“To know someone here or there with whom you feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts unexpressed – that can make of this earth a garden.”
-  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When I first read this I thought, of course, of myself and how I could be that person for someone. Silly me. Selfish me. Then I thought of Christ. Therein lies the challenge, to encourage others in the confidence that Christ is there with understanding. The absence of this confidence would seem to be the absence of faith.

May you all find the confidence that you are not alone, and share that with others who struggle to feel the same.

“This is our destiny in heaven-to be like Christ: not Christ limited, as he was on earth, to the confines of time and flesh, but Christ risen, the great, free, timeless Christ of the Easter morning.”
–David Winter

Through a strange twist, I found this quote this morning. Sure, it isn’t Easter, but what day isn’t a day for celebrating the risen Lord? Come on, we sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” at church this last Sunday, and while it felt odd at first, it was a great song for any day.

When I think of being Christ-like, usually what I conjure up is His perfection, His knowledge, His ability, His compassion. And, as Winter’s words reminded me: His time. But this morning it was not in terms of the timing of things that happen when I want. It was more of how I easily think of time in a linear fashion only. A cause and affect. For example, I pray after this or that happens. But my pondering this morning is could I pray for someone in the midst of a situation they already went through? Situations for which I at the time of my prayer I do not know the outcome. Well, what happens with those prayers?

For example, last week I know someone who had surgery. I do not know the very minute that the knife began its work, but I was praying for a successful surgery. At some point my prayers for a successful surgery may have happened after the actual surgery. Are my prayers then meaningless prayers? Or suppose I am praying for a friend or relative across the country to find comfort in the hours before they go to be with the Lord. Although I do not know that they have already passed. Again, what of my prayers?

I want to and will believe that those prayers matter. I do not have to understand how. But my God, my omnipresent God, who is not bound by time, is a compassionate God. One who listens to the prayers of His people, even ones like me. He already knows my prayers of tomorrow and the next day.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24

What I find AMAZING also is that I found myself reading 1 Thessalonians as I pondered things this morning. Verse 16 and 17 speak of rejoicing always and praying without ceasing. Then verse 18 – “in everything give thanks”. AWESOME!

“More men fail through ignorance of their strength than fail through knowledge of their weakness.”
– Unknown

Last night I spent quite a bit of time thinking and writing about the quote above. This morning I got to my computer, selected it all, and hit the delete key.

The angle that I was looking at it from last night was one of comparing my strengths with those of others. To other writers. To other carpenters. To others who have walked in the ministry of God. Does God compare me to Langston Hughes? Or to Frederich Buechner? Or to Bob Villa?

But this morning I woke up with Philippians 2:3 running through the front of my mind -
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

For me, I think God wanted me to do one thing: be aware of how I am ignorant of the strengths of others by focusing on their weaknesses, by focusing on first impressions, by judging them. He wanted me to focus on being of encouragement. What it is about is seeing others as better because of their unique strengths that God has given them, helping others to use their strengths. When I do not help others to recognize or be confident in their God-given abilities, I fail my Lord and Savior. Encourage others to recognize what God has blessed them with, even when they struggle to do so. And no, that isn’t always easy. Some do not want to be encouraged, but that does not mean I stop trying. If I truly see another through God’s eyes, really see their God-given potential, why would I stop reaching out to them?

Personally, I am blessed by so many who have encouraged me by their words pointing to my abilities. (Thank you so much). Were it not for those words, I doubt I would continue to write. This morning I reignited my purpose in writing – to encourage others. In encouraging others, I have found out a lot about myself along the way. In giving I have received.

Colossians 2:2-3 -
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

WOW! So much comes from simple encouragement!
–

In His service,
Keith