"And let us consider how we may spur one another one in 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 we see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
How was yesterday - is the challenge on? The Lord gave me a victory yesterday and then one quick reminder!! I did well on my eating - as far as healthy things, even had some sunflower seeds - and aerobics last night was rocking. It was warm down there which i love - love to sweat - and the ladies had a ton of energy! That makes it fun and intense - the way it is suppose to be. Then when I came home stravin' I knew it was going to be a battle. I fixed the kids and I tacos. I LOVE tacos... I did pretty well and was cleaning up dinner - then i needed one more thing. So i set out for some cereal, but could only muster up Captain Crunch. I felt the Lord whisper, "There are better things", but I rationalize that I deserved it ('deserved it' can get me in big trouble). So i pour the cereal and milk, sat down with Emmajoy, and inhaled a huge bite. AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEE - sour milk and it wasn't even out of date... God could not get my attention by speaking so He turned the milk into sour! I'm done, let's go to bed! You have any experiences like that? Let's hear!
This verse above is really talking about coming together as Christians and fellowshipping. It is talking about making sure we encourage one another to keep coming into the fellowship - church - and to not miss out. I am not sure people understand how much they are missed even if they are not told when they miss church. I can speak from an aerobics perspecitive - when the ladies don't show up it makes class a bummer. I get so much energy from a full class and am encouraged just to walk in and see everyone ready to go. The ladies we have coming right now are wild women and I love it. They talk back to me during class, they scream when it burns, they are just trying their dog-gone hardest - it is unbelievable to be part of it! It is like having my friend Mellissa Guinn from Charlotte in the class times 15 - there are a bunch of her!!! JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Lord!
I can not tell you how many times people will leave the church because no one called them to say they are missed. I can completely understand where the people are coming from, BUT....... when they were here who were they calling to say they missed them? It goes both ways. I do good to make sure I have 6 heads in the car, mine included, going to church and then getting back home. I can hardly think who was not there. But the one way to make sure we are constantly encouraged is to be an encourager. Kind of like to have a friend, you have to be a friend. The Christian life is nothing more than a constant giving of oursleves. If we receive anything back, then praise Him, but do not expect it.
With that giving mind in perspecitive the verse above says "let us consider". That consider there means to contemplate. "How we may spur one another on" That spur means to move someone in a direction for results and it actually means doing something for them. So giving... it might take some work. Many times it will not be a rash or rushed decision. Now just because He gives you a quick idea doesn't mean it is not a valid one or one to not take seriously in doing for someone. He works that way often in my life - Do this or that................now! Sometimes i react, sometimes not. But the main point is that we are to consider - contemplate, look for ways, be creative (ugh) - how we can spur one another one - move each other in the direction to be encouraged.
The last verse says that we are to "encourage one another". That is not needed to be explained, but I did look up encourage. We are to be like Christ and He is our encourager. Advocate is the most common word used for Jesus as it pertains to encourage. He speaks to the Father on our behalf - praying for us. How cool is that??? In the greek it is parakletos!! I love that word.
So friends - it is going to take a movement, effort on our part to encourage one another to achieve what He has called us to. We have to encourage one another - spur one another on towards love and good deeds - and good eating. When we feel a moment of weakness coming on - to overeat, to eat cruddy food, to not go to church, not attend Bible study, to skip out of aerobics, to not meet with a friend.................... pick up the phone and call someone. Because here is the deal if things work the way the Lord intends them to - someone calls you for a "spur on" and you do just that. Encourage them off the ledge and back to right thinking - rational thinking - you do not need another Little Debbie Swiss Cake roll. Then when it is your turn for a 'spur on' you have someone to call for encouragement. That is what God means when He says to not give up meeting together. Come together as often as possible, but when you are down do not give up on one another - spur on!!!
You all that left comments have spurred me on and those of you that sent emails have done the same - thank you! I hope these next 39 days can do the same for you. That is right - one day gone and done with and victory to claim!!! Yeah!!! Be encourged my friends!! Take "it" to your friends, but don't ever neglect the greatest encourager of all - The Parakletos!! I love you, Lord!
5 comments:
Girl, if he can turn water into wine you know souring milk ain't nothin' but a "thang" to Him!! haha
Mine's not quite that good, but I was going at 11:00 the other night because I was DYING for something to eat. I went to the fridge - nothing looked good (that is the apples, oranges, celery, carrots of course) so I went to the pantry. Found my 100 calorie pack fudge stripe cookies and thought - oh yeah I'll be good and have this little snack. Picked up the brand new box - EMPTY! Little fingers had taken them! Went to bed ready to spank some kids! haha
Love this 40 days idea! Can't wait to see what He does with it!
V
Heh, girl! Love the spoiled milk!!!! God has given me a "way of escape" so many times I can't even count them all!(1Corin. 10:13- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But, when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it)
One of my favorite ones was though was at a picnic with my family. We had stopped to get Kentucky Fried Chicken. I had eaten a little bit and was satisfied and didn't need to eat anymore. But.....I WANTED one more biscuit. And, like you, ignored God's sweet, gentle "no." So, He sent bees to give me the message loud and clear! Now, you have to know I HATE bees, am afraid of them, RUN from them! Picture our family at the time- 3 kids, Brian and I sitting at the picnic table in the park and there is a swarm of bees buzzing only ME!!!! They were sitting, enjoying their dinner. I had to get up and run away from the table (and the food!). I had to laugh and thank God for His clever way of escape!
May I make a suggestion, dear friend? Now, God has laid this upon my heart, so you pray about it for yourself! For the last few months God has called us to eat healthier, too. More fruit and veggies, less junk food, more water, NO pop.... But, we have been doing it as a family. Captain Crunch cereal is not good for you, but also not good for your beautiful children. He has shown ME (again, you think and pray for your own family) that if I don't help my children NOW make healthy choices that they will have the same battles and struggles when they grow up. Oh, Leigh, I do not want that for them! I have been in bondage to food and battled against it for so long. I don't want them to have any food issues- going to IT instead of God for comfort, using it to calm them, etc. And, I want their bodies to be healthy. If you don't have the yucky stuff in the house, then, it won't be a temptation for you, either.
With that said, remember not to be "legalistic" about it. God has called you to a 40 day fast of junk, and that is one thing. But, a taco isn't evil, and having one once in awhile when you are hungry is OK! I will be praying for you during your fast. Here is one more cool thing. God called me to fast from pop (soda, whatever you call it, depending on where you live!) a while back. That was HARD! I lived on it- loved it. Had to have my diet coke everday. It is a baaaaaad thing- diet coke and God did not want me to be abusing my body by drinking so much of it. It took over a month of fasting from it, but God gave me strength to break the addiction- praise God!!! But, now I felt a release and God has assured me that I may drink a diet coke once in awhile in moderation.
So, let me encourage you my friend! I thank God for your beautiful heart and your joyful obedience.
Love you!!!!!!!!
yes i have had those stories many a time thanks to my stubborn, independent nature. i'm feeling the soreness of one of those right this minute. i was fed-up (how do you spell that?) with the way our house looked (i have 3 college roommates) and decided i was going to clean and then leave a note so they would A)know i had cleaned
B)thank me for doing it
C)be more thoughtful about the MESS in our 'common' rooms where people hang out...
obviously my attitude was not reflecting Col. 3:17 (which is our house motto when it comes to keeping things tidy and helping each other)...so as i was taking out the trash i slipped on the WET wooden steps out back and busted my behind in the worst way. do i think God pushed me down the steps? LOL--NO WAY. do i think this huge scrape on my behind will keep my attitude in check for a while? UM...YES. :)
thanks for continuing to bless me daily...you are so great!!
[ps...i love ms. lisa :) ]
Abby - Lisa ia precious treasure to me - go visit her everyday to encourage her to write more - she is so blessed!! Love, Leigh
Tracy - I hear you and i thank you!! You are such an increidble woman of GOd - thank you for your encouragement!! Love, Leigh
Post a Comment