...encourage one another.... –2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) Are you encouraged, discouraged or somewhere in the middle? At any given point in time, we are somewhere along that path. If we are encouraged, we can encourage others. If we are discouraged, we need encouragement. Encouragement is a gift that we can give each other, and it comes from the heart of God. Comfort or encouragement is an oft-repeated theme in the Word of God. Several times we are specifically reminded to comfort or encourage one another. The word used in the New Testament means “to call to a person” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words). When we encourage someone, we are urging them to move to a higher point! We are seeking to “hearten, cheer, buoy up, uplift, inspire, motivate, spur on, stir, stir up, fire up, stimulate, invigorate, vitalize, revitalize, embolden, fortify, rally” (synonyms listed under Google definition for encourage). The job of the cheerleader is to rally those on the team to a higher level of performance and a win. I am blessed to have married a cheerleader. Sheri is one of the most positive, encouraging and uplifting people I know. I want to be like her. Together we want to lift up the ministers and churches of the Heartland Conference to higher heights. Today I would like to suggest two courses of action: Look around for someone you can cheer and encourage. There are so many in need of it. Call out to them and lift them up! If you personally find yourself needing encouragement today, then I call out to you! The greatest encouragement I know is that the Spirit of God cries out into our hearts that God is our Abba, Father!” Abba in the Aramaic is just like a baby saying ‘dada’ or ‘daddy’ in English. You can trust your heavenly Father to love you and seek out your best just like an earthly daddy does for his little son or daughter. So be encouraged and be encouraging! Much love in Christ, Stuart
