Challenging

When it comes to encouraging others along with our purpose it can be a challenge depending on the person.

This is especially true if they have a personality much different than our own.

Challenging is a good thing as well. It allows us to grow well as the person who challenges us.

So I hope we are challenged today.

Numbers

The second letter in encouraging is n. So in encouraging n represents numbers.

It is so important to have numbers of people to encourage. This is whether you are mentoring people or just being friends.

You don’t look at numbers thinking about how many people you are going to encourage to stack up points in your mind instead it is to measure where you are at in encouraging people.

When it comes to encouraging people numbers will reflect how you are doing. You don’t have to keep track exactly how many but have an idea like twenty-five or fifty or whatever the amount.

Numbers can be used to be a goal for you too.  Maybe today I will encourage ten people or fifty or a hundred for the week. The amount isn’t as important as having a goal to shoot for.

I hope this gives you encouragement as you start this week out. Amen!

Living in Excellence

The first letter in encouraging is e standing for excellence.

For us to live a life of encouraging others in our purpose is to begin with excellence.

We know that we are not perfect but to try to live in excellence puts a good foot forward.

Others will see us at being a good encourager because we are trying to be excellent in everything we do.

The number one goal in being an encourager is to live a life that others can follow. So strive to be excellent in everything you do.

Words Do Have Impact

Yesterday I was reading a post from a friend who writes a lot of poetry. She sounded like she wasn’t in a very good mood. Her words didn’t feel like she had no impact in other’s lives.

I am not sure whether the words in the poem was really how she felt or she was bringing a point across. One thing I do know we don’t always feel good every day. Also, darkness can come in any time no matter how much light has been on our path.

Indeed our words have impact whether we realize it or not. We can lift someone up or tear them down. Why it is important to watch our words carefully.

I have seen times when words have been spoken that have torn people down when the person delivering the words didn’t mean to. The person hearing the words doesn’t receive the message in the fashion they were meant to be. I know this because it has happened to me on both ends.

I see so much written on social media as of lately that I don’t read as much because it is so negative. I want to be able to have positive words spoken into my life whether by someone speaking into it or I am reading it.

I saw another post yesterday that made me know the person who wrote it even better. It was someone who I grew up with. I have only seen her a handful of times since high school but what she wrote I had no idea went on when she was growing up.

What she wrote made me realize just because our lives were lived a certain way when growing up wasn’t the same for everyone. I believe as kids we think everyone lives the same way we do whether positive or negative. What an amazing revelation now into my life.

I am sharing this all to help everyone. Let us hear before speaking the words we will speak. Amen!

The Day After

Now I can relax after the 4^th of July also known in USA Independence Day.

Hearing and watching the fireworks were great. The fireworks I could hear into the early morning. Those who shot off the fireworks like showing them off or wanted to hear the bang for a long time. Whatever the case it was fine with me I am not sure about the animals.

I showed when I am tired I can sleep through anything. Now July 5^th is here we can say summer is officially here too.  This is what they say here in the Pacific Northwest.

Enjoy your weekend and travels if you have gone somewhere. Be safe letting your purpose continue to touch other’s lives. Whether you know it or not they appreciate it. Amen!

Happy 4th Everyone

Here in USA we celebrate July 4 for this date as we received our independence from England in 1776. We have to thank all the men and women who lost their lives then plus those since to keep the freedoms we have.

I know to there are those who don’t feel free for different number of reasons; however, the USA is still freer than any other nation on the earth though not perfect. Although I don’t agree with some people’s lifestyle they still have the right and freedom to live that way long as it isn’t against the law.

Why I am thinking about this day we celebrate with fireworks tonight I am going over the memories I had as a child learning the history of this fine nation. I remember to the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  This poem is one of the most read in USA history too. When I was thirteen we had to memorize it in school. I decided to read it this morning after so many years. I still can’t believe I actually memorized that poem.

I am not sure that I read any of Longfellow’s other poems. I figure it is due time.  I figure that I will learn something which we all should do.

Let freedom and peace reign in your life today. Though you may not be an American think of yourself as one today; Amen!

Naming It

I am sure that a lot of writers and speakers for that matter find it hard to name a title to their posts or speeches. I certainly know I do so please don’t hold it against me (funny).

Yesterday it looked like summer was going to be delayed because it rained here in Western Washington. I must have misread the local newspaper’s forecast for the next few days because it looked like it was going to be at least cloudy until Sunday; however, on television they said would be sunny. At least today it has started to be cloudy.

I hope the sun comes out because the day is so much better when it does even if it is for only a few minutes. At least in the summer, we see the sun a lot can’ say the same for the other three seasons.

Here in Western Washington people’s attitude is so much better when the sun is out compared to when it is cloudy. I find it necessary to put on my happy face when cloudy so here it goes (funny again).

The temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s the rest of the week which is just fine with me. I am ok going up to the mid-80s but hotter than that I am not a big fan. The nice thing we don’t get much humidity around here in the summer. The only time I find we have high humidity is when the temperatures are in the high eighties than it drops fifteen degrees. Often it feels hotter when the temperature drops. It doesn’t happen often possibly a couple times a summer.

Anyway time to go for now; until next time enjoy your day and many blessing to you. May your purpose shine before all.

Love One Another

I am a big follower of baseball. Sunday major league baseball lost one of their players who was found dead. No details though no foul play was determined so likely took his own life.

Pray for his family and his loved ones. No matter what success a person has depression or mental illness can be a part of anyone’s life. It is so important to keep our eyes and ears open; however, often people can hide it real easy. I know from experience. It is a battle that unfortunately many lose.

I had a cousin who ended up taking her life quite a few years ago now. She had a rough life and losing her mother who had died was the last straw for her. I think about her a lot wishing she was still here.

It is so important that we love each other. Doesn’t mean that all suicides will end but it should help. Make sure those you know that might be dealing with depression spend little time by themselves. They need love and companionship all the time. Amen!

Being the Light

This summer we will see a lot of the sun. Now all we have to be is the light that shines in other’s lives. 

Show them love and encourage them a lot. Not only will their lives change for the better so will ours.

I am amazed by those who have light shine. I know we all have seen these people and we can be the same.

It is so easy to have our focus on ourselves instead of God and people. Love will reign in our hearts and darkness will go away when the light shines. 

Who We Are

Tall or Short

Big or Small

Rich or Poor

Beautiful or Average

We are who we are

We can live a rich life whether we have a long or short life.

Many who had short lives made a lot of difference over those who had long lives

We can all make a difference in the world no matter what has come our way.

Encourage you to do the best that you can. Enjoy all those around you.

For those that are children don’t grow up too fast.

For us adults let’s be children again.

Supporting Others

Friday night I went to fundraising dinner for a couple that I have known for a long time.  They have been involved with a couple from Nepal who run an orphanage there. They have lost the funding of a woman who had helped them for many years because of her health. I figure not a bigger avenue than helping someone who is helping the least fortunate in our world today.

This couple plan to travel to Nepal on a regular basis to help support the orphanage. Also, they have requested anyone interested in supporting a child in the orphanage they can do so. You can do a onetime donation or monthly. If you are interested send me a message and I will let you know how to contact them. You can always reach me herbnightingale@gmail.com or at this blog.

We can all make a difference in this world even if it is made in small ways. Have yourself a wonderful and exciting weekend.

Family First?

I know a lot of people believe family should come first above anything else. The truth is God should be at the top then family followed by others and then you at the bottom.

It doesn’t mean that you care the least about yourself; however, caring for everyone else will keep us on a good solid foundation. There are times where we have to go off and take care of ourselves that way we can get back on track putting God and everyone else ahead of us.

It isn’t an easy thing to do because our natural way is to take care of ourselves first. Most of us have been raised that family comes first so we make every effort to do that.

So put God and everyone ahead of yourself but do remember you have to take care of yourself too.  

Two Important Contributions

I believe two of the most important contributions in our lives is faith in God and faith in ourselves. We have both ingredients than we can do anything we want.

God says that we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains. Faith can make us do the impossible as much as the possible. Do you have that faith in God and you? If so you can and will do a lot.

Others can encourage you but you have to take the first steps toward faith. I know you can do it.