“Encouragement”-to give courage; to stimulate; to embolden. We ALL need an advocate, we ALL want to be built up, we ALL desire people to rally around us and let us know that we are NOT ALONE!! 1 Thessalonians 5:11-“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” Today I had the privilege of going to Cobb Street Ministries…a local program that takes in homeless women…often times these women are pregnant and/or have small children and are escaping abusive situations. Many needs are met at Cobb Street…not just a warm bed and a roof over their heads…their bodies are fed, their souls are nourished, they are shown that they are worthy of love; they are taught life skills, encouraged to get a job and to take responsibility for their lives.
Today, my 2 daughters…ages 9 and 12…went with me. They picked vegetables in the community garden, made crafts for the kids that are currently living there and helped provide lunch for all the hard-working folks that came to do repairs, yard work and help around the grounds. Not only is it a kind thing to do for others, but it is a “teachable moment” for my kids. They get to see first hand how fortunate they are in their own lives….they have a stable home life (HAHA), their parents are under one roof and love one another…and them; they are well-fed, clothed and safe! So many things that we all take for granted on a daily basis.
We didn’t do anything monumental: we helped in the garden..we did some crafts…we served a meal…I had a conversation with someone about their Crohn’s Disease and some ways to alleviate the pain a bit…I gave a smile….I WAS ENCOURAGING! These are all such small things as the giver but HUGE to the receiver. That is how I want to be known and remembered: as an encourager, a bright light, “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) Probably the biggest blessing I saw today, was that Cassidy (age 12), said she thought we should start a garden at Cedarcrest Church…she said, “the older kids can teach the younger kids, we can provide food for those in need” and simply have a community project to be involved in. Will the garden yield any “fruit”? It seems to me that maybe it has already started growing!!
Passions, Pitfalls and Plenty of Prayer 
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