Chin Up Buttercup

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

God has placed this scripture heavy on my heart today with much surprise of old feelings surfaced when I was hurt many times through out my life. Times where I was tore down, criticized, and belittled because of things I used to be and things I never was. Either way these hurtful words and actions did nothing to me but tear me down.

Left bitter, angry, insecure, and hopeless many times it was like a broken record that kept playing in my head.

Then one day God had placed very special people in my life. Some close friends to this day and some strangers. But the most important was God himself. He whispered words of, “I Love you” and ‘You are enough for me” and slowly started building me up.

If you would have met me 12 years ago you would not have recognized me. Not necessarily my outside appearance but spiritually. I didn’t have God in my life and I wasn’t very humbled. I was a hard book that did not want to be opened. I didn’t want to give myself to anyone afraid to be hurt again and again.

Then one day God met me on porch. My doorbell rang and it was two strangers being the hands and feet of Jesus. Standing on my porch sharing the gospel with me.This hurt and broken girl needing lots of forgiveness. They asked me do you know Christ? I said no. But that very moment in this human form of a man was Jesus bearing his life for me on my porch. Inviting in to his family as a child of his own.Using these two selfless strangers to build me up.

To love me.

For the first time in my life I felt so loved. So comforted. So secure. As I invited Christ into my life and became a Christian. A saved child of God forever. I was left with tears streaming down my face and with only God on my side.

Fast forward twelve years. Was my life easier and perfect after that day on my porch. Absolutely Not. I have had more trials than I ever imagines since I became a Christian but I have always had God on my side to comfort, love, and build me up.

I need accountability. I don’t ever want to be alone again. A life without Christ. My heart aches for those that are lost and those that are hurting and feeling torn down. I want to build each person up that I meet. God reminded me this morning what he did for me that day. Although I feel I am doing what God wants me to do he needs more. He showed me today that I need to do more.

Let’s build each other up. Let’s step out of our comfort zone and share God’s word with everyone we are in contact with each and every day. I like a detailed list. I need the organization and the accountability. So here is a list I made for myself on building each other up.

1. Encourage – express positive words, notes, actions with the assurance of one’s goals, hopes, and dreams.

2. Forgiveness – be quick to forgive just as Jesus forgives our sins. Forgive without expectations and always in love.

3. Humble – let’s do things for each other without bragging or boasting about what we did for them. Let’s lead by example and build up someone by doing something for them with out putting it in their face even if we didn’t mean it that way.

4.  Positive – have a positive attitude in everything you do. Positive thinking is contagious and desired. Always smile and look at the bright side of everything.

5. Praise – praise them for what they accomplished, even if they fail you can praise them for their efforts and encourage them to try again.

6. Wisdom – seek God’s wisdom daily and share with others the truth. Pray for wisdom and God will show you.

7. Love – Love unconditionally. Don’t just say your love show your love! Express it with a servant heart. Love your neighbor as yourself.

 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13, NIV).

Who can you build up today? Who can you encourage and tell them the good you see in them? Who can you be the hands and feet of Jesus to?

 Chin up Buttercup!