One
doesn't
have to
look too
far to
find
stories
of
discouragement,
hatred
and
selfishness.
Just
read a
newspaper
or watch
the
evening
news and
you're
sure to
be
discouraged.
But
where
can we
look for
words of
encouragement?
We need
to hear
stories
of love
and
unselfish
attitudes
- we
need to
know
that
there is
hope in
this
seemingly
hopeless
world.
We want
to
believe
that not
all
people
are
murderers,
rapists
and
child
abusers,
but we
seldom
hear
about
the good
things
that
people
do.
Recently
within
our
city,
the
mayor
held a
meeting
with
church
leaders.
He
wanted
to
enlist
the aid
of
Christian
people
to meet
the
needs in
their
neighborhoods.
There
are many
homes in
need of
repair
because
the
residents
are too
old to
climb
ladders
and fix
their
gutters,
they
don't
have the
finances
to pay
for
their
homes to
be
repainted
and many
of them
physically
can't do
the yard
work
necessary
for
their
homes to
look
nice
anymore.
These
are
simple
tasks
for
those
who are
physically
able,
but
impossible
for
those
who are
disabled
or
elderly.
You
won't
find
many
headlines
about
people
taking a
casserole
dish to
a
neighbor
and
rarely
do you
read
about
someone
stopping
to help
a
stranded
motorist.
Yet
these
are
everyday
occurrences.
When a
flood or
tornado
causes
widespread
damage
we watch
a news
crew
reporting
on the
devastation,
but they
seldom
go back
to
report
on the
people
who
arrive
for the
cleanup.
It's
dirty
work
cleaning
up after
a flood,
it's
back
breaking
work to
rebuild
a home
after it
has been
hit by a
tornado,
but
those
who
respond
to those
in need
don't
help
because
they
want
notoriety.
They do
so
because
they are
encouragers.
We often
hear
that
it's the
little
things
that we
do that
make the
biggest
difference.
Jesus
told His
disciples
the
parable
of the
Good
Samaritan
for a
reason.
He
expects
His
disciples
to
administer
mercy to
those in
need.
(read
the
parable
in Luke
10:30-37)
God has
been in
the
encouragement
business
forever.
Psalm
10:17-18
reads:
"You
hear, O
Lord,
the
desire
of the
afflicted;
you
encourage
them,
and
listen
to their
cry,
defending
the
fatherless
and the
oppressed,
in order
that
man, who
is of
the
earth,
may
terrify
no
more."
Are you
afflicted?
Are you
fatherless?
Are you
oppressed?
Have you
be
crying
out to
God for
help?
Then
listen,
really
listen
for His
response.
He may
be
asking
you to
be the
encouragement
for
someone
less
fortunate
than
yourself.
We never
have to
look too
far to
find
someone
who has
more
problems
than we
do.
Maybe
when we
respond
to a
basic
need of
one of
our
neighbors,
we can
change
their
life
forever.
Years
ago my
husband
and I
went to
church
with a
young
couple
who had
six
children.
They
struggled
financially
and
although
we
didn't
have
much
ourselves,
we were
able to
help
with
small
things
like a
meal now
and
then,
giving
them
used
clothing
and
buying
little
gifts at
Christmas.
We loved
them and
wanted
them to
know
that we
cared
for
them.
Fast
forward
about 10
years
and my
husband
and I
were in
a
financial
bind of
our own.
That
young
couple
provided
us with
the
money
for a
house
payment
at
Christmas
as a way
of
encouraging
us.
We just
never
know
when we
may be
the
recipient
of God's
grace
and
mercy.
In
Hebrews
10:23-25
the
author
tells
us, "Let
us hold
unswervingly
to the
hope we
profess,
for he
who
promised
is
faithful.
And let
us
consider
how we
may spur
one
another
on
toward
love and
good
deeds.
Let us
not give
up
meeting
together,
as some
are in
the
habit of
doing,
but let
us
encourage
one
another –
and all
the more
as you
see the
Day
approaching."
Yes, the
world is
in sad
shape,
entire
countries
are
going
bankrupt;
major
companies
are
closing
their
doors;
people
are out
of work,
homeless,
hungry
and
destitute.
We can't
change
the
direction
the
world is
heading,
but we
can make
a
difference
in our
own
family,
in our
own
neighborhood
and in
our own
congregation.
Who do
you know
who
needs
some
encouragement?
Offer
whatever
you can
because
it is
the
little
things
that
matter
to God
and He
sees
whatever
you do
for
others
as doing
it for
Him.