Terri's Wellspring

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

The standard response I receive to the daily inquiries of “How are you?” is “I am hanging in there.” It used to be “I’m fine”.  “Hanging in there” seems to indicate that we are doing what we can in what might be challenging times.  It is understandable. Many aspects of our lives seem a little more intense – finances, relationships and work.  As a result, we need a little more resiliency to keep moving forward.  It is important to take even small opportunities to encourage one another. I used to say in response “hang tough”.  Now, I try to encourage people to “use both hands”.  I hope it is a small acknowledgement, that things may be tough and that I need you to do your best to survive it all.  I hope it is a minor but persuasive way to encourage the people that cross my path.

So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19

Sometimes we do things we don’t mean and it may have unintended consequences. A harsh word, a hurried response or a big misunderstanding may create distance between us and others. It may be with a total stranger or with someone that is dear to our hearts. Maintaining or nurturing relationships requires effort and at times hard work to create or restore a relationship that is worth having. The Bible explains the first step of going to someone privately when we experience a problem in a relationship. It describes the subsequent steps of reconciliation depending on the response received. I believe that the Lord provides this critical guidance because He has called us not only to get along but to love one another. Mutual understanding and respect sets the foundation for love. Wherever we find ourselves today, we can spend some time considering where we are with our relationships. Even if we are at a loss to how to get things pointed toward reconciliation, I am thankful to God that the Holy Spirit can provide direction about what to do when we need it.

Dear Heavenly Father –

We thank you for this day and each blessing that it holds. We thank you God for the blessing of friendships and family. We ask now that you would provide guidance regarding the relationships in our lives and show us where we need to make things right. With you leading and direction, you can help us to nurture and reconcile our relationships to reflect your love in us. We thank you God for these blessings.

In Jesus’ name –  Amen

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I have promised that I will keep Your Law.

And I will add strength to this promise.

Psalm 119:105-106

We can thank God for the grace and mercy that He provides for our lives. The Holy Spirit is able to provide strength, peace and joy along our journey.  The next steps forward can be unsure and even difficult.  It requires us to put our trust squarely in His hands.  He empowers our journey with guidance and the ability to thrive where He is leading us.  Listening closely for the directions, watching for the signs and seeking the confirmations that the path is ahead will help to assure that He is directing our path.  We can be assured that He will send us in a direction that is consistent with His word, that will lead us toward Holy living and that will help us to achieve His purpose for our lives.

The way forward is through Him with our faith and trust to move where He is leading.