Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Now that we are beginning to emerge from 15 months of Covid-life, our city is slowly coming back to life, people are remembering what it is like to be around others, and the gears of society are starting to move again. It’s like someone pressed a giant reboot button and we are all readjusting.
John 17:20-21: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one . . .”
John 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy once said, “There is a fool-proof way to know who around you needs to be encouraged; here it is: that person is breathing. If they are breathing, they need encouragement.” This is so true today! In the book of Acts, we learn about one individual who had the gift of encouragement. His name is Barnabas, and almost every time he shows up, he is encouraging others. From his life we can learn 5 ways to give courage to others:
John 13:14-15 “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Revelation 2:3-4 “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
By Robert J. Tamasy
Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."
The majority of people, according to studies, muddle through the workday with all the enthusiasm of someone watching paint dry. For them, the words “work” and “necessary evil” are synonymous. But is this the way it should be?
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…”
The other day, my daughter asked me to help her with her math homework. She is in 11th grade and taking college placement Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry. As she began to lay out her question, a feeling of defeat came over me! I did not understand her question and there was no possible way I could help!