Did you know you’re being watched?

Your every move. Your every word. Whether you like it or not you’re being measured, scrutinized and analyzed. They are looking for evidence, something…anything to condemn you as a hypocrite and discredit all you believe.

If you are a Christian you live in a zoo.

What you eat. What you drink. How you treat your spouse and kids. How you spend your time and money. Are you happy or are you sad?

You are a source of tremendous curiosity. After all you are an oddity, something to behold.

Can a family really give ten percent of their money and still pay their bills? Can a man be faithful to his wife and not be bored? Would somebody really give up their Sunday mornings and still have a life? Could somebody surrender their life to God and still be free?

They will poke at you. Prod at you. Try to get you to curse, or get drunk or join in the gossip. Your witness is so fragile, so easily destroyed.

How will you respond? With anger? Will you hide in the shadows? Deny who you are? Try to get out of the spotlight and just blend in?

Or will they see someone flawed? Broken. Forgiven and willing to forgive.

When they look into your eyes will they see the bruising of the world has worn you down and left you defeated? Or will they see a joy which confounds all understanding? A spirit drawn from an unyielding strength?

Because, if you are a Christian you live in a zoo.

For God has made you delightfully unique for all of the world to see His glory shine through you. Different shapes, sizes, colors, talents and circumstances, but infinitely loved all the same.

They want to observe and know. Is there something special about your life or is it as empty as theirs? Do you have answer to the deep yearning in their hearts?

For you are a living testimony. An example of the power of God to transform and renew in magnificent ways. A walking, breathing miracle.

And when they come to watch, will you be willing to share God’s precious work in your life with openness, humility and authenticity? Will you greet their curiosity with hospitality, grace and kindness?

Because, if you are a Christian you live in a zoo.

With Mothers Day here and Fathers Day approaching it’s time to bring up the age-old question: Does God love Moms more?

I am the son of an inspiring Mom, the husband of another, and the father of three daughters–not to mention the owner of one female yellow lab. So you couldn’t be faulted for worrying that this post is merely a prepared statement read by a man in a hostage situation.

But after careful and prayerful consideration, I am telling you the truth: God loves Moms more.

While us ol’ boys are out there attempting to slay paper dragons, climbing ladders to nowhere and bringing home the Bacon Bits, Mom was busy storing her treasures in Heaven.

Let’s face it, if Jesus would have driven a car, it would have been a minivan smelling of soccer socks and sour milk, with squashed Fruit Loops on the carpet and a bumper sticker saying, “My Kids Are Redeemed.”

Don’t believe me?

When God explains the greatness of his comforting touch, he uses Mom as the role model:

¹² For this is what the Lord says:
“I will extend peace to her like a river,
   and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
   and dandled on her knees.
¹³ As a mother comforts her child,
   so will I comfort you;
   and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 66:12-13

He also compares motherhood to purity:

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:1-3

Our world seems to devalue the contribution of baby stroller pushers in our society, but not so with the Lord of the Universe. Instead, you could say He is rather defensive about the importance of Mom’s duties.

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10: 13-16

He goes on to assert the similarities between childbirth and salvation:

²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
John 16:21

And what greater love is there for a woman to lay her life down for another…and another. Have you ever considered the profound miracle of motherhood? The moment that child arrives, its life becomes more important to a mother than her own.

Yet, the days of labor have only begun. Just like Jesus, she becomes Rabbi to her children.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31: 26

When necessary, she isn’t shy about laying down some Godly wrath. Armed with her wooden spoon and pointed finger, she takes the upbringing of her children with utmost responsibility.

¹⁵ A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
Proverbs 29:15

Despite bad hair days, barf towels on her shoulder and an apron around her waist, Mom is always at the pinnacle of haute couture:

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Proverbs 31:25

Her love is everlasting and endures, even when Mom’s teenagers make her park a block away when dropping them off at school. She loves their beautiful eyes, even when they are rolling at her, and doesn’t get offended when her brilliant speeches are always responded to with a  ”Whatever”. Mom’s steadfast with her older boys even though they never call. And when they finally do, she forgives them immediately and says, “I was just thinking about you.”

What does God think about Mom? He thinks she is royalty:

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Proverbs 31: 27-29

The world’s greatest evangelists? Paul knows who to thank for the faith of his protégé Timothy:

⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
2 Timothy 1:5

Courageous? While the great Apostle Peter was cowering in the crowd, Jesus’s Mom stood faithfully at His side, while they beat him and tore his clothes. And when He was about to die on the cross, the Son of God’s great concern was making sure Mom was in good hands:

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

Who is the greatest of all? When his disciples wanted to know who among them was the most important here was Jesus’s response:

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Mark 9:36

Raising children? It’s a divine task and no one does it better than Moms.

Of course, God did say David was a “man after His own heart” and he was awfully fond of Father Abraham. So can we really say God loves Moms more?

Yes. There. I did it.

Because I’m positive that when we arrive in Heaven, the streets of gold will be filled with Soccer Moms.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom. (Your card is in the mail.)

The mountain is too high. The road too long. No matter how hard I try, nothing ever seems to get better. Here we go again. There is no way out of this mess. Is this it? Is this all there is?

Ever been there? Feeling hopeless. Are you there now?

And how did we get there? In this dark, lonely place of hopelessness.

Hopelessness comes out of a wrong belief that we are in control of the circumstances of our life.

We have believed the societal lie that if we work hard enough, if we try hard enough, if we care enough, if we are good enough, that we will not only receive great results, but we will be deserving of them.

We become presumptuous, entitled and have expectations leading us to an inevitable path toward disappointment and ultimately despair.

The reality is we have no control of our circumstances.

There are marathon runners who have suddenly dropped dead from heart attacks. There are brilliant financial experts who have lost all of their wealth. There are hardworking farmers who suffer their crop to drought. There are prayerful, God fearing parents who lose their children to substance abuse. There are wonderful wives who have their husbands walk out on them.

And this becomes frustrating. Discouraging. What kind of God would allow such injustice to occur?

Why do we live in a world where the good guys lose while the bad guys prosper? It all just sounds…well, hopeless.

This was exactly the place the prophet Habakkuk was when he complained to God:

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.
Habbakkuk 1:2-4

Haven’t we all been there are at some point? Asking the question, “Why is life so unfair?”

The problem is this kind of thinking only spirals us deeper into hopelessness. It’s the deadly words of discouragement our enemy whispers in our ear.

Why even try? What’s the purpose? You’ll just fail again. 

Freedom from hopelessness comes from relinquishing the hopeless effort to control our circumstances.

As Christians we are simply called to obey God. The results are up to Him. Not just on this short time we are here on Earth but for all eternity.

We get in trouble when we try to demand results out of God. We disguise it with a veil of prayer, but our unworthy expectations are the same nonetheless.

A life of joy is simply attained by responding in ways we can control. Such as choosing to utter “Yes” and “Thank You”. There is great power in these words. This is where our hope lies.

Can you hear Me? Yes.

Will you follow Me? Yes.

Do you trust Me? Yes.

Here is what I will provide for you. Thank you Lord.

Here is My plan for you. Thank you Lord.

Come be with Me. Thank you Lord.

Our hope comes from our trust in Him. Our joy comes from the fruit of this trust.

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

There is hope in hopelessness, because it’s a reminder that we are not in control. That we must rely on God. And being dependent on Him is a good place to be.

Which happens to be the same conclusion the prophet Habakkuk arrived at toward the end of his book.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Want some genuine hope in your life? Pray that passage. Over and over again. Believe it to be true.

And you’ll truly see hopelessness as the lie that it is.

There is only one proper way to begin this post. That is with my deepest apologies.

For those of you who have been following my Blog for a while, you know I typically write articles at least twice a month and oftentimes a couple a week.

So how long has it been since I wrote a new post? Well, here’s your clue: When I published the last one they were still roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

Yes. It’s been a few months. Unfortunately, I had to put myself on a brief sabbatical. Not because I wanted to, but because it was the right thing to do.

I am scrambling away at completing Songs of the Shenandoah, the third novel in my Heirs of Ireland Series. Since the timeline was so tight for getting it to my publisher, I needed to hit the pause button on my Blog.

But, I did want to come up for a little air to share some St. Patrick’s Day cheer with you. My debut novel Flight of the Earls came out in January and thanks to many of you who are faithful readers it already ranks as one of the highest rated Christian historical novels on Amazon. Take a look at the reviews, they’ve been unbelievable…and humbling.

To celebrate we’re offering a St. Patrick’s Day special of only $2.99 for the book in eBook format (Kindle, Nook, etc.). I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out because I was hiding deep in my writing cave. Please hit the SHARE button and let your friends know as well.

The special ends St. Patrick’s Day, so don’t wait or it will be back to full price.

Here are the links for you to use:

AMAZON.COM
BARNES & NOBLE
CHRISTIANBOOK.COM

I am pleased to report I have PLENTY of new material for my Real Life. Real God. Blog and I can’t wait to dive back into my normal routine. I really do miss you all!

Anyway, please keep me in your prayers and I hope you enjoy Flight of the Earls.

As one of my beloved Blog readers I wanted you to know what a blessing you are to me. My prayers go out to you and your family during this time of celebration.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

May you have a wonderful time of rest, rejoicing and reflection on the birth of our Savior.

Flight of the Earls | Christmas Promotion
Many of you know I am the author of an upcoming historical fiction series called the Heirs of Ireland Series. Although we’re still a week out from the official launch date of Flight of the Earls, the debut novel in the series, my publisher wanted to get an early start on creating some buzz.

To this end, they are offering Flight of the Earls in eBook format for half price. ($4.99 instead of the usual $9.99 eBook price).

As one of my readers I wanted to make sure you had the opportunity to get the book at what will be its lowest offered eBook price (at least for several months). Feel free (and be encouraged) to share this through your social media links.

This promotion is only for a short time, so grab it while you can!

Here’s where the books are currently available online and they should be coming (or already arrived) to a store near you:

AMAZON.COM (Kindle available now, Book soon)
BARNES & NOBLE (Book available now, Nook soon)
CHRISTIANBOOK.COM (Both Book and eBook available)
BOOKSAMILLION

All of the versions of the books should be available on all of these sites within the next few days.

Here’s a description of the book:
It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America. 
Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes. 

Here’s my 4 1/2 Star Review from Romantic Times (most stars possible!)
This first novel of a family saga has something for everyone; romance, mystery, intrigue and family secrets. The characters are well thought out and memorable. The historical details are bold and inspiring, without being over the top or overwhelming readers. Reynolds is a talented author who brings the 1846 Irish immigration to New York alive for readers. 

Back to Real Life. Real God.
I’ve got another Blog post coming out very soon! Thank you for your faithfulness in following Real Life. Real God.

I am praying for you all. You are much appreciated. And again, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

One of the most brilliant marketing strategies in the world was the Baskin-Robbins pink spoon.

Burt Baskins and Irv Robbins, the founders of the storied ice cream shops, believed people should have the right to sample flavors until they found the one they wanted to buy.

This innovative idea, which was symbolized by their iconic pink spoon, has thrilled many generations of smiling little ones (and big people) and has earned a special place in American culture. What child hasn’t pressed their hands against the chilly glass while peering gleefully at the magical containers holding thirty-one colorful flavors of ice cream?

In similar fashion, as Christians we are often treated to a pink spoon of Heaven’s eternal glory.

Think about the most amazing highs you’ve ever experienced in your life. Your wedding? The birth of your child? The time you gave your life Jesus?

How encouraging it is to know these cherished milestones in our life are but a mere taste of what awaits us in Heaven.

³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Rev. 22:3-5

If we look real closely, with a grateful eye, we’ll see these glimpses into God’s glory come to us each and every day. So why do we so often bear a demeanor as if all that awaited us was liver and giblets?

Worse. Sometimes we are so mesmerized by the spoons here on earth that we lose sight of the eternal hot fudge sundae awaiting us in Heaven. Why focus on those things which will only melt away?

We should be ENTHRALLED with what lies ahead.

⁴“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Rev. 21:4

Should we not be daily pressing our hands on the glass of Heaven, and with a childish fascination peer in at the colorful vision of what lies ahead?

When we do, we’ll find ourselves beaming with joy, our cheeks coated with chocolate and whipped cream.

Want a taste of Heaven? Go ahead. Because the pink spoons of God’s blessing are all around us.

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:

Thus spake the melancholy Jaques in As You Like It, which began one of literature’s most famous monologues in one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

In his speech exploring the seven stages of life from infancy to old age Jacques continues his words until he arrives at his bleak description of how it all ends:

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

As Believers, we know the “last scene” is not “sans everything” but instead is one of glory and eternal celebration. But how do we share this with a world so hostile to the Truth?

Is it with a more powerful sound system? Brighter costumes? More elaborate stages?

No. We often complicate evangelism into some impossible task, either requiring supreme gifting or deep theological expertise.

When it’s actually quite simple. All we need to do is remove our masks and stop acting.

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
Except for those living in the Truth. 

This mad, mad world of greed, debauchery, corruption and the rampant worshiping of idols provides all of the contrast we would ever need to really stand out. To share our faith we don’t have to scream louder, pound tables or juggle flaming torches on rhinestone bejeweled unicycles.

We just need to be REAL. Living God’s will for us openly, quietly and without shame or compromise.

…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thess 4:11b-12

As Bruce Wilkinson once shared, none of this means we’re better, it means we’re different.

Blessed. With both victories and challenges. And it’s in our times of difficulty when the beacon of our faith will shine brightest. Because we’ll be expected to stumble, to fall and to don our mask again.

But hear this. Few things express faith more powerfully than quiet confidence in God through the midst of great storms.

Truth speaks for itself. If we’re willing to live it, embrace it, and trust in it during all times.

Quietly. Humbly. Yet for all of the world to see.

What has God done for you lately? What has God done for me lately?

Have you ever realized that many of our complaints today are about things we once fervently prayed for in the past? Our answered prayers have become today’s whine.

I have. And I am ashamed.

For instance.

PAST PRAYER: Lord, please help us buy this house.
TODAY’S WHINE: A house that has dropped fifty percent in value with the market crash and a mortgage that is difficult to meet each month.
TRUTH: It gave our family shelter from the storms for many years and it’s still worth more than when we bought it.

PAST PRAYER: Help me start a business of my own.
TODAY’S WHINE: A company that is now challenged in a difficult economy.
TRUTH: The business has provided for my family for fifteen years.

PAST PRAYER: Please help me land a book publishing contract.
TODAY’S WHINE: Seemingly impossible writing deadlines.
TRUTH: Many other writers would do anything to have my “problems”.

PAST PRAYER: Please help me buy a car that will last a long time.
TODAY’S WHINE: I drive a car that is seventeen years old.
TRUTH: This amazing car has been mostly trouble-free for seventeen years. 

PAST PRAYER: Lord, please encourage this precious woman to say “Yes”.
TODAY’S WHINE: A wife who questions some of my plans.
TRUTH: What bothers me most is she’s RIGHT. My bride is my most trusted adviser. 

So the better question is this: Why does God do ANYTHING for me lately?

There are SO many others who have so much less than I do, and bear it with a smile.

Paul wrote it beautifully when he shared:

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Tim 6: 6-10 

Piercing myself with many griefs? I am guilty as charged. Father, please forgive me. Give me a thankful heart for every breath I breathe.

What about you? What has God done for you lately?

Worried? Concerned? Things not going your way?

Is your stomach knotted up by the roller coaster of life? These days, who can blame you? There is so much uncertainty, bad news abounds, relationships are strained and depression is rampant in our society.

So we find ourselves in bed at night, staring up at the fan spinning in the shadows of our room and wondering: “How will I ever get through this?”

Despairing.

How will the bills get paid? What if I’m the one they choose to lay off? How will I meet payroll this week? Can this marriage be salvaged? Will my kids be okay? What will the doctor’s tests say?

And then we drink full measures of hopelessness, the freely poured cocktail of the tormentor of our soul.

How do we dig out of this hole? How do we untie this knot in our stomach?

The answer lies in a Bible story many of us learned as children in Sunday School but somehow forgot as adults.

It’s the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These were the three young men in ancient Babylon who were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to renounce their sole fidelity to God.

Their response to the most dire of circumstances is a model for us in our times of duress:

Surrendering Our Circumstances To God
The three men were given the opportunity to avoid the pain of their circumstances. All they needed to do was to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar and his idols. Instead, they answered with boldness:

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
Daniel 3:16-17

Although we often fool ourselves in believing we’re the framers of our own destiny, the reality is ultimately we can’t control our circumstances.

But we can choose our response.

If we have a knot in our stomach, we need to treat it as a warning signal of an under-reliance on God. A questioning of His plan for our life. We need to remove our clammy hands from the driving wheel and trust our circumstances with Him.

Keeping Circumstances In Perspective
The amazing part of this story of these three men of God is what comes next. Not only did they trust God for the results of their actions, but they went further by acknowledging that in the big picture their circumstances didn’t matter!

 ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:18

They weren’t looking for an exchange of favors with God. Some type of Quid Pro Quo. The three men pledged devotion to Him regardless of the outcome.

When we focus on the greatness of God, our troubles become insignificant. Fixing our eyes on Jesus fixes our anxiety.

Embrace The Blessings
So many of us pray for relief from our problems and pain. And we’re encouraged by Scripture to do so. However; we must not be so obsessed with fleeing hardship that we end up tossing away the rose with the thorns.

Here’s what happened as a result of the stand these three men made in the name of God:

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Daniel 3:28

The mighty king of Babylon was able to see God glorified through their faith. They provided a great testimony to not only him, but to an entire nation.

Few things express faith more powerfully than quiet confidence in God through the midst of great storms.

How do you respond to the high winds of life? Panic? Depression? Or do people marvel at your faith?

We must not be discouraged by the challenges of life, but instead be lifted by God’s presence through all challenges.

The ultimate reward for each of us during difficult circumstances is our return to closeness with God. It’s in our poverty of circumstances when we are best reminded we are not in control, when we are most attune to God’s teaching and when we are most open to His shaping of our character.

As Believers, ours is a life of victory. We know how the story ends. Which means worry is the greatest of lies.

In difficult times, our prayer should not only be for deliverance, but also for a heart of celebration. For the optimist expects clouds to have a silver lining, but the faithful one simply celebrates the maker of the clouds.

It isn’t easy. In fact it’s the great struggle of our faith.

But once we learn to appreciate the gift of life’s challenges, there remain no obstacles, no great burdens and all that is before us, are roads paved with joy.

What you have? It’s what the world needs. In fact, without it, we’re shriveling on the vine.

You want to know what IT is? It’s that you have the power to make us smile.

Think about it. Discouragement is everywhere. The bills we can’t pay. The goals we don’t reach. The television telling us we’re overweight or under-muscled, too pale or much too dark. That we’re not man enough or Mom enough and that we’re not being all we can be.

Sometimes it’s painful just to look in the mirror.  

And life is this constantly ticking clock, and we’re always running behind.

Our lips are cracked with despair, our throats are parched with frustration and we’re thirsting for encouragement.

Would you share a glass of water? Something cool and refreshing?

Because we’re struggling in this sometimes dark and depressing world and what we’re looking for is a little sunshine.

Do you have some to spare? Of course you do.

Encouragement is the priceless gift, which is free to give.

Right now. At this moment. We aren’t looking for more constructive criticism. No tips. Suggestions. Unsolicited advice. Anybody can see what’s wrong with us. Would you be kind enough to let us know what’s right?

You have what it takes. It’s on the tip of your tongue.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Prov. 12:25

And encouraging people are seldom alone. We flock to them like moths on a lamp.

We don’t need much. Just a little “way to go” or a bit of “hang in there” or “keep up the good work”. A thumbs up. A high five. A wave of a pom pom.

As Paul taught us, we have a role in each others’ lives.

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

We have so many folks willing to tear us down. Would you be the one to build us up?

We’re everywhere. The mailman delivering letters while grieving about the loss of his mother. The man waiting at the stoplight trying to figure out how to tell his wife he lost his job today. The woman in line at the grocery store who just had her doctor tell her she’s no longer pregnant.

You have immeasurable wealth to share. Encouraging words are the currency of hope. Are you ready to spend some? Generously? Wildly? With abandon?

Want to make a difference in everybody’s lives? Then go for it. Start today. Begin now.

Change the world one encouraging word at a time.

And as you do, don’t be surprised if they ask for more. Eternal encouragement. A good word opens the door to the Good News.

Because what you have? It’s what the world needs.