Encouragement Study: Edition #4

2nd Timothy 2:1-13
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

-Enduring is encouraging. How is that? Well, let's say that someone endures some kind of hardship for being a soldier of Christ. Even though that may be tough, not just for that person, but for everyone knowing that person, the simple fact that they continue to push through encourages others.

I've seen it through my experience and I have been encouraged by others who have gone through certain experiences. As a matter of fact, a couple I know has experienced some recent hardship, and seeing how they cling to God is encouraging to me. Johnny Out.

Encouragement Study: Edition #3

Jeremiah 32:36-41

"You are saying about this city, 'By the sword, famine and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon'; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

-To encourage is to inspire. It can be to inspire someone to do something that will prosper them. And God will inspire his people to fear them. Children fear their parents. It is a respecting fear. My children don't fear me to the point of death... which I think it awesome. I don't want my son or daughter to see me and drop to there knees thinking that they are going to die. That is the fear I am supposed to have with my God. I am also to think of my God as a Father, like my dad in a sense. Still, a father inspires their children. They push them to be more than what they really are... and I say that as, if left to their own devices, they will spend the day in front of the TV, drinking too much soda, and wearing holy underwear. They inspire their children to do things that they don't want to do to achieve the things they've always dreamed about. That was a quote by Tom Landry (maybe not the exact words, but close enough). And God wants to inspire me, to fear, and to obedience. I say AMEN to that.

Encouragement Study: Edition #2

Well, now that I am working full time, I have to create a new routine that will allow me to have my Quiet Times and still accomplish everything else. It's not easy. I have managed to still be in the word daily, just not posting like I would like. Still consistency is consistency. I can't complain if I am being consistent.Romans 15:4

Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope. (The Bible in Basic English)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. (American Standard Version)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (English Standard Version)

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope. (NCV)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (NIV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. (Revised Standard Version)

For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford. (Weymouth New Testament)

-So, what does it mean to encourage someone else? What is encourgament? Well, let's start with comfort. Comfort is a parralel word from one translation to another. Comfort and encouragement are considered one in the same when translating. At least that is the deduction that I have made in searching this out.

Encourage (verb):

• To inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
• To stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.
• To promote, advance, or foster.

I can see how giving comfort is also encouragement. It makes sense, at least when you think about it. If I comfort you, you'd be encouraged. Johnny Out.

Encouragement Study: Edition #1

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

-Salvation. That is what I should encourage my brothers and sisters with... the fact that we are saved and going to get to be with God... that is the heart of encouragement.

New Year Goals - 2009: Update #2

It is good to have goals... but this year, I am going to approach this a different way than in years past.

Goals:

• By Faith, I will be over 90% with my Quiet Times in 2009, with over 90% each month.

I'm looking pretty good with this right now. I normally am at this time of the year... still, it is under 90%... but I have more determination thus far. I have pushed through days where I did not "feel it"... so that is encouraging.

• By Faith, a family member will be baptized this year.
• By Faith, I will lose weight and be under 175 pounds by the end of July.

I am not feeling to good about this. Still, God works in wonderful ways.

• By Faith, Joyville will be up and running by the end of January. -DONE-
• By Faith, I will support my wife emotionally and lead her spiritually in 2009.
• By Faith, I will read a book a month (in addition to the Bible).

Two months into the year, and I haven't read one.

• By Faith, I will consider others and not think of myself.
  

I talked with my wife and I decided to move my studies to study out encouragement in the month of March.