Message of encouragement.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I got up this morning and read my Joyce Myers devotion about encouraging and blessing others. It is something I have been really wanting to do. BLESS others. Then as if God was talking directly to me, when I got to MOPS Linnea talked about women, children, and the need in Africa. We had another speaker that spoke of the need right here.( as in the lady at the check out. )As I was leaving MOPS i pondered about these people in poverty and their needs but as a person who loves Jesus and lives in Ocala I wondered what that specifically looked like for me. I can pray for specific villages, specific needs, I can pray with my son about these needs, and I can encourage others to pray. Also we sponsor one specific child and she writes us. We write her back and send her things. She gets money from us each month which feeds and clothes her. Maybe it does not sound like much but to her and her family it means everything. I do not write about this to brag but to encourage us to pray for others. To encourage others. We think missions is flying to Haiti and staying for a week to help there and then come home and live our life for ourselves. I think the toughest challenge is loving right where you are. I can not say that I am doing this. I want to. I am asking God to show me where I can encourage others. I try to call people and lift them up in their day. I want people to know even in our busy schedules I have thought of you and YOU are important. I LOVE when people call me to just say Hi and see how I am doing. It is tough. People are crabby sometimes. [EVEN ME:) ] People are negative. That just means they need the love all the more. I want my son to love ALL people. The biggest thing that I want Tanner to see is it does not matter how much we have or do not have but JOY does not come from things. TRUST ME I AM GUILTY OF WANTING MORE. I struggle with it all the time. But I have a gentle Savior who is molding me and I see how truly he loves me. He reminds me often where I was 10 years ago. It is good to give money when you can for what you feel led to, BUT oh how important is a phone call to a lonely mommy, a prayer for a bitter cashier, a helping hand for your elderly neighbor, a kind word to your spouse, a little note to your parents, and lots of smiles to people around you. LIVE INTENTIONALLY! I am. WITH GOD'S HELP OF COURSE! God encourages me so I figure you can NOT keep it unless you give it away.