Gawker or Helper?

We've all experienced driving by an accident . . . and rubbernecking. Gawking.
When we lived in Dallas they had a term for the delay caused by people watching a mishap on the other side of the freeway. An 'onlookers delay.'
There's a lot of gawkers . . . but very few folks who actually stop and help.

One of the things that God has shown me in the past few months is that when there's trouble in your life there's also a lot of gawkers . . . but very few helpers.

Proverbs 17:17 says: "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

When life and leadership isn't going as planned, there are plenty who stare and point out what (they think) went wrong. They speculate who's at fault.
And plenty who get on their cell and tell everyone about the accident they just saw.

But there's a few who help. A few who just come by and listen. Sometimes it surprises you who generously gives out encouragement.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Yep, I'm thankful for friends.

Next time you pass an accident, I hope you don't just gawk. Stop and listen. And listen to the Spirit for words of encouragement.

Christmas Love

Michelle Needham leads an Oso Creek outreach to expecting and new Moms and families. She is an incredible blessing!
She also faithfully sends them an encouraging email every week and I thought that what she said last week would be great encouragement for ALL of us during this season . . . So I challenge you to check out her email below . . . and follow her encouragement this week!


Hi Ladies,

I know this is somewhat late in the week to be receiving this, but I didn't want you all to think that I had forgot. This week has been filled with much busyness. It is so easy to forget the reason for the season when your running around like a crazy person trying to find that one item that is sold out everywhere. I'm sure God is looking down at me thinking, "O.K. Michelle, there are people who could us your help right now, but you are busy hunting down a toy that you will probably have to pick up at least a hundred times before it ends up in a garage sell." As always he quickly helped me to put things in perspective when I received a call for help from an expecting mother.

Christmas doesn't stop the troubles that we encounter everyday. I think sometimes we think that during Christmas all is Merry. It is a beautiful season we celebrate and I believe that satan gets jealous of the attention Christ gets, so he works twice as hard to make some peoples lives miserable. I believe that as women of God we are blessed with the gift to encourage others. If we use it or not is another question. Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to say, so I try to leave that work up to the Lord.

In Hebrews 10:24 it says, Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.

If there is someone in your life, be your children, neighbor, spouse, friend or someone you casually meet out and about, or maybe someone you don't even know, think of this verse and try do what it says. By doing so, you will be a blessing to others in this blessed time of year. God will look down on you and smile, because you are doing his will.

Lord, I thank you for your son Jesus and for bringing him into this world to be with us. May we be willing and obedient participants in your plan for our lives. May we cease this opportunity that you so loving put in our paths, to be an encouragement to others. Help us to keep our focus on you, Lord. Show us your ways of love and good deeds. May we honor you in doing so. If we are the ones that need the encouragement, Lord, may you so loving provide us those needs. Help us to think...pause...then speak, so that your words will come forth. Thank you Lord for these women and the precious little lives they carry. I pray that you will be with them all the days of their lives and that they seek you first in everything. We love you Lord and praise your glorious name. In Jesus name we pray.

I love you all and continue to pray for you regularly. I am hear for you.

Your Sister in Christ,

Michelle

Whose Your Bo?

Had to take a quick trip to Dallas today (more on that in another post) . . . but the awesome surprise was that Bo Kratz was on my flight! (Even let me take his picture!)

What a charge for me to get to spend a couple of 'bonus' hours with a man who I consider one of mentors - especially when it comes to fathering and encouraging.

He was even on his way to spend a weekend fishing with his son. He seeks to live it out, and I'm attracted to that.

If I called him my mentor in front of you he'd humbly say 'Aw, come on!' But he is a man full wisdom. He is a man I admire, a man I listen to. He inspires me and encourages me. And I'm thankful to have Bo's in my life.

Who are those who inspire and challenge and mentor you? Who are your Bo's? If you don't have em', find em'!

Thank You's

Last Sunday at Discovery Dessert there was one couple who shared some incredibly encouraging words concerning my ministry and Oso Creek.

And then this week I received an incredible note of encouragement in the mail from a Creeker family who recently moved from Corpus.

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Prov 16:24)

I actually have a file where I keep notes of encouragement that I receive. Sometimes when I'm discouraged or frustrated I'll open it up and be reminded of why I'm here and what God is doing.

Along with my other blog on encouraging folk's gifting and passions, I've just been thinking about how powerful encouragement is. And I just read this on another blog: The highest from of praise is '3rd-Party Praise.' It is when you say: 'I overheard somebody saying great things about you.' (Joel Hunter)

Who have you encouraged today?

YCA Sports Banquet

Last night was the YCA sports banquet. I had the privilege of bringing my basketball guys up one at a time and blessing them.

With my teams I don't give the traditional MVP, Most Improved, etc awards. I choose a character trait/gifting that each of them has and lift that up and encourage them to continuing developing it and using it.

This is me honoring Luke. I gave him the (Brave) Heart Award because he always played and practiced with tons of heart and passion.

As I worked through these God showed me how I need to be doing this more with everyone around me. Especially with those nearest to me. Too much of the time I find what is wrong.
What if we all continually encouraged those around us in how we see God developing them and using them?

Incredible Morning!

One of our Creeker military guys - Zach Wojtek - and his family are moving this week and a couple of other Navy pilots (Jeff Vignery & Clif Johnson) thought of an amazing way to bless and honor Zach.

We met at the building this morning at 5:50 (yes, am!) while Clif picked up Zach. We drove out to Bob Hall Pier and spread out about half a mile apart from each other down the beach and hid in the dunes.

Clif got to the beach with Zach about 6:15 and started walking down the beach with him telling him how he had been a blessing and encouraging him as he continues his journey.

Clif peeled off and then the next guy came out and continued walking down the beach with Zach. All four of us (4th being Tim Lawley) shared with Zach how he had blessed us and each of us encouraged him in keeping on a different part of the 'armor' in Ephesians 6.

I went last and by the time Zach got to me he was overwhelmed.

I just want to say: Way to go guys! I'm so proud of you and your willingness to use your gifting and creativity to bless the heck out of a man who deserves the blessing!

We're gonna miss you Zach! Warriors for Christ!

Marathon Lessons . . . Be Encouraged!

You Never Know How Your Encouragement Helps Someone Take One More Step!

One of the really cool things about the marathon was the thousands of people on the sides cheering us the entire time - amazing! I don't think we ever went 100 yards without spectators yelling for us. (This pic not of me, just to see the crowds.)

People were yelling, 'Way to go!' 'You're doing awesome!' Near the end folks were yelling stuff like: 'Only 2 more miles, don't give up! Finish strong!'

Our names were on our bibs and some people would even yell our names. At one point some lady yells: 'Way to go John! I'm so proud of you, keep going hard!'

And then to pass my family on the side cheering and yelling for me was incredible. (Here I am passing my family and getting 'fives.')

And then some people just made you smile. One dad and three small kids each had a sign and as they stood together they said: 'Way To Go Mom!'

But the best was a lady who I saw up ahead of us at about the 11 mile mark whose sign said: 'You're Crazy!' My cousin and I were chuckling (I couldn't actually laugh at 11 miles!) And then as we got closer, it was Cindy's sister!! I was laughing then and her sign was so great that this picture was in Austin American Statesman on Monday morning!

I can't tell you how encouraging all those people were. I wonder how many people are able to run one more step because of that encouragement . . . go one more mile because they heard from people who believed in them.

It just reminded me of people all around me who need to be encouraged. Who need to be cheered on and told that they can do it! To be strong and courageous! That I am proud of them! I confess that I'm not very good at this. But I'm asking God to help me.

We are in a race. A marathon. It's hard. It's long. It's painful. But if we encourage each other we can go one more step. One more mile. One more day. And maybe even smile :)