Saturday, April 09, 2022

April 9, 2022 … Encouraging Words

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 99 


Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Toby Mac singing  Speak Life … encouragingly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, need to speak Christ’s love and life into others by the words we share.   


"Chatty Bus" Encouragers ... 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Colossians 4:5-6  [NLT] …  

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.  

… Paul’s teaching with fellow Christians about the value of sharing Christlike words and encouragement with all others, anytime we have the opportunity to share God’s love/grace.          

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Colossians 4:2-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to share God’s love and grace with one another through our words and conversations.                                                           

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 12:25, 15:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s word, thru Solomon, exhorts believers to share encouraging words to lift others up.  


Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… After just washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus commands His followers (and us too) to share His love for one another, showing that we are His disciples of love and grace.    


Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … 

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to avoid critical or hurtful word, … speaking only remarks which edify or give grace to to our hearers.


Reference Passage: … Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, exhorts fellow Christians to gather together to encourage one another with words and acts of Christlike love. 


My Devotional Journal:Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra … AT THIS LINK wrote of a study in England showing that over 30% of Brits go at least one day a week with no one to share life, contributing to loneliness and depression.  Therefore, a bus company established “Chatty Busses,” (see photo) on which were trained employees, designated to promote chatting and uplifting conversation on the busses.  


That’s a good idea, I believe, … to give the people on those busses the opportunity to do what Toby Mac sings about in the linked song; and what all of the Scriptures above charge Christians to do … as God gives us opportunities to come together and share life with one another.  And God’s word from, … no less that Jesus Himself, … command, exhort, and encourage us to take every opportunity to encounter others - EVERY DAY - to speak Christlike words of encouragement and love with one another.  


Can I get a commitment from my readers TODAY to go out and “speak life” into anyone we encounter who seems to need a word … or even just a smile … of encouragement?  I think - NO, I KNOW - that in doing so, we’ll be blessed even more than those who receive God’s love and grace today thru our encouragement.  


My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for lifting me up today thru Your word, Lord, to speak life into any/all who might need it from me.          

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to take every opportunity to speak words of Your grace, Lord, by  encouraging others today.       Amen 


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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

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