Everyday Encouragement

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. – (Hebrews 3:13, HCSB)

But encourage each other every day, while you still have something called “today”. Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to change. – (Hebrews 3:13, ERV)

Encourage each other every day – for as long as we can still say “today” – so none of you let the deceitfulness of sin harden your hearts. – (Hebrews 13:3, VOICE)

We are called and reminded to encourage each other every day. None of us are infallible on our own, but rather we need one another to walk in His way and do His will. Our own broken humanity deceives us and can lead us astray when left to our own devices. However, when we are invested in Christ and community, we are encouraged and encourage others to walk in His way and do His will. There is power in accountability, as it keeps us honest with others and ourselves. God intentionally created us to crave community so that we would invest in each other and be capable of encouraging one another in all things. In my own life, I am so grateful for this. He has surrounded me with loving people who want to see the very best for me and from me. When I am struggling, they encourage me. When I see those around me challenged, I try to do the same. Jesus was our ultimate example, and endured every challenge and trial that comes our way. Because He has been where we are, He is able to help and uphold us through all things. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in encouraging those around us, so that not one of us would be hardened to hearing His best for us.

Today is a gift,

Meant to be lived well;

His grace is enough,

As in Him we dwell.

We’re called to reach out,

Encourage others;

Build each other up,

Sisters and brothers.

Let not the heavy,

Pull each other down;

Lift and encourage,

Let kindness be found.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call and equip us to encourage one another. Thank You that You also provide people in the communities to which we belong to encourage us as well. Thank You that You desire that not one of us falls to the weight of the world. Forgive us for the times that we have rejected the reminders You have provided and the times that we have neglected to encourage others. Teach us to lean into You to be our strength and supply, and to give You praise for the people that You place in our lives to give and receive encouragement. Show us how to love and encourage those around us in ways that strengthen and build them up. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek Your strength and encouragement in all things and trust in You to lead us to encourage others well. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Christ Jesus. – Romans 15:5

Love Well

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things He had already planned for us to do. – (Ephesians 2:10, ERV)

For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago. – (Ephesians 2:10, VOICE)

 

We have been designed to do good things. Incredibly, it is not about some master plan to accomplish an incredible feat (though some do as part of the plan) but rather it is to love well in each little thing, as to do so, adds up to a life lived well, according to His purposes. Above all, we are called to love. If everything we do is motivated by love, then we cannot help but do the good that God created and intended us to accomplish. Heartache, struggle, disappointment, grief, and weariness all provide us opportunity to look past ourselves and discover just how powerful love can be when we choose to dig deep and give it away. The good that comes from pouring out when we feel depleted, is a crazy filling up that does not even begin to make sense. There is something that happens when we do what we were designed to do – we grow. God multiplies where we can barely conceive the idea of addition. The more we trust Him and step out in faith to love well, the more He utilizes our obedience to touch and transform those around us. May we ever choose to do the good that He has called us to, as we opt to love others, as He first loved us.

As for mom, it sounds as if she had a successful first day in Albany. When I called, she actually answered her phone! That was a huge accomplishment in and of itself, as before, she had not interacted with her phone much at all. The first challenge in her new space, is that her chair does not fit in the bathroom. What this actually means, is that mom is getting more walking practice than before, and will likely lose the chair faster! Things happen the way they ought to, even when it seems a bit frustrating at first. Meg was able to come home at lunch to check and see how all was going, and it seems that all was well. My phone conversation was cut short, and I did not really have the opportunity for a second check-in, but will be eager to hear more about how mom is settling in. I know prayer points for mom need include expediting a visit to a general practitioner to establish care, so that mom is able to reestablish in-home care for physical, occupational and speech therapies that come to her during the day. The process has been started, but favor and prompt processing would be fantastic. We are praying for wonderful, loving people to work with mom as well, as each of the therapists that she had in Wenatchee were incredible individuals.

 

Lord, help us to love,

Do good in Your name;

To love as You love,

As peace is proclaimed.

Help us see others,

Through Your loving lens;

So we treat strangers,

With love, like our friends.

Grant us Your kindness,

Fill us with Your grace;

Teach us Your goodness,

So all we’ll embrace.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to do the good for which we were designed to do. Thank You that above all, we are called to love. Thank You that You have shown us what it is to love above all else through the example of Your Son. Forgive us for the times that we have not given good or not chosen love. Teach us to trust You more, so that we make the conscious choice to love, no matter the space we find ourselves in. Show us how to love those around us in a way that Your goodness and grace is made abundantly clear. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to equip us to do the good for which we have been designed to do. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. – Psalm 34:14

A Homecoming to Celebrate

How does one adequately express the essence of a ninety-eight year life lived well? I thought about speaking of my Gram’s faithfulness to God, her unwavering love for her family, friends and church, or perhaps the way that she utilized the gifts that God gave her of music and writing and art to touch the hearts of those around her for Him. For a few weeks I allowed my thoughts to simply settle, and just waited for words to come. As I was driving home from work a few weeks ago, and the lines I knew I was to record and share began playing over and over in my mind, I discovered that my portion to share was not about what Gram had done, but rather where her faith and hope had taken her. Those who knew Rosemary Elizabeth Steiner, knew that she was certain of her eternity. Her hope was not in earthly treasures, but rather in her heavenly home. Gram reminded us always that we were precious in her sight, just as we are in Christ’s. May we all rejoice in the hope of our eternity, and celebrate her incredible homecoming together.

 

Precious Ones

Weep not precious ones,

For I am now home;

The view before me,

Is like none I’ve known.

I walk on gold streets,

With angels, I sing;

Each breath full of life,

Love’s sweet offerings.

And O when my eyes,

At last saw His face;

So tender and kind,

His welcome embrace.

Gentle were His words,

As He said to me,

“Well done, precious child!”

I fell to my knees…

Though strong were His hands,

My Savior knelt down;

He placed on my head,

My very own crown.

I could not contain,

The tears in my eyes;

As loved ones appeared,

This hope – realized.

Oh sweet beloveds,

Do not weep for me;

It’s but a moment,

To your setting free.

©Shannon E. Moreno 2017

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift of my Gram that I have known for my entire life. Thank You that my children have had the privilege and the pleasure of knowing her too. Thank You for the example and blessing that Rosemary Elizabeth Steiner has been to so many. Forgive us for not recognizing nor appreciating the treasures we have in those around us nearly enough. Teach us to honor and give thanks for all those whom You have placed in our lives. Show us how to love well, just as she loved like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we celebrate the blessed homecoming of those who faithfully follow You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; …my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5