“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3.13; ESV)
I am not the great encourager, but I try to pick up folks when they are down. It is easy to encourage someone, give them them a little of your time. A quick five minute pause in your day will not harm your schedule. In fact, taking five minutes to encourage someone else might make your day a little better.
Quick Five Minute Thoughts:
Send three people a quick email to let them know you are praying for them.
Leave a note on someone’s Facebook page.
Send someone an encouraging card.
Make someone a quick card and let them know you are thinking about them.
Call someone and see how they are doing.
Pick some flowers and give to someone you do not know.
Pray for someone.
Will you take five minutes to encourage someone today?
This is written from the perspective of a visitor.
A few years ago, my family and I took the entire month of February away from local ministry and travelled to various congregations, both near and far, and enjoyed some time with our brethren. We learned much about the attitudes of congregations towards visitors and it is reflected in the words below.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.
Here the are, “6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation”
“When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors but no one spoke to me.”
“I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought living for Jesus was a joy not a bore.”
“I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”
“Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew of you.”
“I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
“You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class for my children. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”
“Before you can change the world, you must change yourself.”
I have heard the above quote many times, but have no idea who said it first. The quote is absolutely true, we must begin to change ourselves before we change the world. When we change, the world sees a change in us and they want to make the positive change too. Here are some words found in the back of No More Mondays by Dan Miller (page 241) attributed as found on a tomb dated A.D. 1100 of an Anglican Bishop at Westminster Abbey:
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, Then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have changed the world.
Today is Monday and I will be happy. I choose the happiness of a Monday, consciously and actively. I will not complain about my health today because I am alive to appreciate the health that I do have. I will not gloat over the small of things, because the smallest of things try men’s souls so we may appreciate every breath. I will choose happiness of time even though I might run out of time in a day, because some people will not see the end of today.
I will choose happiness on a Monday and here are 21 reasons why:
I have a family who loves me and I love them.
I can share moments with my children before they grow up to fast.
I have a home to call my own to shield me from the elements.
I can walk around the neighborhood with my family this evening.
I have bills that I can pay, which means I have a career to enjoy.
I can pray and know that God hears me.
I have a yard to mow, because I have something of my own.
I can call someone to let them know we care.
I have more than one Bible to read how God would have me to live today.
I can relax in my rocking chair in the morning while the dew is on the ground.
I have the ability to see the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening. (Lord willing)
I can tell someone how richly blessed they can be in Christ.
I have food on my table instead of being hungry.
I can bless someone else with what God has given me.
I have the ability to live in a free country.
I can hear the music of my MP3 player.
I have eyes that can read and I can read.
I can smell the rain coming to Gadsden/Southside.
I have Christ.
I can speak, even when no one listens.
I have been blessed more than I deserve.
Today is Monday and I choose to be happy. I will let the blessing in my life fill my cup because of the One who always blesses.
Sunday is usually a big day for many Christians because they will gather together with those of like mind and spending time worshipping the One how blesses us every day. The spiritual family we call the church is bigger than ourselves and allows us shoulders to cry on, people to rejoice with and burdens to share.
I am little biased to church because I grew up knowing that I could not make it on my own and there is a large support network (worldwide even) that is there for me whenever I need them. I was simply blessed from the beginning. Are you part of a spiritual family?
This Sunday, I hope a few things happen in all of our congregations. Here are my hopes…
I hope that every member considers one another this morning. There will be someone at services who has had a horrible week and will not tell anyone. They will put on a face of joy, but deep down their heart breaks. I wonder if they will ask their spiritual family to prayer for them.
I hope each member welcomes visitors into our assemblies. It is hard enough visiting, but it can be made harder when no one speaks to you. May our brethren stretch forth their hands to welcome those who visit.
I hope each member understands the brief sermon is presented after countless hours of thoughts, prayers and study. Even though it is over in 30 minutes, the knowledge it contains will reach to eternity.
I hope every minister knows they are loved. Whether it be the outpouring from the brethren or the encouraging words of a visitor, I hope each minister knows God cares for them and will always watch over them.
I hope to see my brethren in services, but if not, I hope they reach out to the ones who are absent; a card, note or call is an uplifting message to those who cannot make it to services.
Summertime is upon us and summertime brings a vacation challenge.
As you know, before moving to Gadsden, we lived on the coast of South Carolina. When you live near the beach, every summer brings an increase of attendance due to vacationers to South Carolina’s beautiful coast. On any given Sunday, the congregation where we were located saw an increase of 10% in attendance once the vacation season begins. It was a blessing to see church members from across the country join our congregation during our time of assembled worship and our Bible classes.
I always appreciate the faith and the spirit of those who take time away from their vacation to spend with brothers and sisters in Christ. Their faith is shown in their desire to meet with their extended spiritual family as they are away from home.
When people visited the congregation, about half of them go away with some connection to our church family. The congregation was made up of people from across the United States and eventually half of the visitors and members find a person or a congregation to be a common bond. Of course, the greatest common bond is God. Remember, our citizenship is in heaven, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3.20; ESV)
Vacations provide a luxury to many people even in a troubled economy while allowing us to leave our troubles behind; at least for a couple days and relax. When you take a vacation, do you continue to worship with the saints? I have found some people taking a vacation from physical work, also take a vacation from their spiritual work. Let this not be the case in your life; stay strong in your faith and strong to your spiritual family. Enjoy the riches God provides for you, even in a strange town.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15.58; ESV)
Allow your vacation to be an opportunity to strengthen your faith as you meet to worship with extended spiritual family. Let them be a blessing to you as you are a blessing to them.
Let us not take a vacation from church lest one day, we take a vacation from Heaven.
