This morning I found myself spending quite a bit of time putting energy and words into one letter of encouragement. While I realize that is what I intend each of my emails to “my group” to be, I believe I need to make more effort to be intentional and focused in my encouragement. What if, each day, I sent an email of encouragement to an individual? A specific note of encouragement. Okay, that sounds lofty, so maybe I should start smaller, like a couple a week.

Some of you who were in worship Sunday at Birchwood also heard a “call to encouragement” and I guess when I woke up this morning those words weighed even heavier on me and I felt the need to be specific. Intentional. Perhaps it is also in response to a quote that I read this morning:

“Good is the enemy of great. That’s why so few things become great.” – Jim Collins

God is calling me to be of great encouragement. I think that in our walk with God we are constantly moving and we reach a point where “great” becomes “good” and we need to set new goals to build upon what we have accomplished in Him. Is it enough to stand before God and say, “I have encouraged”? No. It is that I should find there are not enough hours in the day to encourage. It is not enough to say I have encouraged 7 people today, but that I am looking for numbers 8 and 9. Who couldn’t use encouragement? Who has grown weary and discouraged while waiting to hear “well done”?

While I am on the subject, thank you to those of you who send me notes of encouragement and response. For me, those notes continue to be affirmation that I am doing God’s will. A lack of encouragement and affirmation would make me question if I am where God wants me to be. Those days come now and then. And if I feel that way, I must assume others do as well.