October 9 Are You an Encourager? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
**Please continue to pray for Joann Young. Her battle with cancer continues. Please pray for Judy Davis. She is still battling cancer. These ladies could use some encouragement…**
Two men were seriously ill. They occupied the same room in the hospital. One of them lied in the bed near the only window in their room. Every day he was allowed to spend some time sitting up in his bed to help drain the fluid from his lungs. The other man was forced to spend all his days flat on his back. They talked a lot about their life, families, jobs, vacations. Every time, when the first man was sitting by the window, he described in details, all that he sees, outside the window. His roommate always looked for those moments, when his world was broadened and brightened up by the world outside. Amazing views of a park with a beautiful lake could be seen from the window of their room. Children delightfully played among ducks and swans. Couples walked arm in arm among colorful flowers. Also the stunning city skyline could be seen. When the man by the window had thoroughly describing all that was happening outside the window, his roommate would close his eyes and imaged all the beautiful scenes of life that were told to him. One morning, the man whose bed was near the window had died peacefully in his sleep. His roommate was very sad. After some time, when the nurse came to visit him, he asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse agreed and kindly made the switch. When she left, the man slowly and painfully propped himself up on one elbow and took the first look at the world outside. He was stunned. The window faced a blank wall. When the nurse came to visit him the next time, he told her about beautiful things outside the window that his roommate described him. The nurse replied that his roommate was a blind man. She said: “Probably he just tried to encourage you!” (Source Unknown) Are you an “Encourager?” The year 2020 has been a difficult year for every one of us and it requires all that we can muster to keep a positive outlook! What a “Golden” opportunity to share the Love of God and to be an “Encourager!” I pray that 2020 will be the year that you become as “encourager” for someone. I pray that you will allow the Love of God and His Peace to shine through you and that you will lighten the load for someone along the way! May we all practice “random acts of kindness,” to lift the spirits and proclaim God’s Good News to all those that we encounter. Stay Strong, Stay Focused… Remember – THE BEST IS YET TO BE!