“Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.” (Psalms 25:7 NIV)

When I was a kid, I remember hearing my dad say, “Too soon old, too late smart!” I didn’t know what he meant way back then, but I think I do now. Time gives you lots of perspective!

I got my mouth washed out with soap!

Dad used to have a group of men over to the house once in a while to play cards and I would listen to their conversations as I played under the kitchen table. I heard one of them tell a joke and they all burst into loud laughter. I didn’t understand the meaning of the joke but remembered how to tell it. The next day at school, (1st grade), the teacher, Mrs. Latrell, had a show-and-tell time. She said we could share anything, even a funny story or a joke. I got up in front of the class and gleefully told the joke. As soon as I said the punchline the teacher screeched and immediately rushed me to the sink and washed my mouth out with soap. The funny thing is that I really didn’t have a clue what it was that I had said wrong! It was only years later that I had remembered the incident, and the joke, and knew exactly why she had washed my mouth out.

I do cringe when I remember some of the mistakes of my youth!

There were so many of them! In retrospect, I can’t believe I was so clueless! But, I was! Of course, lots of water has since gone under the proverbial bridge, and much learning and maturity has made me into a different person.

I’m sure glad that God has promised to forgive and forget our past!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB)

And, that’s a very comforting promise indeed!

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” (Rom. 1:12 NLT)

Learn to be an encourager!

Everybody needs encouragement from time to time! And one of the best ways to be encouraged is to be an encourager yourself! It’s the principle of getting back what you give. “You reap what you sow!” (Gal. 6:7)

Whenever you get together with someone, use it as an opportunity to encourage them! And in doing so, you also will be encouraged in the process!

How to encourage

It’s not complicated. To encourage, you give support, confidence, or hope to someone.

Other synonyms for encourage are: hearten, cheer, buoy up, uplift, inspire, motivate, spur on, stir, stir up, fire up, stimulate, invigorate, vitalize, revitalize, embolden, and fortify.

Do you need any of that? I know I do!

Here are some encouraging verses that you can use to encourage others

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15 ESV)

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” (2 Tim. 3:1 NIV)

When I was in Army basic training at Fort Lewis, we had one particular Drill Sergeant who liked to pour on the training exercises, such as; 10-mile hikes, in the noontime heat, wearing full combat gear! He would often describe each event in advance to us with all its scary details. And then, he would end his description by saying, “And this is not a threat, it’s a promise!”

This training was hard!

But many of us were headed to Vietnam with its extreme heat and dangerous combat situations, and we needed to be toughened up and ready for it! It was a matter of survival!

Jesus warns us about tough times coming in our future!

He wants us to be prepared for it! He said that in the last days, just before He returns, things are going to go from bad to worse to the extreme point that only God’s intervention will stop total destruction! He said, “For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.” (Mark 13:19-20 NLT)

Look what is said about how people will be like in the end times.

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim. 3:2-5 NIV)

Sound familiar?

We are living in a very different time than even a few short years ago! We are now calling good, bad and bad, good! Things are flipped upside down! We are accepting sexual deviancy as normal, and things like fidelity and celibacy until marriage as abnormal. Biblical marriage (between a man and a woman) is now redefined to include same-sex couples! There is public outrage over the death of a lion or gorilla, and yet 3,000 babies are aborted every day without hardly a word! “Political correctness” has become the way the world filters things. The Bible is no longer welcome in our learning institutions! Biblical truth is banished from open discussion.

Okay, all this sounds threatening and even scary! And it is! But, here’s what Jesus said we should do.

“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic.” (Mark 13:7 NLT)

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28 NIV)

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34 NIV)

“And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13 NLT)

And finally, remember this!

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39 NKJV)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

Everything around us seems to be continuously changing! But, God remains the same! Always! And His Words never change!

Look at what the Bible says about God’s steadfastness.

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.” (Num. 23:19-20 ESV)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 NLT)

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalms33:11 ESV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10 NIV)

Every day of the year!

God has said 365 times in the Bible “do not fear!” One for each day of the year! So, do you think He might want you to take it seriously? Yes He does! He is your God! He will strengthen you! He will help you! He will uphold you with His righteous right hand!

“With God all things are possible!” (Matt.19:26 NASB)

Over the years, I have heard people quote this verse exactly this way, out of context, therefore, I put it exactly that way on purpose to make a point. And that point is to say it is dangerous to quote only half or part of Bible verses because in doing so you could say or imply something that was not meant in its complete and proper context.

The statement, “With God all things are possible” is not factual!

There are some things that God is incapable of doing, such as lying or denying Himself (Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2). That’s why it’s always important to consider the context of scripture verses to understand what is actually being said.

A good principle to remember, “text out of context is pretext”

So, let’s look at this verse again with some earlier text and background added to it. Jesus had just finished talking to the rich young ruler who had just gone away sadly after Jesus had told him, “sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me.”

Jesus used the incident to teach his disciples. “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt: 19:23-26 KJV)

So, it is best to remember that the context of this statement “but with God all things are possible” is in reference to salvation. God made a way when the way was impossible for us.

God does what is impossible for man

God’s omnipotence or power is unlimited (Job 11:7-11, 37:23; Revelation 4:8). That is, God can take the things that are impossible to man, and make them possible because His power is unlimited, while ours is limited. The context of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is a perfect example of His unlimited power because, while it is possible for man to be saved, it is impossible for man to save himself by his own merits or for the law to grant eternal life. The grace offered only by Jesus Christ is necessary.

God may not “do all things” but He can and does do “impossible things”

Scripture is full of verses that portray God making the impossible possible. When Abraham and Sarah were awaiting the promise of a son, even after they were well past child bearing years, God told them, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) In the book of Numbers when the Israelites were complaining to Moses about food, the Lord told Moses that he was going to feed over half a million people for an entire month.

Moses was skeptical, but God said, “Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.” (Numbers 11:23 NASB)

In the book of Job, after forty-two chapters of trials, Job was able to answer God and say, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2 ESV)

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1 NASB)

Jeremiah said, “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17 NASB)

Finally, in foretelling the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel told Mary, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 NASB) And that statement, too, is understood best in its proper subject-matter context!

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy.” (Phil 1:3-4 NLT)

Have you ever had someone just pop into your thoughts? I have, many times, and I use it as a prompt from the Holy Spirit to say a prayer for them. This is what this verse is saying. “Every time I think of you …. I pray … I give thanks … I make requests for you …. with joy. Notice that there are five parts to this verse and it ends with joy! Think, pray, thank, request, and joy. It’s actually a great example to follow.

A type of ministry

This can be a very powerful and helpful ministry for any perceptive believer who puts this process of “remembering and praying” for others into practice! The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b NIV)

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24 NKJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

When I think of this verse I imagine a big rain barrel sitting under a waterspout receiving a steady stream of water causing it to overflow the brim and running over.

In the same way

Fill your mind with a steady stream of the Word of God until it simply overflows. The Bible says, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45b) Sounds like overflow to me!

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:24 NKJV)

This is a simple biblical principle that works wonderfully! If you want to “have” friends you have to “show yourself” friendly. It’s an example of “reaping what you sow.” – Friendliness produces friendliness!

She was lonely, depressed and suicidal

Here is an old story about psychiatrist Dr. Milton Erickson, and his advice given to a reclusive woman who was lonely, depressed and suicidal, and what happened to her after taking his great advice.

The ailing 52-year-old spinster lived in a rambling Victorian house with the heavy draperies drawn and dust gathering on faded upholstered furniture. Now wheelchair bound due to illness, the woman rarely went to church, an activity which had been her only social and spiritual sustenance for many years. She’d become isolated and depressed, even suicidal.

The woman’s nephew was a client of Erickson’s, and knowing the doctor would soon be traveling to Milwaukee for a speaking engagement, asked him if he’d be willing to call on his beloved aunt who lived there. Dr. Erickson agreed.

When Erickson arrived, the aunt invited him in and showed him around her gloomy house, it appeared as if nothing had been changed for many years. The furniture and household decorations showed a faded glory, smelling of must. Erickson was struck by the fact that all the curtains were kept closed, making the house a depressing place to be in.

The aunt saved the very best for last, however, and finally ushered Erickson into her greenhouse nursery. This was her pride and joy; she had a green thumb and spent many happy hours working with the plants. She proudly showed him her latest project—taking cuttings from her African violets and starting new plants.

“Not a very good Christian”

Erickson told her that he thought depression was not really the problem. It was clear to him that her problem was that she was not being a very good Christian. She was taken aback by this and began to bristle, until he explained. “Here you are with all this money, time on your hands, and a green thumb. And it’s all going to waste! What I recommend is that you get a copy of your church membership list and then look in the latest church bulletin. You’ll find announcements of births, illnesses, graduations, engagements, and marriages in there—all the happy and sad events in the life of people in the congregation. Make a number of African violet cuttings and get them well established. Then repot them in gift pots and have your handyman drive you to the homes of people who are affected by these happy or sad events. Bring them a plant and your congratulations or condolences and comfort, whichever is appropriate to the situation.” Hearing this, the woman agreed that perhaps she had fallen down in her Christian duty and agreed to do more.

African Violet Queen

Twenty years later, in the Milwaukee Journal, a feature article appeared with a large headline that read “African Violet Queen of Milwaukee Dies, Mourned by Thousands.” The article detailed the life of this incredibly caring woman who had become famous for her trademark flowers and her charitable work with people in the community for many years preceding her death. Her last years were filled with many wonderful friends, a loving purpose, and much happiness! All because she had learned to reach out to others in need, and“show herself to be friendly” to them.

Closer than a brother

The last part of our promise verse (at the top) says, “and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” And, that friend, of course is Jesus! Here is what He said about helping others: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:10-11 ESV)

Golden

And, the “golden rule” says the same thing: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” (Matt. 7:12 NLT)

The Law of Reciprocity

And finally, even though you must always give unselfishly without expecting anything in return when you do so, something very wonderful will begin to happen just the same. Social psychologists call it The Law of Reciprocity – and it basically says that when someone does something nice for you, you will have a deep-rooted psychological urge to do something nice in return. As a matter of fact, you may even reciprocate with a gesture far more generous than their original good deed. Obviously, that happened to the African Violet Queen in the story above. She got back more than she gave!