An Encouragement Challenge for 2013

Lately, I have been noticing….like the microscopic fruit flies that come to darken freshly picked fruit.  People everywhere seem increasingly discouraged. 

Lies have come like tiny flies, to eat away at the ripeness of God’s goodness.

And sadly.  No one seems to be noticing.  Until it’s too late.

Fruit can sit alone.  Rotten.  Forgotten.  Until someone sees it.  Pick’s it up.  And the once vibrant item, is found bruised in a mushy mess inside the palm of the hand.

And I am not foreign to discouragement. I have been plagued with post-postpartum depression after both of my pregnancies.  One so severe that I had to become medicated.

However, over the years, I have found a secret to joy.  A secret that shift our eyes from darkness to light….

I am also learning….fruit left to sit, apart from the vine….WILL, without a doubt, always spoil.

As a result, I encourage myself daily in as many ways as I can find. Scripture. Prayer. Reading. Sermons.

Unlike many who have a long shelf life…..It can be merely a few hours sitting stagnant & I see flies gathering.

We live in a world hungry for hope.  Faith.  Peace.  And Assurance.

And although we are not God.  Aren’t we called as, “little Christ’s”  or “Christians”, to be His mouthpieces?

So, my challenge to you today is this!  

      1)   Link-Up below.

      2)  Go & encourage at least 3 people that you know.

It could be a family member, a spouse, or a child.  It could be a stranger that walks along side you in the isles of the grocery story.  It could be your pastor, neighbor, or  friend.  The list goes on and on.

Encourage whoever it is, God leads you to.

Then, when you are finished.  Come back here & tell me about it.  I would love to hear how it impacted not only them, but you.

Note:  There is a huge difference between empty praise such as “good job”, “nice” vs. “I like the way you are _______” or “Nice work  ________.”  You fill in the blanks.

• Empty praise is non-specific, unauthentic, in-genuine. 
• Encouragement is specific, sincere, heartfelt, and meaningful praise.

Now go swipe some flies from God’s people.  And see how your words can UNITE a world getting rotten in a world of discouragement.