Yesterday within an hour of each other, I received these two notes of encouragement. Check’em out.
Note 1: Lance, I wanted to message you and let you know how inspiring it is to see you spending your life reaching out to others who are caught in the trap of addiction. I know you don’t know me, but a friend was telling me about your book and I have been following you on Facebook. I just felt moved to tell you how Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble but take heart because he has overcome the world and everything in it. When they nail Jesus to the cross they nailed every addiction with him, but take heart I have overcome the world. I know you have found the true deliverance. It is only at the foot of the cross. I would really like to read your book and share it with others that are fighting the same battle.
Your dad was a great influence in my life. He was very kind to me. I just feel like you must have his heart. God bless you in everything you do.
Note 2: Lance, I know that we have never officially met, but I am drawn and blessed by the work you are doing, in the name of our Lord, to help the outcast, the ones most of society throws to the curb, ignored, and judged. Those with addiction problems, that may start from depression, anxiety, environment, etc….or however.
So, I will be praying for you and your ministry. I will pray that you will always put you and your relationship with our Father first…even before your ministry. I will pray that God with bless your words to touch the lives of others.
May the Lord bless you with courage, surrender, peace, joy and love beyond your wildest imagination.
Now, you probably notice one significant similarity between these two notes, did you see it? They are both written from people who have never met me. They both just decided that they would take time out of their lives and encourage someone else. How incredible is that? It blows my mind how gracious people can be.
To understand why this was so touching to me, you need to know something about me. I am a “words of affirmation” type guy, that means that I feel “love or loved” by words of encouragement. So you can imagine how great it felt to read these notes. Especially as I am about to take off to lead 60+ youth all week at Falls Creek, something I’ve never done…
I am so thankful to these two wonderful encouragers. But it made me think, who am I encouraging? Am I taking the time out of my day to help someone else get through theirs? Do I need to write a random note of encouragement?
What about you? Does someone in your life need an encouraging word today?
Challenge: Bust out FB Messenger or open a new email and send someone a random note of encouragement. Tell them how proud you are of them. How you are praying for them. How you are believing in them. Build someone up today! Be an encourager! You could change someone’s life today with one note of encouragement.
Hope is Alive!
