Today is the National Day of Encouragement.   I follow a blog that is all about encouraging others and it is ironically called, (in)courage.  Sometime last week they tossed out an offer.  The first 400 people to reply to the post for that day you would receive a pack of encouraging cards and you had to send someone a card for National Day of Encouragement.  Can you say EASY! 

I love to encourage others and be encouraged.  I really love getting cards in the mail.  With all of today’s technology I really feel we are forgetting how pen and paper work.  Isn’t it nice to receive a card in the mail that someone took the time to find at a store, handpicked especially for you.  Birthday, anniversary, get well, thinking of you, new baby, new home, sympathy, that person spent time laughing, crying and pondering which card your heart needed to read, hear and see.  

Well when I received my pack of cards I knew who I wanted to send specific ones too.  My sister in law is struggling with major health issues, she received on.  My girlfriend is really lonely, praying that God will send her a friend in her neighborhood, she received one.  A wonderful mentor that spends so much time and energy loving other women, giving so unselfishly of herself..she received one.  Can I just say that I am having the time of my life reading and re-reading the cards pondering on which one to send to who. 

SO , how do you encourage others.  Do you bake special treats for them?  Are you crafty, making things for others?  Do you send out cards, either homemade or store bought?  Can I encourage you to hold each others hearts and nurture those in your life.  We are called to do life together, so let’s do it.  Let’s be there for each other’s accomplishments, fearful times, lonely times, times in question, joyous occasions, re locations, anniversaries, birthdays and new births.  The list of celebrations is endless.  Let’s not get so isolated in our own worlds that we miss out on blessing others. 

Be an encouragement today, you will be encouraged by doing so!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,  just as in fact you are doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

I say it is a sweet day because bible study started up again!  Yeah…I am so excited.  I just adore getting together with other women and learning God’s word.  Doing life together, encouraging one another and building friendships.  We are digging deep into Breaking Free,the updated Beth Moore study.  She first wrote this study 10yrs ago.  Imagine the changes, struggles, joys, and growth.  Life in 10yrs.  I can say that my life has changed in the past 10 years. 

I have gone from having a happy healthy child to a disabled child, that was a huge change, that to this day I still struggle with.  Don’t get me wrong, Natalie is such a blessing and I see the love of Jesus in her and through her daily.  But it is tough, really.  Stolen and robbed, her life.  Dreams shattered and having to be rebuilt.  Marriage struggles.  Personal and deep soul struggles.  Life = hard.  So what do you do with all that?  You take it to the throne of Christ who can handle everything.  You lean on Him daily.  You drench yourself in TRUTH!!  You find others who will keep you accountable and will do life with you.  He has and continues to  grow  me through circumstances.   We  are blessed with Phoebe, who just turned 6.  She is a sweet, compassionate little girl who loves Jesus!  She has brought spunk and fun wrapped up with a life of delight.  We have moved 3 times, finally to stay where we are.  I have attended several bible studies, we have moved churches to come back to our “home” church.  We have endured major health issues, had family problems, financial issues, arguments, deaths, loss of all sorts, but the common denominator to all of these things is that Jesus has been with us all the way.  Even when we strayed, he stayed, praise Jesus!  I can say with every ounce of me that I would not have made it without Jesus.  He saved me from so many pits, I could not recover on my own.  He has revealed to me that I still have much to work on and that’s what he and I are gonna do. 

So as I start this study on Breaking Free, I am really asking that God reveal to me my bondage. What do I need to break free of so that I can go to the place he has for me. 

What study are you participating in this fall?  What are your prayers for it? 

Oh, it’s a sweet day indeed!!