A Little Encouragement

Encouragement always seems to come just when it is needed most. Never too early and never too late. God's timing is perfect.

Today I received a note on facebook from my sister who happens to be one of my best friends. I won't bore you with details, but what she told me meant so much to me. I have been going through a rough patch in my relationship with God. I have been feeling attacked on all sides without backup. But she told me that two very special people, very faithful people with whom I relate well and respect are praying for the me and the calling I have been given. I cried as I read those words. This morning I picked up my Bible to seek God for the first time in too long and then I logged onto facebook to see this message from my sister and God's amazing timing just blew me away. He is perfect. He always knows what I need to hear and when hearing it will mean the most to me.

Encouragement is not something I am conservative with. I guess what it boils down to is I know I need encouragement, and I know how much it has meant to me to be encouraged. So I try to be as genuine as possible in my liberal distribution of encouragement. What really is encouragement though? The word courage lies at the heart of it. I don't know the linguistical particulars, but this is my interpretation. When you encourage someone it is like giving a little courage to them. Even when they have enough of their own, sometimes that first step needs a little kernel of someone else's courage just to get some momentum
.
So today I will leave this room and go out encouraged. And I will encourage those who may be floundering. I will bless others with what I have been blessed with. Be encouraged. Whether you are the only person who reads this or not. Whether you read it today or in 100 years. "Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." Victor Hugo

So encourage and be encouraged. God is not asleep.

"Only the Beginning of the Adventure...."

I have been spending a great deal of time fine-tuning what this blog looks like, and though still not completely satisfied, I feel the need to post my very first blog post. Now that I am here, typing in this box, I wonder. What do I write? I have so many thoughts to express. I wonder. Why am I doing this? I mean really. I should get a good dose of reality. No one wants to read about what I think. I should just quit now so I am not disappointed when nothing happens. Then my expectations would be met.

I could have avoided a great many disappointments had I been able to end my thoughts there in the past. But something in me, well, it has hope. My imagination flies hoping the tendrils of my thoughts will touch the heart of another person. My qualm is in the question of why I am doing this. I struggle to know if this for myself or for the potential people who may be given hope, encouragement or whatever it is people get by reading blogs.

I do not want it to be for myself, but I do not think I can help it being a little bit for me. That is why I was going to keep myself anonymous. "There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it does not matter who gets the credit." Whoever said this was a very wise person. I am always working on becoming better about it, letting God change my heart to be more and more unselfish. I guess what I am trying to say is that this is for you.

So there it is. My very first post. My heart is pounding with the potential-but my mind is cautious and fearful. If anyone is out there reading this, I thank you from the very bottom of my humble heart. Thank you, Harry Gregson-Williams, for the title of this post. May all of you have a pleasant and lovely day!