Subject: A Thought of the Week (Let Us All Be a Difference-Maker) from Brother Michael - 12/30/2013

December 30, 2013

Brother,

 

I hope and pray all is well with you and your family and that you had an awesome CHRISTmas.

 

“But encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

 - Hebrews 3:13

The Christmas holidays are such a special time of the year. The anticipation, excitement, traditions, spiritual aspects, and activities powerfully impact children of all ages and become wonderfully etched in our minds for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, the Christmas season is also the most painful and lonely time of year for many. People are recovering from stressors ranging from the lack of enough money for gifts, fear of the credit card bills to come, disappointment from not getting the gifts they expected or hoped for, weariness from travels and rushing around, extra weight, or a cold from a month of poor health habits. to conflicts with a spouse or family member over where to “celebrate” or over other traditions and activities that needed altering to fit the hustle and bustle of the season.

Sadly, some have even worse stress like being estranged from someone we love – for trivial or serious reasons. Many are missing a loved one who will be absent from the celebration due to death, divorce, addiction, suicide, or incarceration. You see, addictions develop as coping mechanisms to “help” us deal with stress. So in this very stress-filled season, many fall prey to their addictions in order to cope. Whether alcohol, drugs, pornography, food, gambling, shopping, anger, guilt, self-pity, TV, sports, our kids, or details, we all have an addiction object that gets us through our more difficult times. But for some, this relapse is the start of a very destructive spiral, both to them and the individuals around them.

So many factors have the potential to bring us down. These struggles are amplified just after Christmas, when Christmas expectations go unmet and the foreboding empty days of winter lie ahead. Many people really suffer during this next 3-month stretch.

But we can be a difference-maker. This is the time of year when we can make an impact (more powerful than we could ever imagine) by taking the time to encourage those who are struggling. In the Hebrews passage above, the word “encourage” comes from the Greek word “parakletos,” which means “called alongside to help.” Encouragement can be offering an uplifting word, but it can also be so much more than that, such as an opportunity to come alongside and help in a more powerful way.

Showing someone they have value and dignity, offering respect by taking action, doing something for them has an amazing influence on others’ thoughts and feelings. Show that they matter to us and to God by putting aside our needs in favor of theirs. The idea of being created in God’s image and having value, so much so that God sacrificed His Son for them, needs to be brought tangibly to them. We are the vehicles God will use to get them this life-saving and life-transforming message.

Today, how about we think of someone who needs us “alongside” them to help: our spouse, parent, child, neighbor, work colleague, or friend, or maybe someone we will meet today for the first time? When we stand alongside and offer help, we become a powerful vessel through which God channels courage, hope and happiness. We have the Holy Spirit within us, and we will bring Him directly to them. What better gift do we have to give than this? God will even bring people to us. Whether we are alert and step up to the plate to help someone, or we turn away and ignore their struggle is something I encourage us all to do this each and every day.

Let us pray, Dear Father God, we thank You for sending Jesus to encourage us. We thank You for Your Holy Word that offers encouragement each time we open the Bible. We thank You for making it possible for us to encourage others. We pray, Lord, that You are helping us to become a courageous and faithful servant who encourages others. We pray in the name of the one You sent to encourage us, Jesus Christ.  In Your Holy and Precious Name – AMEN.

Have a great, safe and BLESSED New Years Eve.  I look forward to seeing, sharing and spending time with you in 2014.

 

Remember, as always, I am here for you in thought, prayer and action – 24x7.

 

STAY STRONG!

 

Love-Your Brother and Friend in Christ,

 

Michael
(484)431-9336 (Home & Cell)
(484)595-9744 (Work)