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Andrea Brown's avatar

Paul, you truly are an encourager!

Each of us has the chance to illuminate our surroundings with the light of Christ. It can be as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger, holding the door for someone entering a store, or reaching out to someone who may have drifted away from our lives.

One of my favorite ways to uplift others is in the workplace. Caring for patients with illnesses, I find it essential to pray with them, provide comfort, and restore a sense of hope and control over their health during their visits.

A powerful Scripture that resonates with me is when Jesus washed the disciples' feet:

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:14-17

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Wonderful Andrea. Thanks for being His Light in your service to others.

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Obosa Imade's avatar

❤️ ❤️

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Flowing Streams's avatar

Hey, Paul! My encouraging word that came to me was: Love.

Here's why: Whenever I started college last fall, I knew a couple of friends already, but what I wasn't ready for was the amount of their time, love, and prayers for me.

So, recently about two months ago I had to deal with a situation with my Dad. My dad dealt with so much anxiety and stress with his work that it affected him mentally, physically, and spiritually.

So, I told my closest friends about it and what one of them did was something that I couldn't repay for. He took me out to lunch with some of my closest that I met. There was six of us including me. (We took several cars there.)

After we had lunch there at Subway, I asked them to pray for me right outside the entrance of it.

So, they all put a hand on my shoulders and prayed for me and I was in shock to see God's love not only poured out on me, but also on my friends in that moment.

I never will forget that moment in my life and praise God for it! Amen!❤️🙏🏻🙌🏻

The verse that I want to share is where it says Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Thank you for letting me share this with you,

Landon Wallace

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Wonderful Landon. So thoughtful of your friends. Thanks for sharing, we all need a little encouragement from time to time. You’re very wise. Thanks for sharing the verse.

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Jason Trice's avatar

Love this, Paul! The world can never have too many encouragers.

A verse that my daughter and I say every morning... Let every word out of your mouth build up and encourage others. Eph. 4:29

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Wonderful Jason, training them young, I like it. Thanks for sharing.

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Flowing Streams's avatar

Thank you for your encouraging words! 🙏🏻 And you are very welcome.

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Andy Maitland's avatar

My own experience of deep painful discouragement led me to realise what the Spirit does is more important than my own religious goals. Don’t be afraid of discouragement be more afraid of missing Jesus. This morning I am personally chewing over Matthew 17. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Thank you kindly Andy. You are right, discouragement will come to us all - and we have lean on His promises when discouragement comes like:

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬ ‭

https://bible.com/bible/111/deu.31.8.NIV

Thanks again for commenting Andy. Keep our minds and faith on Jesus, the Promise Keeper.

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Andy Maitland's avatar

And it’s Pentecost today.

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Amen Andy. Have a wonderful day.

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Obosa Imade's avatar

I'm all for it. A kind word, a smile, a hug, might just be the lifeline someone's waiting for. The best part is they're all free and can flow from every willing heart. I thank God for your devotion to this work and the community that's springing out from it. God richly bless you 🙏

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Deborah Rutherford's avatar

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 brings me encouragement. I like being there for others when they are having a hard time. And I like praying for them too.

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Thanks Deborah, wonderful verse. Thanks for sharing.

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The Narrow Path Collective's avatar

Love this!

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Sourabhi's avatar

Phillipians 1:6 (KJV)

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

No one is perfect except Christ! But the good news is that we are getting renewed as we choose to walk in Him. And one day, when He will return, we will become perfect. Isn't that exciting!

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Chuck Phillips's avatar

I facilitate a small weekly discussion group (4-6 men) focused on the Bible readings for the coming weekend, and one of the men recently commented to me how much he appreciated my preparation for and leadership of the discussions. It was a timely encouragement and reminded me that God has me in the right place!

A favorite verse that encourages me is:

“My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps 73:26

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Awesome Chuck, thanks for sharing. Such a blessing when others notice your preparation. I heard a phrase - proper preparation and prayer prevent poor performance.

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AWAKEGLORIOUSBRIDE.COM's avatar

Building HIs house is awesome! Thanks for framing this message in the way you did.

We ( wife & I of 38 years are builders).

Want to encourage you to keep building.

It is in your DNA.

One of His many blueprints in link below.

Glory to God!

Abundant Blessings

awakegloriousbride.com

garry

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C7feSbXj1f69a0u-UhDPGmcGDJKuJUmm/view?usp=sharing

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Paul Christopher's avatar

Thank you kindly

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AWAKEGLORIOUSBRIDE.COM's avatar

Ty for follow.

Substance is under construction as I learn it's ropes.

Our web site contains the meat.

Blessings

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A. Thomas Kozubal's avatar

Good Evening, Brother!

As I read your post, a note from the master encourager, the Apostle Paul, came to mind. He wrote this to the Christians at Ephesus:

"Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." ~Ephesians 4:1-3

I'm struck by the fact that Paul tied keeping unity with our calling in Christ Jesus. It seems that Biblical command doesn't get much attention, let alone much play, in the Body of Christ nowadays ... at least in Western World Christianity. But sure enough, guarding the unity of our shared faith in Jesus Christ is not an option!

Paul's words reminded of Jesus' words He prayed the night before His crucifixion. Jesus prayed,

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." ~John 17:20-21

The Apostle Paul tied guarding unity to our call in Christ, and Christ tied our unity to the gospel message itself. All of that says one simple thing: UNITY MATTERS.

Thank You for intentionally engaging in the godly work of guarding unity! I appreciate you. 😉

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