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ncouragement is incre- about someone who fell into a pit them to be who God created them
dible. Its impact can be and could not get out - and how to be.
Eprofound - nearly miracu- others treated that person: I believe that deep down,
lous. A word of encouragement A subjective person came everyone wants to become an
from a teacher to a child can along and said, “I feel for you encourager, and everyone who
change his life. A word of down there.” knows Jesus wants to be more
encouragement from a spouse An objective person came like Jesus - even the most
can save a marriage. A word of along and said, “Well, it's negative person.
encouragement from a leader can logical that someone would Why do I say that? Because I
inspire a person to reach his or fall down there.” believe that we all want to have a
her potential. As Zig Ziglar says, A Pharisee said, “Only bad positive influence on the lives of
“You never know when a moment people fall into pits.” others. We want to add value to
and a few sincere words can have A mathematician calculated others, not take it away from
an impact on a life.” how the individual fell into the them.
To encourage people is to help pit. You can make a difference. You
them gain courage they might not A news reporter wanted an can add value to others. You can
otherwise possess - courage to exclusive story on the person represent Jesus well and some-
face the day, to do what's right, to in the pit. day hear the words, “Well done,
take risks, to make a difference. A fundamentalist said, “You good and faithful servant.”
And the heart of encouragement deserve your pit.” Everyone can become an encou-
is to communicate a person's A Calvinist said, “If you had rager. You don't have to be rich.
value. When we help people feel been saved, you would never You don't have to be a genius. You
valuable, capable, and motivated, have fallen into that pit.” don't have to have high charisma.
we often get to see their lives An American said, “You were And you don't have to have it all
change forever. And we some- saved and still fell in that pit.” together. You just need to care
times get to see them go on to A Charismatic said, “Just about people and be willing to get
change the world. confess that you are not in started. You don't have to do
If you are a parent, you have a that pit.” anything big or spectacular. The
responsibility to encourage mem- A realist came along and said, little things you do every day have
bers of your family. If you are an “Now that's a pit.” the potential to have a much
organizational leader, you can A geologist told him to greater impact than you can
increase the effectiveness of your appreciate the rock strata in imagine.
team dramatically in proportion to the pit.
the amount of encouragement A SARS worker asked if he Give someone a sincere
you give the people you lead. As a was paying taxes on this pit. compliment.
friend, you have the privilege of An inspector asked if he had a Praise someone when he
sharing encouraging words that permit to dig the pit. does something right.
may help someone persevere A self-pitying person said, Assist someone in need.
through a rough time, or strive for “You haven't seen anything Offer someone a shoulder to
greatness. AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU until you have seen my pit.” cry on.
H A V E T H E P O W E R T O An optimist said, “Things Celebrate with someone who
REPRESENT JESUS BY LOVING could be worse.” succeeds.
OTHERS AND LIFTING THEM UP A pessimist said, “Things will Give someone hope.
WITH AN ENCOURAGING WORD. get worse.”
JESUS, SEEING THE MAN, You can do this. Act now. And
GOD LOVES EVERYBODY REACHED DOWN AND TOOK keep in mind this quote that I've
Many Christians tend to be too HIM BY THE HAND AND always loved: “I expect to pass
choosy about who they help and LIFTED HIM OUT OF THE PIT! through this world but once. Any
who they encourage. They look good therefore that I can do, or
for people like themselves. Some Jesus came to die for people. He any kindness that I can show to
people even believe that they was and is in the people business. any fellow creature, let me do it
should help only other individuals And you and I need to be in the now. Let me not defer or neglect it,
who believe what they believe and people business too. We should for I shall not pass this way
think as they do. That's not the always keep in mind that God again.”
way it should be. It's certainly not loves everybody, and we need to [John C Maxwell, contributing
the way JESUS did it. treat others the way Jesus would author to ‘The Love Revolution’,
Years ago I came across a piece treat them. We need to encourage Joyce Meyer, Faith Words, 2009].
Sendelinge wat pionierswerk in bome en maak hulself soms vas geboude swartmense (die eerste aantal dae, of soms selfs weke,
Kinshasa doen, het in die mid- aan 'n tak om te verhoed dat hulle sendelinge was swartmense). Die het die sendelinge dan 'n
1990's na die oerwoud gegaan uitval terwyl hulle slaap! Die Pigmeë se gevoel van minder- geleentheid gekry om 'n paar kort
om die Evangelie aan die Pigmeë sendelinge het 'n “Every Tree waardigheid het dit moeilik sinne met die ruiltransaksies te
in die Kongo te bring. Hulle het 'n Crusade” gehou. gemaak om die Evangelie aan sê. Dit het soms 'n hele paar
stam van 6 000 Pigmeë besoek Bosuka, wat “einde van die hulle te bring. Een van die geleenthede geneem voordat
op hulle reis al langs die Kongo- wêreld” beteken, is een van die metodes wat die sendelinge hulle die Evangelieboodskap kon
rivier af. Die jong stamhoof, groter Pigmeë-gemeenskappe. gebruik het, was om na 'n oop verstaan, maar wanneer hulle
Lendongo, was een van die Na 'n geestelike deurbraak in stuk grond te gaan en sout op 'n uiteindelik die sondaarsgebed
eerste van die stam om Christus Bosuka, het die Pigmeë 'n dorp boomstomp daar te los. (Sout is 'n gebid het, het hulle van vreugde
as sy Verlosser te bely. Daarna gestig met 'n kerk in die middel. baie skaars artikel vir die Pig- begin lag! Hulle het Jesus
het baie gevolg - minstens 4 000 Dit het daartoe gelei dat duisende meë). Spoedig het die Pigmeë Christus ontmoet! Die Evangelie
tot 6 000 Pigmeë het Christus Pigmeë in die omgewing hulle gekom, stadig nader gegaan, die bring transformasie in dele van
aangeneem in minder as 24 lewens aan Christus oorgegee sout gegryp en bobbejaanvleis of die oerwoud waar baie gesinne
maande. het. Die werk het aan die begin vis in die plek daarvan gelos. tot redding kom.
Pigmeë gebruik dikwels bome as egter stadig gevorder, want die Stadig maar seker het hulle geleer [Look what God is doing, Dick
huise. Hulle leef en slaap in die Pigmeë was bang vir die groter- om die Christene te vertrou. Na 'n Eastman, Chosen Books, 2009].
