Encouragement…..is it a gift?

We don’t seldom think of encouragement as a gift. It seems ordinary, but in fact it isn’t. It’s quite rare, why, because it’s seldom given and it’s valuable. Why, because it’s so meaningful to the recipient.

Encouragement makes the perfect gift and here’s why; It’s free and it requires no cash expense. However it doesn't mean there’s no cost. It may just cost your time, imagination and thoughtfulness. It requires something from you.

It requires no shopping; just writing a note or making a call may be all that’s necessary.

Encouragement doesn't have to be gifted wrapped; it’s beautiful all by itself.

Encouragement doesn't need batteries, there are many gifts nowadays that require batteries but with encouragement it creates energy all in its own....AND it will last a lifetime.

If you really think about it what gift could you give that will have lasting value ? A word, ...you ask... what kind of word do you mean? A word of encouragement, a word or praise, a word of inspiration or even a word of reassurance. These are all words of encouragement 

So I leave you today with a  word....His word of Encouragement!

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up," 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

Encourage someone today or maybe in your tomorrows, you never know what they maybe going through....on the outward appearance all may appear perfect and look all pulled together, but on the inside their lives may be in shambles!

Be that one to express Christ's love...genuinely care! 

Thanks for stopping by "Today's Word of Purpose" and lending an ear...now take it a bit further and make it a voice...make it your voice...someone IS ready...I guarantee... they're ready to hear..... a word of encouragement!

Love
Debbie

Oh, go ahead….Clap and Shout!

I just love to see my grandchildren excited, especially if they're coming to Tutu and Pa Tutu’s (that's Hawaiian for grandma and grandpa, the short version) house to spend the night. To see their faces light up with such exuberance... jumping up and down uncontrollably…. clapping their hands and shouting at the top of their lungs, fills my heart with such joy

One can’t help but smile and join in with them…and on occasion I certainly have. I love to sing this song to them that always brings some kind of amusement …my husband’s father used to sing this to our children and so I have continued this tradition to our grandchildren…and we all say it at the same time as fast as we can and the faster we say it the louder we get, usually at the top of our lungs.

“I love you a bushel and a peck forever and ever to infinity and beyond amen”…of course we have modified this from the song “I love you a bushel and a peck”…..consequently we’ve reformed the song and made our own version!

We laugh because I always let them win...and to see their faces just makes you laugh right along with them. They so want to beat you and they typically always do…and we usually sing this when it’s time to head home…..each one has their own expression and reaction and I so love it.

So this morning as I was spending some quiet time this thought came to me…”shout to God with a voice of triumph.”

So I found the scripture and felt compelled to expound… so here goes.

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Psalm 47:1

Clap: To strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound, as in applauding.

We use our hands for various activities like applauding with one’s hands, as an expression of delight, as seen in this scripture.  The hands referring to in this scripture symbolizes predominantly power and strength.

So clap with all your might.  Jesus used His hands often bringing healing and blessing and ultimately….. for redemption.

Shout:  The use of uttered sounds for auditory communication

“Jubilate Deo”- from a Latin word meaning "shout for joy", "Rejoice in the Lord."

We shout at games, at our children, hopefully in a good way, with a loud cry of joy for something they have done well.  We shout with excitement at wonderful events or at times of distress.

Scripture often speaks of praise in terms of shouting, reflecting both the joy of the speaker and the greatness of God.

The term shout has several synonyms, so if one of these fit...then be my guest…lift your voice!

Cry, yell, scream, bellow, and I like this one… roar...just to name a few.

Also a person’s voice expresses a person’s character, thoughts and emotions, and attracts attention by its tone and volume.

The sound of your voice should be a familiar voice to your family, husband, wife, friend but it’s possible that it can be mistaken for someone else’s……

However make no mistake… He knows your voice He even knows your name and the hairs on your head…..so go ahead…shout for joy!!!

The sound of victory, of triumph is heard from every camp that has won a battle. It means just this...you have accomplished something that you’ve been battling that has come against you…and He has given you the power to overcome and to conquer. It’s time to celebrate.  And The children of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho and with a great shout; the wall of the city fell down flat. Joshua 6 Go ahead..clap..shout!

There was a medieval law requiring that all citizens shout, make an outcry"; within earshot give chase to a fleeing criminal. Also it is said back in wartime that troops would shout , yell as they attacked their enemy. Boy sure reminds me of times that I have literally shouted to the enemy and his troops to flee.

 If you’re facing a battle know that as you release the clapping, and the lifting your voice to your creator ...it is a guaranteed that victory is yours, at every hand!

So go ahead….express yourself as if you were attending a game or better yet in a game and your team has just won!  He loves to witness your joy, love and praise to Him!

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Psalm 47:1

Sprinkling or over watering

Awww, today, yes today was better than yesterday. Have you ever said those words?  I’m not going to go into detail but I’m certainly glad that today is today!

I love my prayer walks, each day He speaks to me something new, or gives a word in inspiration, why? Because I have allowed myself to be undisturbed, by anything…. no texts, no phones, no list of things that that need my attention this very second and the list goes on!

Today I didn’t hear as may birds singing or see many flying in fact I probably could’ve counted on both hands how many I saw.  It was strangely quiet. Normally I can hear cars, the school across the way, but nothing except…I could hear the sound of sprinklers coming on, it sounded as if they were right in front of me.  There’s a new housing track that was built a few years ago that I can see when I get to the end of the road, standing overlooking the valley.

It was deceiving, I panned the houses thinking it was right in front of me, but it was actually a several houses to my left and then I heard water spraying and I looked to my right and saw another set of sprinklers doing its job of watering the parched ground.

 It’s been unusually hot these several days. The more you water, the grass, it seems to drink it right up and you find that it’s still in its original state!

Now, I’m no horticulturalist but I do know that if you don’t water something that requires watering…what happens? If you over-water, well it can be a total wash out..no pun intented!

You say to yourself...”what is she brain-less, of course when it’s hot things seem to dry up faster, especially if your not taking care of the grass or any living thing that requires watering.” Get where I’m going with this.

Water what needs to be watered. Has He required something of you lately…are you that person that is sprinkling someone else’s life or are you overwatering them. Sure you intentions are pure and good, but sometimes in our act of doing His will we find we can kinda get in the way…not that that’sall bad but I think we call that being overzealous?

Don’t over water for fear of drowning and destroying what could possible have life.  For life is very precious and fragile, don’t give way to something you feel needs attention... timing is so important. A word spoken in due season, how good it is!

Don’t be deceived by hearing something, thinking it’s coming from the direction you think it’s coming from.

Focus, concentrate know that He provided all your needs from yesterday and gave new life for you today as He will take care of your tomorrows, as He will theirs.

He takes consideration in every single person ….just as we take into consideration, when and how to plant in a garden, the amount of sprinkling or watering and the right seed for the right season!

Isaiah 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,

   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work He sent them to do; they’ll complete the assignment He gave them.

Don't let fear take a front seat...for you are able!!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

My grandma was 100 yrs old lived by herself and shy of 45 days of being 101, in 2010, and she needed a miracle. Can you imagine at 100 needing a miracle?  She had seen so much and experienced more than anyone, at least in our family, had experienced. She was such a Godly woman whose faith had never been shaken; at least while we were growing up.

I could hear her singing such wonderful songs, like “Amazing Grace”, “Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, how great Thou art how great Thou art.” Songs with such power and meaning and would rise with such intensity when she'd get to the choruses. Her little voice, barely above a whisper seemed so frail, yet she was full of inner strength and full of spunk!  That must run in the family, for those who know me at least the spunk part.

I went for my usual walk and stood overlooking the small valley at the end of our street. For the last several days the Lord has spoken to me many wonderful thoughts. But today something seemed different, as I was praying under my breath....I stopped talking….and stood listening.... I heard nothing but just a few birds here and there not like most mornings. I looked down below me realized I hadn't noticed before how treacherous and dangerous it was and wondered how could anyone below be able to get up this steep hill, it’s not smooth, lots of bushes, trees and a good portion of large sporadic rocks. 

Then I heard His still small voice say to me… “You‘re ABLE with the right tools, strength and a will to overcome the obstacles set before you”. 
Ok that made sense, it could be measured out, I could gage the steps...yes it could be possible to climb up the side of this hill.

Since I'm no expert, I figured if I got a running start and just plowed right up it I'd be at the top in no time.  Now that would be quite the sight to behold slipping, sliding and looking as if I didn't know what I was doing and you're right, I don’t!

Now, an experienced hiker would be prepared, he knows all about his skill, his talent,  all the right equipment in order for him  to scale right up the side with hardly any effort. 
Why? Because each step was calculated they prepared and positioned themselves  before they progressed up the side of the mountain.  They achieved what they were ABLE to do and that was to overcome the obstacles. 

Sometimes that’s how we are in life’s hillside experiences.  We're just moving  along in life and all of a sudden we come up against  a side of a mountain,we can't seem get around it and the only way out…. is up.

We begin to look at the insurmountable size and immediately think...”Uh Oh….don’t think I can do this, or if I do try I probably won't make it to the top.” 

Fear takes a front seat.... it sets in and can be overwhelming.....we begin to rationalize the whole picture and then we figure we're not ABLE to follow through, so we simply  give up before we even get started.

I'm relatively sure there are many other scenarios you could have come up with, however my point is this, we are ABLE and can overcome any obstacles, spiritually, in our lives if we are rightly equipped, if we find ourselves in His Word....seek Him in our secret place..... have faith..... trust in Him and believe in ourselves.Without a doubt we would be ABLE!!

Yes my Grandma was like that experienced hiker she was ABLE to climb that mountain so to speak, her miracle did come, and we all experience that miracle with her. She transitioned into a loving home so she could finish out her race with dignity.

Grandma reached her final destination she considered her steps and they were well calculated  and her faith completed her. She was an amazing woman and I'm so thankful that her faith ran deep....What a legacy she passed on to us all.

 She was so ABLE because HE was so faithful!  

The word Able, dunamai: to be strong enough to, be able to, have power. The word combines power and willingness, inherent strength, and action or resources to accomplish an objective or purpose. 

Jude 1:24 “Now to Him who is ABLE to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” 

No matter the circumstances in your life or the size of your mountain you are ABLE!

Thanks for stopping by "Today's Word of Purpose" and remember to keep Him close to your heart! 

Love 
Debbie