The Power of An Encouraging Word

We all go through them. Periods of discouragement. A day, a week , a month when we feel like we’re not making any headway. We wonder if what we’re doing is making a difference. We may even contemplate giving up.

Different things cause discouragement for different people. For writers, discouragement tries to move in for various reasons. Maybe it happens when a rejection letter comes or when our newsletter readership doesn’t grow or—oh, the horror—declines. It can also happen when book sales disappoint or when we’ve put our words out there but then don’t hear any feedback from readers. The list goes on.

One of these things alone may not send us spiraling downward, but let the blows come one on top of another, and you may find us in a corner clutching our blankies.

You know what can change our whole outlook, though—writers as well as everyone else? A simple word of encouragement or appreciation. Such a gesture boosts our spirits and provides the renewed energy we need to keep pressing on. Such a gesture makes all the difference. There is power in an encouraging word.

Who can you encourage today?

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

*How has someone encouraged you recently? 

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Midweek Morsel: Our Powerful God

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Do you need a reminder today of God’s great power?

Sometimes if we’re not staying in close communion with our heavenly Father, we can begin feeling like everything is up to us. And that can be a very heavy burden to bear. Instead, we need to remember that we have the all-powerful God of the universe in our corner. We can let him carry the load.

The Word of God is filled with descriptions of the power of God, but today let’s look at just a few verses about the power of the Lord’s voice. After reading these verses, we’ll never want to rely on our own power again!

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

. . . The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’” Psalm 29:3-5; 7-9

Awe-inspiring, huh? And this is just one aspect of God’s power! I wonder if any of us are standing in need of God’s power today. Let’s call on him without delay!

*When has God shown himself all-powerful to you?

*Flickr photo by chris chabot, Creative Commons License

Giveaway Winner Plus Power-of-Our-Words Quote

4686348235_444f5f004c_zAnother Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is now in the books. And I’m happy to announce that with the help of RANDOM.ORG, we have a winner of the $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. That lucky Life Notes subscriber is . . . Chandi! Congrats, Chandi, and enjoy!

As always, I wish I could give a gift card to each and every subscriber, but since I can’t do that, allow me to encourage and inspire you with a great quote today. In his book Love Does, here’s what Bob Goff has to say about the power of our words:

“Words can launch us. We don’t need to be a dean [of admissions] to say words that change everything for someone. Instead, God made it so that ordinary people like you and me can launch each other . . . I believe it’s true that the right people can say words that can change everything. And guess what? We’re the ones who can say them.”

Friends, our words have power. Let’s use them to encourage, comfort, challenge, and inspire others. Let’s use them to launch one another. Let’s use them for good.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1Thessalonians 5:11

*When has someone’s words launched you or made a difference for you?

*Flickr photo by bengrey, Creative Commons License