that you too will be honored with a name that brings a smile to those who hear it.

Let’s pray now!

Dear Lord, in my own life I have been called many names, some of which are still hurtful as I recall them.  Yet through Your great mercy and love, those names no longer apply to me and I get to be known as Your child.  Ahh, what a relief there is in being called a Christian, for it means I have been with You!

Father, for those who are still hindered by their pasts, I ask a special blessing today for them.  May they be seen through Your eyes as others look upon them today?  May Your light shine through them so that, as Brandon Heath sang, others can see that they too aren’t who they used to be:  that in You, they are a new creation?  

Thank You, Lord, for lessons in life.  Although we cannot rewrite history, we can change how we will be remembered and how we are known.  May we find our strength and our well-being in You is my prayer today, Lord.  I love You so much!  Amen.

Fifteen Words

As Steve and I were discussing life the other day, this idea came to me. How long does it take to write down fifteen words--whether in an email, Facebook note, or even to just jot down on a piece of paper? Less than a minute!

Just wanted you to know
I miss you and am
thinking of you. Love, me

One minute to offer hope, friendship, and affirmation to someone who may be struggling to feel as though anyone even cares?! Today I challenge you to send a note like this to one friend you may not have been in touch with lately. To one soul who maybe isn't it your realm anymore--whether that be church, your employment place, or your social set. To one family member who got lost in the shuffle. To one you miss and didn't even realize how much until just now.

Fifteen words. One minute. Untold value.

What is it about her?

Today's picture has been provided by my new friend Anne Payne. For more inspiration from her and her photos, visit here:  http://annepayne.blogspot.com

Let me tell you a thing or two, by the way, about Anne. Let's start with how we met. Well, hmn, wait a minute, Stef. Our paths crossed via Facebook. I had heard of Anne via my friend Charmeyne. Lastly, I finally met Anne in church a couple of Sundays ago as she visited with us at Clarks Chapel. Our souls instantly connected and we hugged as if lifelong friends. But there's only so much you can do in a moment of fellowship so I did what any other normal (??!) red-blooded woman would do: I stalked her Facebook page when I got home!

If you think I am kidding, you would be wrong. Now, before you judge and write me off as bat-crazy, let's talk about this. Why do people have Facebook pages anyway? Mmn hmn: to let the world know about their lives. The pics they post, the notes they write, the comments that make all work together to give the outside world an inside view of what makes this person who s/he is.

So, the more I "peeked" the more my curiosity was piqued. Her photos caught my eye and as I viewed them, I noticed Anne had another site so, of course, I went there and got to know even more about this beautiful woman who was fast stealing a place into my heart. After reading a few of her posts and intruding into her life, I sent her a note, telling her I just had to know more! Thankfully, she didn't call 911 on me and instead, we met for lunch later that week. We spent nearly six hours together as we chatted, laughed, and shared things with one another that we both rarely have opened up to others about.

Yesterday and the day before, I blogged about sharing your talents so that others would be interested in you and why you create what you share. I want to encourage you again today, friends, to keep sharing. I want you to keep doodling in your Bible journals and letting us see little pieces of your hearts there. I want you to keep writing your thoughts down--chaotic as they may be--so that we get an insight into your soul. When something annoys you or makes you mad, I want you to express that so that we care enough to go deeper and figure out why that particular thing had such an impact on you.

I had this blog planned out last night and this is not exactly where I thought I'd go. I was going to point out to you various famous people who--through whatever skills and talents they had--caught our attention and made us want to know them more. Celebrity is intriguing and most of us have that certain someone that when we hear his/her name, drop everything to listen to the latest gossip about that one. I was going to use as my examples folks like Stephen Curry, Chris Pratt, Madison Bumgarner, Denzel Washington, and a few others. Most of us are familiar with these names yet when these guys are studied, we find that not only are they talented--okay, and they aren't hard on the eyes either ;)-- but that they attribute their success to our great God. Using the world as their platforms, they do what they are best at and when others notice them and begin getting to know their backgrounds, they then have the opportunity to share Christ with the world.

Okay, these men are not preachers and don't claim to be "Christians" as their job titles. Instead, they are regular Joes who go in and out each day, doing their jobs, and living lives that invite others to want to know them better. That special quality that they have, that certain je ne sais quoi factor? I think you know what it is. I think you know Who placed it there.

To sum it all up, here's my point. If you share your skills, talents, and gifts with others--even if only through social media--you allow others the opportunity to get to know you better. You quietly express a personality trait that draws man unto you. Whether it's because you teach disabled students and do so with much respect for those special people or whether it's because you paint murals that others ooh and ahh over or even if it's just because you check out your customers in stores, restaurants, and even at call-centers, you do so each time with courtesy and kindness and even though you may NEVER ONCE MENTION THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, your actions speak. Softly. Gently. Convincingly and with conviction.

So, keep shining, friends. Keep letting that glory peep out of you. Be famous and unashamed of your talents for they often are the stepping stone that leads others to a closer walk with Jesus. Open those consignment stores and let those who can't afford the things of the world at full price to be sold at prices that reflect fairness and dignity. Bake those cakes and let others see the time is not wasted as you mix, stir, and pray over the ones who will be consuming them. Be the one who keeps doing the work behind the scenes for I assure you, it is being seen and appreciated and noted. Lastly, remember this prayer:

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Thanks for reading today! That is all. wink emoticon

Happy birthday to me!

June 18, 2015

Tomorrow is Wandering Through The Bible's second birthday.  Can you believe it?  For two whole years I have been sharing and baring my heart and soul with you as I have sought to have a closer relationship with my Father God and my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  

Oh the words I have written--and deleted--as my thoughts have wandered to and fro!  Topics have included things such as mothers, daughters, husbands, friends, fellowship, failures, guarding the tongue and captivating the thoughts.  Inspiration has come from my hubby, my grandsons, Walmart, dogs, nature, the internet, and messages heard on the radio, in chat rooms, and in church. 

It's been quite a journey.  What started out as a way for a friend and I to continue our morning Bible Study evolved into lessons on how to study the Bible, how to learn that no matter how rotten one thinks she is, there is still One Who redeems and restores.  Sadly, there were times when I'd use this blog as a platform for whatever social incident offended me at the time but even in those incidences, God showed me His grace.  The blog has also been a great way to meet new people.  Prayers have been shared as mutual angst was empathized over.  Encouragement has been sent to those who just need a little pick-me-up.  Posts were frequently shared as a topic hit home to hurting hearts.

All in all, it's been quite the journey.  I am thankful for the opportunity to reach those via Facebook that I may never see this side of heaven.  I am grateful for the support of many of you who comment on my page and/or send me notes to encourage.  Mostly though, I am afraid.  I am afraid that this huge responsibility will be overshadowed by my opinions and thoughts rather than being led by those of our Lord.  Yes, some would argue, it's "my blog" and I should be able to write whatever I please.  But this is not so, friends.  

The power to use my talent of expressing what others are also thinking into sentences and paragraphs is one that I do not take lightly.  I used to but I have come quite a ways since June 19, 2013.  Losing my mother and the after-effects of the greatest betrayal I'd ever faced was...it was wrenching.  There was much anger, hurt, and so many mixed emotions going on, not to mention all of the lies and whispers of the devil.  For a while there, I was quite a mess but through this blog and the wondrous grace of God, I was able to work through my grief and loss and see the bigger picture.  God's good that way, isn't He? He allows His children time to mourn and to heal and then, finally, to grow.  To go on.  To see that what happens down here is temporary--even though at times it feels like the pain will never stop.

Writing has been therapeutic for me and I thank God that He has allowed me to share my hurts and achievements with you, dear readers.  As the next year of blogging begins tomorrow, my hope is that I will continue to inspire, motivate, and encourage you all through my struggles and lessons learned so that you too can heal.  You too can let it go (whatever your "it" may be).  My prayer is that you hold on tighter to Jesus than ever before and that you know--you know--He's got you and He's not letting go.  Let's pray together now, shall we?

Oh dear Father, what a joy it has been to write my heart for all the world to see.  Scary, yes.  The risk of ridicule, the fear of no one caring, the taunts of Satan that I was just making a fool out of myself?  All of those emotions ran the gamut of my thoughts, Lord, as I endeavoured to share my soul in hopes of helping someone else through her darknesses.

Lord, as the next year begins, my prayer is that others too will find release and relief in words.  Not just mine (although I hope my readers will multiply and my territory expand).  No, Lord, my real hope is that through Your Word, through Your teachers, through Your singers, and through Your people that more eyes turn to Christ than ever before.  How we need Him, Father!  This world is so crushing at times that it's all some of us can do to take the next breath, to put that one foot in front of the other and keep walking.  And for some, Lord, it's harder still to just stand up and...stand.

Help us, I pray, Lord God, to seek You first in our days.  Remind us with Your songs and with the quotes we see plastered all over Facebook that no matter how rocky the road, You are walking right there beside of us, already knowing what lies ahead.

Finally, Lord, thank You.  You have been so longsuffering with me as I have tried to make sense out of things that just didn't always add up.  You have been gentle with me when I have been petulant.   You have tenderly held me when it seemed no one else cared.  You have been, You are still, so good to me.  Thank You for loving me when others didn't.  Thank You for loving me in spite of myself.  Thank You for being You.  I love You, Lord.  In the name of Jesus I conclude.  Amen.