by Tiffany Zylstra | Jul 16, 2015
Encouragement is an easy, selfless act anyone can do.
Encouragement comes from a heart of love. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we receive the instruction “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Here are 25 ways to encourage people around you.
1. Give a sincere compliment.
2. Flowers. Store bought or picked on the side of the road.
3. Lend a helping hand.
4. Send a card in the mail letting someone know you’re thinking of them.
5. Bake something and share. Who doesn’t love a fresh chocolate chip cookie?
6. Give a hug. Studies have shown that hugs lower blood pressure and can heighten your sense of belonging.
7. Pass along a book that changed you.
8. Thank someone. Many people work in thankless jobs (store clerks, teller at the bank, grocery store bagger, church custodian, etc,) let them know you are grateful for their help.
9. When you are introducing someone, share a few words about a talent or gift they have.
10. Celebrate accomplishments. Large or small.
11. Write a letter or email to someone’s boss. Did you receive exceptional service somewhere? Let the boss/owner know how pleased you were.
12. Tell someone how they encourage you.
13. Mow a yard. Rake some leaves.
14. Help a friend move. Rarely are people excited to move, but the daunting task of hauling boxes to the truck is always easier with more hands.
15. Make a meal. Know of someone who could use the night off?
16. Volunteer to watch kids. Let parents have a date night or the ability to go grocery shopping sans children.
17. Pray with someone immediately when they share a need.
18. Use social media to pass along thoughtful words.
19. Listen. Sit down with a friend for a glass of tea and let them talk.
20. Be a bingo caller. Nursing homes are filled with people who have very few visitors. Go spend time with the elderly doing an activity like calling for bingo.
21. Volunteer. This almost turns into a selfish act because of how amazing you feel at the end of assisting. Make a difference with Special Olympics, the local food bank, or homeless shelter.
22. During your quiet time lift friends up in prayer.
23. Send someone serving in the military a care package.
24. Praise a parent.
25. Buy something for someone else. Pay for someone’s gas. Buy the person’s groceries in front of you.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!” Psalm 100:1. What is your favorite way to encourage someone?
by Kelly King | Jun 5, 2015
In the past year, studies reveal that approximately 22 former soldiers are committing suicide each day in the aftermath of post-war experiences in the Middle East.
Discussions were also fueled in the past year when the movie, “American Sniper” depicted the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In 2013, The Guardian reported U.S. military forces were in the midst of a suicide epidemic, citing that 349 service members committed suicide in 2012, compared to 295 who died in combat. To say life after war is more dangerous than life in the midst of battle is alarming. How should the church respond to this recent epidemic? Should the church respond?
Obviously, the church should be aware of PTSD, knowing the signs of PTSD and sharing the Gospel with those in distress. Two years ago, Woman’s Mission Union (WMUã), an auxiliary of the Southern Baptist Convention, adopted PTSD as its critical issue to address in the church. In their efforts to bring about awareness, the issue of PTSD is complicated and goes beyond those who have served our military. This critical issue is sitting in your pews, but how will you respond?
First, understand that anyone who has been affected by a traumatic event can be susceptible to PTSD. Most people relate PTSD to military personnel, but others who might be affected include first responders, victims of a natural disaster, victims of childhood trauma, or victims of sexual abuse.
Second, there is a difference between Post-Traumatic Stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a diagnosable mental disorder and continues to bring distress for a long period of time. Post-Traumatic Stress is usually short-term, but has many of the same symptoms such as bad dreams, nervousness, or anxiety. To learn more, visit this helpful link.
Third, know the signs of suicidal tendencies. Isolation, aggression, substance abuse, self-harm, depression and other factors contribute to suicidal thoughts. If someone you know expresses suicidal thoughts, find help immediately. Be mindful of young adults taking prescription medications for anxiety and depression. While some find relief with medication, the side affect of increased suicidal thoughts is real.
Finally, most people affected with PTSD need others to walk with them through their journey. It’s easy for believers to want to “fix” people, but how can we learn to “embrace” people? Just as the church needs community with believers, those struggling with PTSD need people who will lend a listening ear and extend the Gospel with grace and love. Consider recovery groups or provide a resource with professional Biblical counselors in your community who can help others. In addition, consider how you help family members of those affected by PTSD. Many times they are the silent sufferers sitting in your Sunday School class or Bible Study.
If you would like additional resources to help you and your church reach out to those with PTSD, visit the WMU website.
by James Hunt | May 27, 2015
I grew up in church and remember scheduled revivals. You know what I mean if you’ve been church life for awhile. The pastor or staff schedules a special guest speaker to come in and preach for two-to-three days or more. The special occasion is dubbed a revival. Whether or not revival actually occurs is another story; nevertheless, the moniker sticks.
All my life I have heard people pray for revival. And who hasn’t heard the pastor wax eloquent regarding the need for revival in our land? I thank God for the prophetic voices of revival preachers reminding us that we are to walk in personal holiness before the Lord of glory. It is so easy to allow sin to slide into our souls and subtly begin to share space that belongs to the Lord Jesus. The shifts of our hearts and minds happen gradually like rising water eroding away riverbank. Certainly what is needed is a return to holiness in our lives!
Though revival preachers remind us of the need for a holy walk before the Lord God. It is my contention that this is not all there is to revival. If the sum total of our quest for revival is a return to personal holiness then revival is not understood in its fullest and most biblical context. I think a better model for revival is found in James 1:27 wherein is described by the Holy Spirit what constitutes pure religion.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” [emphasis mine].
Pure religion consists of two things:
- Showing mercy to the marginalized, as illustrated by the mention of orphans and widows.
- Keeping oneself unstained from the world.
Let’s address the latter one first: For true religion to exist in our lives we must deal with personal sin. We cannot expect vibrant fellowship with the Lord Jesus when we sacrifice our values and morals on the altar of popular cultural opinion. We must cleanse ourselves of impurity and pursue godliness so that we are unstained by the world’s philosophical values, morals, and ethics. We must look heavenward and embrace what matters to God – what is right and true.
But true revival must include more than a return to personal holiness. It must also include a turning out to personal action toward those who are powerless. It is this second point that I think is lacking in much of the emphasis that still remains in our pursuit of revival. Often times when we hear revival, we think of how much our country is going down hill. We don’t often talk about how the church should be moving toward the down and out in Jesus’ name – firmly holding onto truth and the mission of God on the one hand and demonstrating the compassion and mercy of Jesus in the other. We need a James 1:27 revival.
by James Hunt | Mar 31, 2015
As I write, I’m well aware that we are in Passion Week leading up to Easter Sunday. In addition to my preparations for preaching and leading at this weekend’s worship services I am also trying to prepare for my family’s big Easter celebration.
I am looking forward to spending time with my extended family. This is one of the few times of the year we all try to gather together for a meal and fellowship. I have three siblings living in Oklahoma along with their spouses and children. My mother also lives in the area. With more than 20 family members present, there is a lot of noise and busyness making for a pretty lively gathering. Easter is one of those big family days. At least that’s the way it’s always been for me.
This past Saturday on the northeast side of Oklahoma City, First Southern Baptist Church of Guthrie was invited to partner with Council Road Baptist Church of Bethany to serve at an OKDHS adoption fair. I have served at six of these events.
It was an odd experience for me this year to have some of the foster kids recognize me, smile, and say hello. In normal circumstances, being recognized and greeted is a pleasant experience. However, the reality is that the reason some of them recognized me is because they have been at multiple adoption fairs over the last few years – still without getting chosen for adoption.
If they are in a Christian home, they will observe Easter, but not with family. They will do so with the knowledge that they are the outsiders – the ones who don’t belong … really. How I long for each of these kids to have permanent families.
I believe our Heavenly Father wants this too. Imagine if Christians began to see adoption in light of the command of Jesus to carry a cross and identify with His sufferings. How many more undesirable older kids would be changed from legal orphans to sons and daughters?
Many people get on the road to adoption because their hearts are stirred by an emotional appeal. I’ve been there and done that. But the truth is an emotional appeal is not something that will sustain you in the long run.
Adoption is hard. It’s difficult filling out the paperwork and waiting for approval. It’s stressful to wait for the right child to be placed in your home. And just when you think the biggest challenges are over because you finally have the child in your home, you soon realize the difficulty and pain have just begun.
Many times, adoption is choosing to pick up a cross and bear it with joy and determination. A cross is something that is done intentionally for the honor and purpose and glory of God, though it may cause you suffering and harm.
The real tragedy of Easter this year is that there are many Christians who will look internally and celebrate God’s blessings; yet, will not look externally to bless others who do not have a real home or family. May God’s grace continue to wake up His church, and may all those children desiring to be picked, discover the love of God in Christ through His people as they open up their hearts and homes.
May Christians choose to bring children in and change them from orphans to sons and daughters through adoption. Oh, and I hope some kids will have new Easter outfits purchased by their new moms and dads this time next year. If you want to find out more information on fostering or adoption, please contact me at 405.503.4092 or email 20yearsshepherd@gmail.com.
by Tiffany Zylstra | Mar 25, 2015
I’ve been reading through Nehemiah. While the book is one of my favorites, what really struck me this time was all of the people coming together for a cause.
“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate… The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah…repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth… Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that…”
Chapter 3 is filled with one person after another from a variety of backgrounds who would not be traditionally working together. Rulers, goldsmiths, perfume-makers, sons, daughters, laborers, merchants, temple servants all worked together. The list goes on and on.
Regardless of if families had fought against each other, at this point in history they were working together, side by side. Each took pride in their section of the wall and without arguing or disputes. Together they built the wall.
This thought of “together” can apply to current life. It is so easy to get caught up in laser beam focus. Neglecting to help that lady struggling to put her groceries in her car. Or volunteering time to help pack backpacks for hungry kids at the local food bank. Soccer games have to be watched. The can’t-miss tv show is on tonight, no time to help the neighbor pull weeds.
This year, due to reading through Nehemiah, I’ve challenged myself to be more open to helping or working next to people I haven’t interacted with in the past. Stopping to ask people if I can help shovel or load groceries or when I find out a need being open to give what I have.
Small groups are great for so many reasons, but one of the best is being able to help in mass. A task that seems daunting for one person becomes attainable for a group of people. Nehemiah 6:15 says “(together) the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” Together we can change our community.
by Wade Crews | Jan 12, 2015
My teenage son and I enjoy the “oldies” radio station together. Recently, we surfed YouTube for videos of 60’s music and Smothers Brothers clips. For some reason, a 17-year-old loves 50-year-old music. It is a very enjoyable thing to take a “Magic Carpet Ride” with him and sing in the car to Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys and others. He knows the songs, but not the groups as much.
To me, it doesn’t seem like those songs are 40 or 50 years old. On January 8, Elvis turned 80! How can that be? I remember Elvis. I lived the Apollo moon landings and Skylab. I drank Tang. How can time go by that fast? I was in High School when Elvis died. Now I am 10 years older than Elvis when he died.
I was fortunate to recently be able to move out of one career and into another. I feel so blessed and humbled in my present work. I am the Assistant Senior Adult Pastor at my church. Talk about not feeling worthy! It is very rewarding and humbling to serve Older Adults.
Maybe it is like when you get a new car. All of a sudden you notice almost everyone has the same kind of car. I have noticed something. Throughout the Bible, God most often uses older adults in the way He works. Grandparents are very influential on their grandchildren. Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah, and Noah was the only righteous dude on the planet.
Moses was 80 before he was needed to go back to Egypt. Wow! 80 years old to begin his work is a huge message to our seniors today. There’s not enough space in this blog to note all the seniors God used in the Bible, from the widow and her mite to an old Apostle exiled on an island to receive a special Revelation. God uses Seniors! Occasionally there is a boy with fishes and loaves, or a young shepherd slays a giant, or a beautiful young woman becomes a queen, but more often than not…. God uses Seniors!
If you are a Senior Adult, you need to know, God has a plan for your life today and there are many things He needs you to do. “How do you know this?” you ask. Because you’re still here! You have friends and neighbors and grandchildren or their friends who need to be prayed for, loved on and witnessed to. There is still much work to do. In the God’s Word, the book of Hebrews talks about needing endurance because life is such a long run.
Hebrews 12:1 -3(NASB)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:12-13 (NASB) Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Our hands may be feeble and our knees may be weak – either from fear or age, but…..You are still in the race, you still have influence, you may need to talk about Christ to your grandkids or their friends. We need to finish strong and run with good form – because we have such a great cloud of witnesses.
Anyone can be an “Oldie”, but it requires effort to be a “Goodie”.