Notes on Encouragement from Amy Harris

 Originally posted September 14, 2011

Below are some notes Amy Harris made on encouragement that you should find helpful as we close out our week on encouragement and begin our study on Balance.  Amy made these notes based on the book A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.

A good word makes the heart glad. Proverbs 12:25

"With every encounter, make it your aim that people are better off for having been in your presence.  Try in every encounter to give something to the other person."

1.  Take Time to Be Filled:  

• We can't give away what we don't possess.

• If you take time to sit at Jesus' feet and be filled by God's Spirit as you study the written Word, if you focus on overcoming internal obstacles to doing God's work, you will never lack for ministry.  God's fullness in you will naturally overflow into the lives of others.
• Corrie ten Boom had a problem with shyness so she took a Dale Carnegie course to learn to talk to people.  She knew if she could talk to people she could tell them about Jesus
• You have more to give to your neighbor if you regularly place yourself before God and let Him grow you, strengthen you and transform you!

2.  Memorize Scriptures of Encouragement

• "let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" Col 4:6
• If you are faithful to commit to memory selected gems from God's Word, you'll suddenly find them adding real substance to your conversations.

3.  Ways to Encourage:

Phone Calls - She calls them "sunshine calls"

• Tips - If you have young children at home, tell them you need to make a phone call and ask if they need anything before you call.  It shows your children that they are your primary concern but what you are doing is important so they are not to interrupt.
• Ask the person you are calling, "Is this a good time to talk or would you like me to call you back?"
• If they don't answer, leave a cheerful message and let them know you are thinking about them and will call them back.
• She usually makes her calls around 5:30 pm and says, "I know you're about to eat and so are we but I haven't seen you lately, and I just had to give you a quick call and make sure you're all right."  If there is a difficulty, I make an appointment to call back at a time when we can have a more lengthy and meaningful conversation.

Notes of Encouragement

• This works for handwritten notes or email but there is a much more personal element to a handwritten note.
• Tips - set aside a slot time in your week for the express purpose of writing notes.
• Basic How To: 3 sentences........

1. Sentence #1 - conveys I miss you, I appreciate you, or I'm thinking of you
2. Sentence #2 - let the reader know they are special to you and why
3. Sentence #3 - says I'm praying for you and includes a verse you are praying for them

• You can keep a folder with you with note cards, stamps, etc. to write notes as you are in carpool line, waiting at the Dr. offce etc.

Spiritual Gifts to Encourage Others

• Serving, mercy and giving - each is a specific spiritual gift, but each is also commanded of us as Christians.  And each was carried out and modeled for us by our dear Savior, in whose steps we are to follow.

Live It Out:

• Everything we do or don't do teaches.
• Others can watch you and be encouraged in their own quest to follow God.