Ring On!

“The Lord’s message rang out from you . . .” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 NIV

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know that I want my writing—whether here or in other venues—to be a source of refreshment, encouragement, and nourishment for all who read it. I hope you’ve been blessed and have heard the Lord speak to your heart when you’ve dropped by.

But you know what? That works both ways. Many of you have blessed me at different times by telling me that my words have touched you in some way or that God has given you, through my writing, just the word you needed to hear on that particular day. I can’t tell you what an encouragement that is to me. Those are the kinds of things that keep a writer writing.

In fact, your words—whether through blog comments, your own blog posts, messages on Facebook, or words spoken face to face—have many times been just the words I needed to hear.

Sometimes it’s been a message of encouragement from the Lord to help me stay committed to the calling He’s given me, but many other times He’s spoken through you to give me strength, wisdom, or direction for any number of personal issues I’ve faced.

What it boils down to is this: You don’t have to be a writer or a teacher or a preacher for the Lord’s message to ring out from you. You can simply be you. All you need is a willingness to speak words of kindness, truth, inspiration, thanks, wisdom, comfort, or encouragement. So ring on, my friends, ring on!

“But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.” Job 16:5

*How have someone’s words been a message of God ringing out to you recently?

*The current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out last week. It’s still not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Be sure to enter the Cool Cash for a Hot Date Giveaway. Deadline is noon Sunday.

*Flickr photo by alykat, Creative Commons License

Comments

  1. Once again you encouraged me. I sooo appreciate you!

  2. Yes, words can build up or tear down. Life is so much more pleasant when we’re building each other up!

  3. “You don’t have to be a writer or a teacher or a preacher for the Lord’s message to ring out from you. You can simply be you.” Love these lines Cheryl. It is so, so true. Your thoughtful and insightful words are an inspiration to all of us.

  4. last friday, i was feeling really down. then my new landlady wrote that she’d just checked out my website and “fell in love.” it lifted me up more than i can say. i was so grateful she took the time to encourage me- a total stranger.

    words have such power. you’re so right, we should use them to lift each other up.

  5. Thanks, ladies, for sharing your thoughts. So appreciate each comment. You’re right, Vonda, life is much more pleasant when we’re building each other up.

    Nancy and Mairead, am so glad this post was an encouragement and inspiration to you, and Sarah, thanks so much for sharing a recent example from your life. What a difference kind words can make!

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