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Written By

jeff lucas JAN/FEB 2014

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Bring me sunshine Copyright Š CWR 2013 Published 2013 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK Tel: 01252 784700 Email: mail@cwr.org.uk Registered Charity No. 294387 Registered Limited Company No. 1990308 Front cover image: Istock/Digital Vision/Ryan McVay Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in England by Linney Print.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Anglicised edition), copyright Š 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica (formerly International Bible Society).

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how to get the best out of life every day HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

• Ideally, carve out a regular time and place each day,

with as few distractions as possible. Ask God what He has to say to you.

• Read the Bible passages suggested in the ‘Big Picture’

references. (As tempting as it is, try not to skip the Bible reading and get straight into the notes.)

• The ‘Focus’ reference then gives you one or two

verses to look at in more detail. Consider what the reading is saying to you and what challenges that may bring.

• Each day’s comments are part of an overall theme.

Try to recall what you read the previous day so that you maintain a sense of continuity.

• Spend time thinking about how to apply what God

has said to you. Ask Him to help you do this.

• Pray the prayer at the end as if it were your own.

Perhaps add your own prayer in response to what you have read and been thinking about.

Join in the conversation on Facebook www.facebook.com/jefflucasuk

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of

The Encouraging God

I

t’s a wonderful memory I have of my father. Rendered speechless by a massive stroke, he was unable to

communicate with words, but wanted to let me know

WED 01 JAN READ: Romans 15:4–5 Psalm 10:17

he was proud of me. His old face broke into a broad smile, his eyes shone and he patted me on the back –

Focus

an elaborate, theatrical pat that left me in absolutely

‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had ...’ (Rom. 15:5)

no doubt he was very pleased with me indeed.

Scripture reveals a God who is the greatest encourager of all. Those who suggest that Barnabas is the Bible’s most encouraging character are wrong – that description belongs to God alone. But many of us struggle to picture a God who is delighted by our efforts, who cheers us on, as the ultimate source of all strength and encouragement. The notion of an encouraging God seems almost too good to be true.

And some of us live tortured lives because our view of God is anything but encouraging. We see Him as a relentless taskmaster, never satisfied, always demanding more, no matter how hard we work or what sacrifices we make. We call Him Father, but respond to Him as if He were a tyrant.

Perhaps we have this twisted picture of God because of our own upbringing or experiences of harsh preaching. Some of us have been bruised by earthly fathers and now the idea of a loving, encouraging God seems impossible for us to grasp.

Perhaps you’re feeling exhausted and driven, and you think that God is the reason for your weariness. If that’s the case, you might like to reflect on whether the demands are really coming from God – or from your false perception of Him. Prayer: God, wherever I have developed a false understanding of You, bring clarity and healing. Thank You for Your encouraging heart. Amen.

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... a God who is the greatest encourager of all

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THURS 02 JAN READ: 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Encouragement and strength

T

he marvellous prospect of a wonderful eternity spent in God’s presence, with God’s people, where there will

be no more tears or pain, can seem a long way off and even slightly irrelevant to our everyday lives. Preachers often use the phrase, ‘living in the light of eternity’. It sounds very noble but I am still trying to figure out what it means. The

Focus

here and now feels very solid but heaven ahead can feel

‘May our Lord Jesus Christ … and God our Father, who loved us and … gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you ...’

(2 Thess. 2:16–17)

intangible, beyond our grasp. As Paul writes to encourage his friends in Thessalonica, he brings the hope that is ours for the future, and connects it with encouragement for today.

‘Good hope’ is a phrase that was commonly used in Paul’s day to refer to life after death and so Paul’s logic is this: God will be encouraging us for ever. Our sure and certain hope is in His goodness that will be displayed throughout eternity, and that very same God wants to encourage us today. God is not waiting for forever to dawn before He displays His outrageous grace. The God who will be generous and kind throughout eternity is generous and kind now, today.

Notice too the marriage in Paul’s thinking between encouragement and strength – the words often appear together in the New Testament. Christians aren’t strengthened by brow-beating, harassing teaching that seeks to scare them into action. Instead, they are lifted up by God’s encouragement. Perhaps you and I can be used by God to strengthen those who are struggling today. Encouragement is a great fuel.

Encouragement is a great fuel

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Prayer: Thank You for the hope that I have in You, Lord Jesus. Help me bring strength to those who are overwhelmed. Amen.

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Remember God’s encouragement

T

he truth that God is the Lord of encouragement doesn’t mean everything He does will be easy for

FRI 03 JAN READ: Hebrews 12:1–13 Proverbs 3:11–12

us or that He will only speak words that are pleasing to hear. On the contrary, there are times when God will bring

Focus

discipline into our lives, not because He doesn’t love us but

‘And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?’ (Heb. 12:5)

because He does. But, in helping the Hebrew Christians to understand that, as the writer quotes from Proverbs, the reminder is given: God’s encouragement to us is that we are His children, sons and daughters of the living God. Notice how much the writer wants to impress upon us this central truth. Once again, strength and encouragement are mentioned together in this exhortation.

How often I remember what I should forget, but then forget what I should remember. Daily life means that, although I totally believe in the resurrection of Christ, the actual truth that He is alive and active right now just seems to slip my mind. When I fail, I often forget that total forgiveness is available for the asking. How forgetful we are! This is why Jesus left us a remembrance feast: so that, in the regular sharing of bread and wine, we would bring His sacrificial work to mind again, and rejoice as we remember.

Sometimes I forget I am one of God’s sons and, instead, become His servant, His employee or His distant friend. But God’s encouragement to us is the call to remember that discipline is only given by parents to children who are deeply loved. And that, with God, includes us. Don’t forget it today.

Prayer: Help me remember, Lord, who You are, and who I am in You: Your much-loved child. Amen.

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04/05 JAN READ:

God encourages through people

Philemon 1–7 // 1 Corinthians

Weekend

16:5–18

Frequently – and indeed strangely – when I go through a time of emotional turbulence or become exhausted due to the demands of ministry (or my mad scheduling), an email of encouragement often arrives, a card of appreciation is delivered or a life-giving conversation takes place. Last Sunday, a man approached me after I’d preached at a church I visit regularly, and his words made a deep impact on me. ‘Whenever you speak, Jeff, we feel that you’re on our side. You want to nudge us forward, but never make us feel as though you’re not one of us. We sense that you’re with us.’

His words have strengthened me all week. Paul often received encouragement and refreshment through the faithful friends in whom he invested. God does encourage but, more often than not, He does so through the kind thoughtfulness and well-chosen words of His people.

Sadly, so often we hesitate to bless each other with encouragement. We are afraid that we might be thought of as flatterers. Or we worry it might just make the person we are encouraging big-headed. Take the risk!

To ponder: How do you respond when people seek to encourage you? Are there other reasons for our reluctance to encourage?

God does encourage ...

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CWR

CWR ministry events Please pray for the team

Date Event

Place

Presenter(s)

Jan—Mar

Developing Pastoral Care (part 2)

Waverley Abbey House Andy Peck and team

18 Jan

Insight into Anger

WAH

Chris Ledger

23 Jan

Refreshing Your Spiritual Life

WAH

Andy Peck

27—31 Jan January Bargain Break

Pilgrim Hall

6 Feb

Preachers’ Day

WAH

8 Feb

Counselling Enquirers’ Event

WAH

12 Feb

Insight into Dementia

PH

Rosemary Hurtley

15 Feb

Christians@Work: Working with Myself

WAH

Beverley Shepherd

Andy Peck

21—23 Feb Bible Discovery Weekend: WAH

The Cross Through the Eyes of Jesus

Philip Greenslade

22 Feb

Peter Jackson

Insight into Bereavement

WAH

Please also pray for students and tutors on our ongoing BA in Counselling programme at Waverley and Pilgrim Hall and our Certificate and Diploma of Christian Counselling and MA in Integrative Psychotherapy held at London School of Theology.

For further details and a full list of CWR’s courses, phone +44 (0)1252 784719 or visit the CWR website at www.cwr.org.uk Pilgrim Hall: www.pilgrimhall.com

www.cwr.org.uk

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MON 06 JAN READ: Hebrews 3:1–13 1 Timothy 6:11–12

A good habit

I

t’s an old chestnut: a husband is challenged about how often he tells his wife that he loves her. ‘I told her that I

loved her the day we got married. If I ever change my mind, I’ll let her know.’ This severe rationing of affection and

Focus

encouragement wouldn’t help any marriage to flourish.

‘But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.’

(Heb. 3:13)

But we can be like that: rarely taking time to specifically encourage others. Some of us even take pride in our reluctance to build others up: ‘I don’t often comment positively so, when I do, I certainly mean it.’ The writer to the Hebrews called them to adopt a daily approach to encouragement. And encouragement is linked with holiness here: in an atmosphere where we are cheering each other on, we are more likely to live lives of integrity.

An atmosphere of encouragement is an antidote to the seductive temptations that can assault us all. The word that is translated ‘encourage’ was often used in Greek literature by military leaders as they addressed their troops before a battle. As we fight the good fight of faith, encouragement is a vital source of strength.

In Timberline Church, we have tried to adopt encouragement as one of our core values, seeking wherever we can to ‘catch people doing something right’, honouring them as we do.

Perhaps you’re an occasional encourager and realise that you need to embrace a new habit. I’m going to try to embrace an attitude of encouragement as a daily discipline, seeking each day to find someone to thank, congratulate or express appreciation to. Why don’t you join me?

Prayer: Lord, help me to make encouragement one of my habits – starting today. Amen.

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Thoughtful encouragement

T

houghtless encouragement is not terribly useful. On the contrary, if we hand out encouraging words as a

habit, even when they are not deserved, then we devalue

TUES 07 JAN READ: Hebrews 10:19–25 Hebrews 6:10

the language of encouragement. Our words become hollow and then, if we do mean them, it is hard for our

Focus

listeners to trust them. Warm words can be tossed around

‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds ...’

(Heb. 10:24)

so freely, they lose any impact and everyone becomes suspicious about their authenticity. I was speaking with a friend recently and he said, ‘I don’t want to be encouraged, I want to have feedback, to know what I’ve not done so well, as well as know where I’ve succeeded’. This can be true in our modern education system, if nobody is allowed to fail in sports, but all are rewarded for trying.

While, at first glance, this might seem like a wholesome approach, if no one can fail, then nobody can excel either.

Where there are no losers, there are no real winners.

The writer to the Hebrews calls for thoughtful, considerate encouragement with purpose, not just for them to create the feel-good factor, but to spur one another on to greater love and good deeds. The word spur here is a strong word, suggesting, with our encouragement, we prod and stir each other on to greatness. When we carefully write a note of well-phrased thanks or express very specific and thoughtful appreciation for the service with which others have provided us , we nudge them on to even greater things. Don’t just pat someone on the back and say ‘Well done’. Tell them why what they did was done well. Let’s help each other, not out, but up.

Prayer: As I reflect on how to encourage, give me wisdom, creativity, and opportunity, Lord. Amen.

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Thoughtless encouragement is not terribly useful

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