Encouragement

Today I picked my mom up from the airport, she came to Panama City Beach for parents weekend. I would have been on time, but my GPS took me to the old airport because the brand new airport just opened up, so I was a little late. No worries. I got her checked into the hotel and moved into her room. She got to meet a lot of my friends and team leaders and staff members. It was great. Natalie got off work and joined us soon after. Her and my mom, thankfully, have a great relationship and were both SO excited to see one another. All three of us decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants, Bonefish. We had a blast. Lots of catching up and sharing what we have learned and how we have both grown in God. It was just such a nice time. We then dropped Natalie off at the hotel to go to bed because she has to be up at 5 every morning for work. I took my mom to super wall mart to get some groceries and stock up for the weekend. After I unloaded them into her room she shared some really nice encouragement to me. They were notes from some of you. Little notes attached to support letters that I have received from you since I have been gone. They may have been small, but they were huge. It meant a lot to hear from all of you, and I am glad I can share this with you. I was reading Colossians Chapter 3, the verses of focus were 12-17, but I like to read the whole chapter. The verses of focus explained that because of Him we are made holy and He loves us. First off that is so encouraging. Next He explains how we need to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving. Really think about all those words..... I am really not very good at any of those. I'm not very compassionate, I'm not very humble, I'm definitely not gentle or patient. Really think about your day to day life. How these words just seem like words, God is calling you to be all these things. Now be honest with yourself and think how well you are at any of those. Especially forgiving, for the most part, we are not a forgiving nation. God says to forgive as He does. Because if God can forgive all my awful sins all the time, then I can forgive my brothers and sisters. It all comes down to love, love seals the deal. If you have peace in your heart from Christ and are able and willing to learn, then you will be full of love. My favorite verse here is verse 23, it says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." If that was really our day to day attitude, things would be much different. We all would be super compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, and loving, and for the right reasons. The thing is, that is what God calls us to do. Everything, everything you do, do it for God and give Him the thanks. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If you really do everything for Him, really for Him, you could do anything. That to me is encouragement, at its finest. Sit down and read these verses, don't get down and discouraged, rather be uplifted. Forget about the world, and do everything for your God, your Savior, your Creator, your Lord. Do it for Him and through Him. I promise you, you will see a difference in your daily walk, and so will others. Be encouraged. Please, please, please keep praying. Especially for this weekend, Parents Weekend.

Serving Him,

Daniel