The Right Thing To Say

I'm not an overly depressed person. I don't usually stay completely overwhelmed by life's trials for a long period of time. I've learned through the years to surround myself with friends who will call me out on self-pity, inquire when I am in a funk and love me enough to cry with me...or tell me to get over it. I'm blessed to have a few friends who will be that iron-sharpens-iron gals in my life.

However....just like you (I'm guessing), sometimes life throws me a curve call and I get sad or mad and God sends just the right person to say just the right thing my way to speak truth, grace, joy and peace over my life.

Something like that happened the other day. I heard an encouraging word that not only blessed me, but Bruce too. Hearing that you are valued, gifted, talented, special, unique, hardworking, dedicated... not only did just the trick for our spirits but motivated us to keep at it...keep going...press on, work hard. Sometimes you need to hear it from someone you know isn't just stroking your ego....but from someone who has taken a hard look and watched with a discerning heart...someone who has even walked in your shoes a mile or two. The last thing you or anyone needs to hear is a fake compliment...or worse yet, a complete lie.

I'm thankful for a man who was pure in motive, gave some wonderful insight, spoke a word in season and loved us enough to make the time to say something nice. It made me think a little about the times that God has prompted me to encourage or bless someone with a compliment or a good word. The Bible tells us that a good worker is due praise,  Christians should edify one another, and that a word spoken at the right time is beautiful. I'm motivated to really take a look around me and look at the many people that are doing wonderful things for the kingdom of God. Because, just like the soothing balm the words of an encourager were to me, a word spoken at just the right time, might be just the thing someone who is discouraged and disheartened needs to hear.

On a side note....sometimes when you're feeling sorry for yourself or having a bad day....speak an encouraging word to someone else and you may just find your day gets better too!

Leave a comment to share how you've been encouraged by someone else or if you have an idea that would encourage someone else. I'd love to hear it!

Getting out of the Way

The last few weeks have been rough. Emotionally I've been heartbroken about a couple of issues, physically I messed up my diet, Spiritually I was needing to hear from the Lord and mentally....well...I'm off most of the time anyway...so what's the difference??? :)

A week ago Bruce took the kids away for several hours so that I could have some time to sit before the Lord. I was trying to prepare for a speaking engagement, a new Sunday School class and just needed some personal quiet time with the Savior. So I sat down, Bible in lap, diet coke on the nearby table, notepad on the arm of the chair and feet propped up. And that's about as far as it went for the first thirty minutes. I sat there...mind racing...trying to get quiet before God. Seriously. It took for.ev.er. But finally...my mind slowed, my heart opened and within just moments God had completely given me exactly what I needed to be able to prepare for the speaking engagement. If was A-MA-ZING!...and all HIM.

So, today was the day I headed over to Gilmer, a little town just an hour away, to share about the goodness of the Lord with their ladies at their Spring Tea. Bruce was out of town so the grandparents came and watched the kids. I was sure to leave in plenty of time to get there, knowing I needed to stop at the gas station (sorry to the guy I flashed as I pumped my gas...darn dress and the wind made for a disastrous display) and Sonic for a diet coke (yes, there is a pattern here). I was pretty pumped...I felt prepared...peaceful...even had a decent hair day (and yes, if you had hair like mine you would count that as a victory). A friend texted and I had told her that if the Lord would just take care of the giant zit that had appeared on the side of my face yesterday (TMI?) then all would be well with the world. It was a good day. However...with each mile that ticked away on the odometer, I felt my nerves creeping up. Darn them!!! I so wanted the day to go well....God had given me something really special to share with these ladies and I didn't want to get in the way of the delivery.

So....in an attempt to get my mind on the Lord, I started searching for a Christian radio station to listen to.   The first attempt was complete failure. I didn't know east Texans had such a love for Hispanic and Rap stations...but if you're in the market for that...there are 8-10 of them between Sulphur Springs and Gilmer. Start packing now. I gave up, turned the radio off and decided to enjoy the ride. It wasn't five minutes later that I passed a house with large 6 ft letters in the yard that spelled out:

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

Hmm....was He trying to tell me something? 

I continued driving and eventually tried the radio again. Scan....scan...scan...nothing ....until....Yes, 89.5...KVNE. Finally something worth listening to! And wouldn't you know the song playing on the radio....Heart of Worship....It's all about you....It's all about you Jesus. 

Be still my soul. For real. Coincidence? I think not. I continued driving but the presence of God in that car was so great as I talk out loud about giving this day over to Him. He was there...taking away my nerves, my insecurities and my desires for the day. Out loud I said "Ok...Lord I get the message....this day is about You!" Wow...that takes the pressure off me! 

And in another post I will tell you all about the wonderful ladies of Grace Baptist in Gilmer, Texas and their wonderful pastor's wife, Marie. But for now....rest in the fact that when we don't know how to juggle the nerves, the responsibility, the commitments ....we don't have to....He can take all of it and create so much more beauty than we ever imagined. It's all about Him anyway....right?