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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

A Compliment Today Helps the Blues Go Away

If you can come up with some nice comment to deliver verbally with a smile --  or even send via email -- it could brighten up your day, as well as the recipient’s day.
Just looking for something positive to say can help you.  Finding the good that someone has done is a nice chore.  (And your mama would be glad you did it.)
This idea might catch on.  Someone, someday might send you a good comment on something you did.  That nice surprise could help you make it through a difficult or unpredictable day.  And it is a reminder for you to pray for that person.
Try it, you’ll like it.    + + + 

By Elaine Hardt @2016

Friday, February 19, 2016

Changes to That Old Song

                           
        Remember that old song, "Home on the Range"?    Here's a change to the lyrics: 
“Where seldom is heard an encouraging word -- and the skies are cloudy and gray . ."
Does that sound like how you felt yesterday or how you feel today?
Perhaps there’s a simple-something you can do that boosts your happiness level today.  Speak up or write down some simple words of encouragement and send to somebody else.  Even if they don’t reply with an immediate smile via email or in person you can give yourself a nice nod of the head.  
Encouragement can be such a mood-lifter.  Especially if what that person says in return to you is pertinent and true.  Encouragement can be helpful.
So, duh, your encouragement to someone can be short, pertinent, true.  Possibly what you say, or write, or do will brighten their day. 
And later, when you remember that time and that person it will encourage you that you did the right thing.  You will be inspired and empowered to do words of encouragement a couple of times a week.  You up to it?

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

Friday, February 12, 2016

Encouragement! EnCOURAGEment!

Encouragement is more than a pat on the back,
It’s not just a friendly smile or nod,
Not only some words spoken or written:
It’s a powerful blessing from God.

You can grow in encouragement, speak it to yourself;
Enable it by what you believe!
Find the strength in God, know what His Word promises:
Courage for hard times and testings:  this receive.

In the challenge of life your example can count; 
Look around and you can see
Others need encouragement, too — this you can do;
Pray for them to be set free. 

When you’ve invited Jesus to be your Best Friend
God’s Holy Spirit empowers you,
Now you can experience real faith, hope, and joy,
Encouragement, and EnCOURAGEment, too!
                      + + + 

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

“Encourage” is found 14 times in the Old Testament, 13 times in the New Testament, New King James Version.  “Encouragement” is found 6 times; “courage” is found 28 times in the Bible.    Look up words at www.biblegateway.com 

“Be strong and of good courage
do not fear nor be afraid of them; 
for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. 
He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 

 Deuteronomy 31:6