ENCOURAGEMENT

It never ceases to amaze me the way that God chooses to teach us things.  
Generally I am an oblivious person.  So most of the time I will overlook things until one moment, then all of the seemingly smaller things that happened previously begin to make since and the dots begin to connect in a spectacular way.  When all of the stars begin to align, all the small things really just blow my mind.  Mind=BLOWN!  
Something that has really just been mind blowing and incredible to watch (or in my case look back and see) is all of the encouraging words that have been showered on me lately, that could only be the product of a God centered, Jesus loving community.  
Taking some steps back...Sunday evening a friend of mine and myself wrote encouragement notes to several people in our Summer Project group.  I am a fan of encouragement notes so we wrote Scripture and encouraging words on 3x5 cards for these people.  Tuesday, in my small group Bible study we all did popcorn encouragement to each other.  Just this was mind blowing because we all only had twenty seconds to shower each other in encouragement.  My most favorite event was on Wednesday when a guy small group took my small Bible study group on a Creative Date.  Which is where a group of guys take the girls out to show them how much they appreciate their sisters in Christ.  The guys walked us to  probably the most beautiful little park I have ever seen and cooked dinner for us and gave us letters of encouragement.  Finally today my discipler took me to breakfast at a sweet little place in the city where we could have a county breakfast (biscuits and gravy for days!) This was our final time together, but I have no idea that she would also be leaving me with words of encouragement.  And still can you believe that I had not connected the dots yet?  
So, I get back to my apartment and actually began studying "truth" found in Scripture, when I got stuck on a reference, Hebrews 10:19-39.  Actually, the main idea of this passage is assurance through faith, but nesselled in there are two verses about Christian community which is the fruit of a true and pure relationship with Christ. I did not intent to come across these verses at all.   24"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."  WOW.  And then it hit me.  Yeah, it's great to hear good things about ourselves from other people, but the purpose of it is to stir up our love for Christ.  
When I read and hear encouraging words about myself, I hear that I am loving and care for others the most.  Actually, I probably struggle with this the MOST.  Honestly, I struggle to see past the picture of myself long enough to love other people.  These words being said, this is how I see myself.  In turn love for others is what I know God has wanted me to focus on, how I love others and can encourage and point them to Christ. How I can give that Agape love to everyone outside of myself.  
When I read these encouragement notes about my loving nature, I know that it is not me that they see.  Rather it is Christ changing me, because without Him I would just be a very very selfish and self-centered person.  It is awesome to see all of the dots connect when God uses community to point me back to how He is working in my life! 

Loving this SUMMER.  God is sooo good!