Make a Difference - Encourage

Last evening we enjoyed a great supper with friends. They're a couple who are living in shift - a kind of time where nothing is clear.

• Where will they live?


• Where will they work?


• What work can they do?


• How will their health challenges affect life?

Have you ever experienced a time like that - questions buzzing around in your brain without answers?

This couple is heading into their 60's. They would prefer to live close to their children/grandchildren, yet are now hundreds of miles away from that goal. They can't do what they know and are good at because of health challenges... so how can we, as their friends, encourage them?

After the meal we sat down to do a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

This brough a clarity to the situation - a way to stop the questions buzzing and begin the process of focusing on a solution to their dilemnas. Are all their questions answered now? Nope. But they do have a direction to follow to begin answering the questions.

We chose to encourage our friends by stimulating their thinking with New Insight.

Is there anyone in your life who could use some new insight into a maze of questions? Can you encourage them?

Who encourages you?

I have a few people I can count on to encourage me - those who believe in me - even though they know my failures and faults.

• They give me hope that I can do what I've planned.
• My encouragers point out where God has touched my life and made it good.
• They tell me they love me - unconditionally.
• I know my encouragers pray for me. They've even prayed with me.
• When I need a helping hand - someone to come alongside me and support me - they're there.
• If I have a concern or challenge, they're always ready to provide valuable insight & advice.
• My encouragers know me so well, they make me feel valuable - just for being me.
  
  
  Some of my encouragers provide one or two of these actions. Two of my encouragers provide all seven.
  
  
  Who encourages you?
  
  Spend time and identify who is in your life that provides encouragement - then thank them, and your God who made them.
  
  What if you don't have anyone in your life to encourage you?
  
  First, ask God to bring an Encourager into your life. Second -begin to encourage others today.
  
  Here are the 7 Actions to Encourage:
  

1. Inspire with Hope
2. Fortify with Faith
3. Foster with Unconditional Love
4. Uplift with Persistent Prayer
5. Support with Joy-Filled Zeal
6. Stimulate with New Insight
7. Validate with Intimate Knowledge

Begin encouraging others today. Let's enrich the lives of those we love.