The Encourager

The past year I have been involved in a womens bible study at church. I have met some amazing women who love the Lord, but one in particular has caught my attention. She always had something good to say, not just in generalities, but specific bits of encouragement. Genuine interest in my endeavors, problems and joys. She is an encourager. This is something that has been weighing heavily on my heart lately. I find myself not wanting to settle, when I really need to remember that just because my best is better/different does not make someone elses best worse. I also realize that I am not the best at everything I do, but expect others to accept ME where I am. I have to remind myself to take a walk in their shoes and appreciate the effort, help and encourage growth...not eliminate or discount people because they are not the best, have not reached their goal/potential. I am sarcastic by nature, and find myself in regret more often than I should because of things I have said. I want to encourage, I want to teach, but also want to have/be the best in life. So I guess this all leads to the question, where is your hope?

In the past I have put more stock in what people around me thought of my life, talents, stuff, job, etc than in what God thought of these things. My heart is changing, but my habits are engrained. Step by step I guess, it's a process of change. God is working in me though.

This weeks question

Are there people who want to believe in Jesus that aren't able to?

At first I thought NO! But then you said, are there people who want to be fit that aren't able, of couse! We have to choose to workout, eat right, and change our lifestyle.

How do I move myself to action? How do I overcome my weakness, my laziness? What is my motivator?

I know that there is treasure being stored up for me in His bank, but I find it so hard not to focus on the here and now, I want my cup to be overflowing, now. At the same time, I know that I don't lean on the Lord when I have plenty.

I don't want to struggle, strive, work, but know that the narrow path is not easy. It is this battle I must fight. Remind myself constantly that I mustdeny the desires of my flesh and change my lifestyle, change my desires.

The story of a girl...7

I went feeling unimportant to being infinitely important, a lifesource. Having children was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was no longer allowed to be selfish, I had to grow up. I had to re-evaluate my priorities. If I was going to raise Godly men, I had to be Godly. Not religious mind you, but a follower of Jesus. It was difficult in Denver to do this. We had lots of friends who weren't Christians, and a lifestyle that did not reflect my beliefs.
God provided opportunity for us to move in 2009 to Las Vegas, NM.  This wasn't my first choice of places to call home, but as my brother says, NM grows on you! We found a church, which just happened to be going through transition also, looking for a new pastor.