Category: Encouragement

For the Weary – Day 3 – Burnout

On By KateIn Devotionals, Encouragement2 Comments

Do you find yourself feeling as though all the work you are doing for the Lord just does not seem appreciated – or even of benefit? You strive to help others but they just ignore your help. People take advantage of you and you feel used. You seem to have reached your limit and you are weary of well doing. You are not alone, dear Christian. We all reach that point at some time or another. It is important that you recognize the signs and nip them in the bud before the weariness overtakes you.

Noah Webster defines weary as:

WEARY, a.

1. Having the strength much exhausted by toil or violent exertion; tired; fatigued. [It should be observed however that this word expresses less than tired, particularly when applied to a beast; as a tired horse. It is followed by of, before the cause of fatigue; as, to be weary of marching; to be weary of reaping; to be weary of study.]

2. Having the patience exhausted, or the mind yielding to discouragement. He was weary of asking for redress.

3. Causing weariness; tiresome; as a weary way; a weary life.

If you were sick, you would take a day off from work and rest, wouldn’t you? Weariness can “snow ball” if it is not dealt with right away. It is at this time that we must break away from the hustle and bustle of this world and find a quiet place with the Lord. We need to refuel ourselves and get ourselves back on track.

Rewards

I don’t know about you, but I feel most rewarded when I know that God is using me. I may not see the fruit of my labor but the Holy Spirit lets me know through His Word or His still small voice that I am being used to help someone else.

~Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Remedy

So what’s the remedy? Take a personal day off work and get away to a quiet place that you absolutely love. If you can’t afford an entire day, then purpose in your heart to get up early and take a few extra hours alone with God! Don’t just go into your study or bedroom. Get away from your familiar surroundings. A botanical gardens is always nice – or the woods – or a pond or lake where the ducks are swimming – or even at the top of a mountain where the vista takes your breath away! Take your Bible with you and have a “sit down” with God. It should be different from your usual prayer time and devotional time with Him. It should be special – just as special as the dates with your spouse!

Just as our cars need maintenance and fuel regularly, so do we! Daily Bible reading is good but this kind of “sit down” with the Lord is needful at times. It is especially needful if you are in full-time ministry and are on the go all the time. Those in full-time ministry are always so busy working for the Lord that everyone thinks they should always be on a “spiritual high” for their well doing. But that is not the case. Those are the people who get weary and must make time with their God and have a spiritual retreat regularly.

Retreats in the Word

Spiritual retreats seemed to be the center of David’s life, in my opinion. He knew where to get his encouragement, didn’t he? Psalms is filled with beautiful verses depicting David’s needs being met because he sought his God!

~Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

David took the time to meditate in God’s Word. Sometimes an outside stimulous can enhance our meditation time. For me, it is a quiet place in the woods! I hear the crickets and birds – the sound of a babbling brook – the breeze blowing through the trees and hearing the leaves rustle. All these things draw me closer to my Creator!

My friend, you are not alone in your work for the Master! He will be coming soon and our work here will be finished. Don’t grow weary. Encourage your spirit in the Word and keep on keepin’ on!
© Kate Plourde 2009

The picture above was taken by Carol Meyers and used here with her permission. She has traveled to some of the most beautiful places in the world and has captured so many pictures which depict peace and tranquility. Thank you, Carol, for allowing me this opportunity to use your work!

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Names of Jesus – Day 20 – Deliverer

On By KateIn Catholicism, Devotionals, Encouragement, Salvation, Scriptures4 Comments

While looking at this graphic, one can get the feeling of being delivered from harm’s way. Searching the Scriptures for this name of our Saviour really blessed me! My spirit was encouraged and lifted up!

~2 Samuel 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

~Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

~Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

~Psalm 70:5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

~Psalm 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

~Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Noah Webster defines the word deliverer as:

1. One who delivers; one who releases or rescues; a preserver.

Christ releases us from the sin debt that mankind has owed since the fall of Adam and Eve! The catholic church would have you believe that the catholic’s debt is not fully paid until after he is released from purgatory. However, that is a work and is not covered under the Grace of God. The Word says:

~Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Therefore, to the one who believes that Christ’s payment for our sin debt is not enough but one must add penance and indulgences with purgatory, then that person is under the sin debt for certain. But Christ said that He released us from this debt, my friend!

The word deliverer also means “rescues.” Oh what a precious picture in the mind’s eye! We are rescued from burning in hell! Like the graphic above, Christ’s payment for our sins rescues us from eternal punishment! We no longer need to work our way to heaven because the payment is paid and our salvation is secure in His hands!

And lastly, the last definition for deliver is “preserver.” Oh my! Our salvation is preserved by Christ, Himself! God is not a mere man who can fail us. He is the God of Glory and securely holds our salvation forever!

~Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

~2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

~Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

There is nothing else that needs to be done for our salvation. Christ died once for all. He paid the price once for all. When we repent and believe in Him, we need only do it once for all eternity. Jesus, our Deliverer, has our salvation securely in His hand!

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Chipmunks, Birds and Discouragement

On By KateIn Encouragement3 Comments

This was shared in a post at The Fundamental Baptist Forum by Pastor Tim DeIello.

It is an excellent illustration helping us with discouragement. We have all been there, haven’t we?

Enjoy :-)

Discouragement, Chipmunks and Birds
________________________________________
The Distraction of Discouragement

I don’t know of a person who does NOT battle discouragement in one form or fashion. Some pretend that it does not exist. Some choose to deceive others by stating that everything is just fine.

I have yet to find a passage of scripture which reveals that one human being has not faced discouragement…ever.

Discouragement distracts us from the proper attitude of the heart

Discouragement detours us from Him directing our paths

Discouragement dissatisfies us from the blessings God abundantly gives

Discouragement DISCOURAGES OTHERS…thereby creating a stumbling block to a weaker brother

Discouragement distances us from joy, peace, contentment, knowledge, separation, convictions, godliness, discernment

Scriptures to read about discouragement
I Kings 19
I Sam 30
Jonah 4
There was a bird in the bird feeder yesterday and it just could not get out. I saw it go in. It was getting some bird seed that was between the glass siding. About 30 minutes later, I walked past the bird feeder and saw the little bird trying to get out. It kept beating its wings trying to get out of the feeder. I thought to myself, I can see your way of escape and yet you keep going the opposite way.

Instantly my mind flashed back to last Spring, when I saw a chipmunk struggling to keep its head afloat in one of the trash cans filled with water from the melting snow. For nearly two minutes that poor chipmunk struggled to keep his head out of water. Finally, it sank below the water line exausted from its struggle. Then, it resurfaced and again attempted to get out of the peril it was in. Finally, I decided to execute my mercy on the poor rodent. I tipped the trash can over to let the water out and most importantly the chipmunk. In so doing, I had to allow the water to overcome the chipmunk as it looked at me with panic. As the water gushed out I saw that the chipmunk was not alone. another chipmunk had died in that water sometime back and stunk something fierce.

I learned something from that experience. Treading near the trash can day after day will one day cause you to fall to your doom. (spiritualize it for yourself)
I learned that what I do does affect others.
I learned that if I want out… I may just have to be overwhelmed in the problem long enough for God to let me out.I learned that God was Sovereign and nothing happens to me that He did not plan.

**Back to the bird feeder….

The bird began to panic as I tipped the bird feeder on its side. It began to flutter back and forth and bang against the sides of the feeder. I thought to myself… “YOU STUPID BIRD…JUST TRUST ME. I AM TRYING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO GET OUT… I AM TRYING TO HELP YOU HERE…. BE STILL.”

Instantly a verse popped into my head:

Be still and know that I am God” ~Psalms 46:10 And then another, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28

As I lifted the top of the bird feeder, I saw the bird fly out of that bird feeder and into the trees. Then, I heard it chirping away. One final passage popped into my head and made me smile and rejoice. …He brought me out of an horrible pit and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings…Many shall see it and fear…. ~Psalms 40:1-3

Praise the Lord! Whether frustrated at your ministry, whether troubled at your failures and insecurities, whether trapped in a dangerous perilous mistake and can’t get out, or whether you got stuck getting too much of a good thing, God knows where you are and God knows what you need and God knows just how long to leave you.

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Will I Come Forth as Gold?

On By KateIn Bible Studies, Cancer, Encouragement, Testimony6 Comments

(Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

I’ve seen study after study and devotion after devotion on this verse. But until you personally experience a series of trials in your own life, and experience this verse, you really can’t fully appreciate what others are trying to explain. So it was for me! Although I was greatly blessed by reading those studies, I have to admit that it wasn’t until recently that I have fully appreciated Job 23:10! For those of you who do not know, I have two sons. Aaron just joined the U.S. Army and is at Basic Combat Training in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Adam is a U.S. Marine and is wrapping up his MOS training in Coronado, CA. My husband and I recently sold our house and downsized to a two-bedroom apartment! We were planning our retirement and were scheduled to leave Virginia after May 1st. That is, until we found out a couple of weeks ago that John has been diagnosed with cancer. Radiation, chemo, surgery and follow-up treatments are what lie in store. I truly praise the Lord that at least I have my sons and my husband! I have not suffered as Job suffered, that is for sure! But I can surely sympathize with him and understand his account so much more as I go through these trials.

It is the first part of the verse that spoke to my heart, actually. The Lord knows the way that I take! This brings me much comfort knowing that my Shepherd knows my way. He has seen the future and knows the results of all that is going on in my life! My Creator, who has numbered the very hairs on my head, knows me intimately and cares for me. No matter how discouraged I may get, I can turn to the Word and the Lord gives me something that encourages my heart! (Psa 61:2) From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Our Heavenly Father hears our pleas of despair and comes to our rescue! (Psa 18:6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Thank You, Lord! I glorify Your Name on high!

Job’s reputation has followed him through the ages because he was able to claim this verse in the Bible. Even to this day, we hear the phrase “He has the patience of Job.” The trials that this man suffered are unbelievable, aren’t they? Job was attacked on every side by ole slew foot! The devil attacked Job’s character, he attacked Job’s belongings (cattle, etc.), he attacked Job’s servants, he attacked Job’s family, and he attacked Job’s own body! There is no one, that I know of personally, who has been through each of these in his life time – let alone within just a few weeks! I have learned that the Lord never gives us more than we can bear! With each burden, he provides us encouragement along the way. It is up to us to search out that encouragement! The Word should be our main source of encouragement! The title of my blog shows who that Source is: (Psa 121:1) [A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psa 121:2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

I also noticed that Job did not get to the point where he cursed the day he was born until after his friends came to “comfort” him! The devil kept attacking him and saw that he could not succeed so he sent along people he could “use” to accomplish his goal – discouragement. Where do you sit today, my friend? Are you one in need of encouragement or are you to be used of God to do the encouraging? Are you the type of friend that Job had? As I searched my heart, I realized that although I was experiencing trials of my own, there are many out there who are going through things that make mine look like child’s play! What kind of friend am I to those dear ones who are suffering?

If you are one who is experiencing trials today, do you surround yourself with whiners, complainers and nay sayers? It is these types of friends who will drag you down spiritually. Surround yourself with people who love the Lord, will pray for you and are there to lend an ear just in case you need one. Turn to your spiritual mentors who will not allow you to wallow in self-pity but will help you out of the pit of despair. You cannot expect someone who cannot swim to rescue you from drowning! Therefore, do not turn to those Christians who will nurture your discouragement instead of lifting you up in the Lord.

I don’t know why the Lord laid this on my heart today. Maybe I will need this down the road – or maybe you are going through a similar trial and need to be encouraged! With that said, won’t you say as Job did, (Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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