Monday Morning Encouragement -- Encourage Each Other

 

Source: Heartlight.org


"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11



A little eighty-something lady stopped me in the aisle and asked if I knew where the creamed corn could be found. In fact, we were standing just a few feet from the shelf where it was stocked. When I showed her the spot she responded with embarrassment, "Oh, it's right there! I'm sorry." And then she went on to apologize for her hearing loss, which made communication difficult.


I smiled and told her it was okay, and not to worry, and that I have trouble finding items all the time. At that point her shoulders relaxed, and she brightened. "I have lost my hearing, but I can walk, and I can move and still get around."


"You still have your eyesight," I reminded her.


"Yes! And I love to read!"


"God preserved your eyesight, so that you can still read."


"Yes! He did!"


"God is good!"


"Yes, He is!"


Then she sobered and said, "I was just reading in Matthew this morning. Terrible days are coming."


(She was referring to Matthew 24 where Jesus foretold the coming of the last days of this world.)


"Yes. I was reading Revelation this morning."


Her eyes widened as I continued. "We must stand firm in our faith."


"Yes," she nodded. "And we must be consistent."


I asked her for her name.


"Ann Marie."


"Ann Marie, I'm Nancy. Do you come into the store often?"


"I come in all the time."


"I'm going to pray for you, and I'm going to thank God for bringing you into my life today. You have blessed me."


"And you have blessed me, too."


"Ann Marie, I hope we meet again. But if I don't see you again here, I know I'll see you there." I pointed to Heaven.


"Yes!"


We parted.


As I walked away I felt a lightness in my step. The end of my work day was near and I had been frustrated and tired when I first bumped into Ann Marie. However, now I felt elated and strengthened. 


Ann Marie and I had what a missionary friend of mine refers to as "a divine appointment". She and I needed each other, and our loving Heavenly Father had seen to it that we were there for one another, to encourage each other in Him.


Today's music video Take Shelter by Kristyn Getty and Skye Peterson is new to me. I discovered it on the very day I met Ann Marie last week. Although it's not directly about encouraging one another, it is about the love of God and how we may take shelter in Him when we are facing difficult times. And really, that's the greatest encouragement we can receive. This is truly a beautiful, beautiful song and I hope you will feel the peace I feel when I hear it.




I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.








14 comments

  1. What a wonderful encounter with Anne Marie. An encouragement for both of you. God is good.

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  2. What a fortunate encounter, a lovely story. I love chatting with fellow shoppers, it's always so uplifting. I hope you see Ann Marie again.

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    1. I hope so, too, Lynda. She truly has a gentle spirit.

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  3. What a heartwarming encounter. Divine appointment is right. Thank you for sharing that! It brightened my day too.

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  4. Only God can put us in the right place at the right time. And for you and Ann Marie, your time was made by him. How glorious in His name.

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  5. What a beautiful story to share. with us. I am a big believer that God puts people and things in our path when we need them most. This is one of those times. Love the beautiful voice of Kristyn

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  6. I love this! There is a connection when we meet other Christ followers and I'm glad you were able to bring joy to each other.

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    1. That "connection" is a beautiful thing, isn't it? There's nothing like it.

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  7. Nancy, this blessed me! Tim and I were just talking about the need for boldness to share our faith. Boldness doesn't mean pushy or in your face. You were bold when you spoke about the Lord and it blessed you both!

    You've encouraged me today!

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  8. A wonderful, encouraging encounter! And lovely to read about it. I also have bad hearing, but luckily I have hearing aids.

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    1. I'm glad you are able to hear with the help of the hearing aids. It must be a blessing.

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