A Weekend of Encouragement

The message of the weekend was encouragement.  More specifically, growing in discipleship encouragement. A dear friend of our church community Barbara Murray was our gracious speaker and she gave her definition of discipleship encouragement as "infusing a fellow believer to grow in Christ".  One way to do this is by listening. To be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)  Another way is to tell our story.
I sat in a room full of stories this weekend.  All of us have a story to tell.  A story that has been written by the ultimate Author.  I witnessed some brave women combat fear and tell theirs to other women who needed to hear of the battle scars of their sisters in Christ.  An amazing thing happens when fears are stilled and words flow. Hearts open and sisters share and all are encouraged to grow in Christ.
When fear keeps us from telling our story, the world hurts.  But fear is a powerful thing. It silences and paralyzes.  It causes us to question our faith and the sovereignty of God.  What if my story makes me look weak?  What if my story involves someone that I don't want to hurt or betray? What if I don't want to draw attention to myself?  What if...? These questions keep our eyes inward and our hearts sealed tight. Yes there is wisdom to be sought before sharing our sorrows and our victories, but when God calls, we must be ready to take action. All of our lives have pain, sorrow and heartache.  We all have secrets we want to hold on to.  But what if we let go of the fear keeping those things bottled up inside and we begin to share all that God has done in the darkest places of our souls?  Scripture tells us that ALL things work together for GOOD, for His glory. (Romans 8:28)  We need to hear each other's stories.  We need to know we are not alone in our battles.  The enemy works hard to silence the believer, but we witnessed the Holy Spirit at work this weekend in all the brave women who bared their souls, let go of fear, let the tears flow and encouraged the hearts of fellow believers.  I know I was deeply encouraged and challenged to tell my story.  To let the Author's story of my life be published for the world around me to be encouraged, because, lets face it. Our story is not our own.  It's His story of redeeming mankind to Himself and we are but a character in a chapter of an epic story that will last for all eternity.