Encouragement

Encouragement:something that encourages: Praise is the greatest encouragement.(dictionary.com)

"Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."-Acts 13:15

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers..."-Eph.4:25a

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."-Phil.4:8

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."-Heb.3:13

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."-Heb.10:24-25

"My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right."-Prov.23:15-16

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around."-Leo Buscaglia

"We are all capable of recognizing other's flaws, that is no great accomplishment. It is the person who can recognize the good in everyone, who is truly gifted and accomplished."-Angelface

Sometimes we forget how important encouragement truly is. Not just when someone is feeling down or going through something, but in everyday life. It's not always easy to do the right things or to stay on the right path and so, yes, a little encouragement is always helpful. God desires for us to stay pure of heart and to act accordingly, but he also desires for us to help others do the same. Sometimes, we can be so quick to let someone know how upset we are at something that they have done wrong, and yet silence overcomes us when they have done something good, something positive, something right. People like attention, they like to be noticed and recognized. Why not give them positive attention by noticing and acknowledging their positive actions. Encourage others to stay on track. Our own actions can also serve as a form of encouragement, so we must always be mindful of what we do and say. Today, I encourage you to encourage others. Point out the positive and stay away from the negative. And to everyone reading: I am so glad that you are giving these few moments to God today, continue to do so and be Blessed:)

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Forgiveness for Sins

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,"-Romans3:23-25NLT

"And I convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us form the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."-Romans8:38-29NLT

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."-Isaiah1:18

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."-Titus3:5

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"-Matt.6:14

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake."-I John2:12

"Why are we fearful to admit our faults? It is because we are expecting others to judge us as we would judge them. Don't be so harsh in your judgements of others, and you won't be so harsh on yourself."-Angelface

The greatest news ever told....Our sins are forgiven!! At times, we are so hard on ourselves, believing that our sins, our mistakes, have the power to make God turn his back on us. We believe that God is mad at us, or no longer wants to communicate with us. The truth of the matter is that God knew that we would make mistakes. He knows that we are not perfect, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves or others that we are. Sometimes, it is our obsession with believing that we are perfect that makes us so very ashamed of even the smallest mistakes. God knowing that we are imperfect, sent his son to shed his innocent blood to cover our sins. The devil would have us believe that our sins have the power to cancel out our relationship with Christ; but our heavenly Father sees us through Jesus Christ' pure blood. Regardless of what we have done, as long as we admit that we are not perfect, and we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for the covering of our sins...The Lord sees us as righteous. He will always love us, and he will never leave us. There is nothing that you can do to separate yourself from God's love. He already gave you his mercy, his forgiveness, all we must do is accept it. Don't be so hard on yourself when you fall. Just as a parent expects their child to fall a few times while learning to walk, the Lord expects us to fall a few times (or more) while learning to walk righteously. Be patient with yourself and with others. And while it is good to strive for perfection - remember that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes from time to time. Its about learning and growing from those mistakes so that we don't make the same ones over and over.

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Have Mercy.

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."-Abraham Lincoln

"He has showed you, o man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."-Micah6:8

"The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed-it blesseth him that gives, and him that takes."-Wm. Shakespeare

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."-Luke6:38

Remember that all that you do, good or bad, comes back to you. That is why we are to treat others as we would like to be treated. No matter what someone has done, they deserve mercy. They at least deserve the chance to be understood. When dealing with anyone, and everyone...have mercy. Don't be so quick to judge. The Lord will judge us just as we judge others. If someone helps you out or forgives you, or shows you mercy in any way...make sure that you do the same for others, willingly, happily. Sadly, people are so quick to expect so much mercy and grace for themselves and yet they are just as quick to harshly judge others. Every situation that you encounter, every person that you meet, is part of a test. God wants to see how you treat his children, to see how he should treat you. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."-Matt.25:40b. Plant positive seeds in the earth for yourself. Show mercy and receive mercy...for we all shall reap what we sow.

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)