Five Minute Friday: Encourage

You matter.

Really and truly.

Every day of your life.
From the moment you wake up
whether it's with a "Good Morning God."
Or a "O God, is it really morning?"
You matter.

So if life is really hard at the moment
And you're wondering if it's worth it...

Or you're literally bouncing around
Full of the joys....

If someone has said something to you that has cut deeper than a flesh wound,
Or you did something with the best of intentions, and have been misunderstood...

If 'life's a bitch and then you die' is truly where you're at,
Please STOP

And breathe

And remember

That you are loved.

Look around you for your 'cloud of witnesses'
who will cheer you on,
or pause with you in the race while you rest and catch your breath.

Be encouraged.

God loves you above and beyond anything.

Truly.

If you're reading this,
then chances are you've been one of my cheerleaders in the past.

I'd like to return the favour today.

So as I write this, the prayer I pray for all of us is just this:

"May the God of hope
Fill YOU with all Joy
And Peace
As you trust in HIM."


Comments

Dolly@Soulstops said…
Thanks, Karen, for the encouragement :) Visiting from FMF
18 January 2014 at 00:04
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 years of ministry

I hadn't realised it myself. I'm not very good with dates, and years, and anniversaries. But yesterday my Facebook Timeline was full of it. It's 20 years since we were commissioned and ordained. 28th May 1993 at The Royal Albert Hall, London. As I listened to 'Our Songs' The ones written for us, and for the occasion I became a bit nostalgic. As I looked at the video And saw my friends and colleagues I almost felt a pang of grief For the people we were The things we shared. But this is a letter to the 25 yr old girl I was then From the woman I am now "You made it! By the skin of your teeth at times but you got there in the end. And this ending Full of brass, and drums, and singing and laughter and drama and dance is just the beginning. In the years ahead you will know joy Real joy Laughing so hard no sound comes out. Friendships that are only in their infancy here Will become your anchor in the days ahead. And people that ...
Read more

Five Minute Friday: Song

Image
It's our Silver Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday. 25 years. I told someone the other day and she gasped, and said, "You don't look old enough" Which is absolutely the right response. We're having a few friends over next Friday night to celebrate. There will be food And dancing And fun And song. 'Our song' to be precise. As we met in the 80's, Our song is 'Solid' (Ashford and Simpson). It's the song we used to dance to at parties. It's the song that made us laugh. It's the song we always talk about when reminiscing. Our 25 years together hasn't been perfect You won't be surprised to hear that. There has been much joyful song. But sometimes the notes have turned dischordant. Sometimes we've sung in a minor key. More recently we have sung songs of lament. But to mis-quote Gloria Gaynor We have survived. We're still standing (Elton John) And we're still singing from the same hymn ...
Read more

STOP! Look and listen.

I helped at Nathan's Christmas Fair yesterday. It was packed with excited children and exhausted parents, so pretty much business as usual. Do you ever want to scream STOP at this time of year? Enough. Too much already. Mum, my sister and I sorted out Dad's things on Tuesday. As we filled the car with bags for the charity shop it felt so final. A person's life contained in a car-load. STOP. Enough. Too much already. Today has been a better day. The sun has shone. The sky turned a brilliant blue after the snow showers. And I had a lovely coffee with Chris at the Garden Centre. As we were driving back I remembered the Advent challenge I gave our congregation a few years back. It came from the carol, 'It came upon the midnight clear', And the challenge was to 'Hush the noise, ye men (and women) of strife And hear the angels sing.' Or, STOP. Look for the reality of His presence in the madness of Christmas. Listen for Him. His ange...
Read more