The Power of Encouragement

By Carin LeRoy –

Encouragement is important in everyone’s life. While living as missionaries overseas, my husband and I went through some discouraging trials in our earliest years on the field. During those difficulties, the director of Pioneers, Ted Fletcher, wrote us letters of encouragement. His words gave us the boost we needed. He even came to where we lived for a visit. Without his inspiration and support, I wonder if we would have made it through the obstacles we faced.

One of my favorite Bible characters (among many!) is Barnabas. His name means “son of consolation,” or “comfort.” In Acts 13-15, we read the story of Paul and Barnabas and their missionary travels to spread the gospel. On the first part of their journey they took John Mark along as a helper. But during the trip, he deserted them. Later when planning other places to visit, Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance and take him along. Paul disagreed. Their sharp argument separated them, and they departed for different areas of ministry. Barnabas took John Mark, and Paul left with Silas.

Both were great men of God, but Barnabas was a mentor. He saw something in John Mark that he deemed valuable and worthy of his time and effort. After spending time working with John Mark in ministry, he soon became an important asset, even to Paul. Later he said, “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11 NET). I wonder if Paul would have said that had it not been for the encouragement and mentoring that Barnabas invested in John Mark’s life.

It is interesting to know that in Acts 9, the disciples rejected Paul because they feared he wasn’t a believer and might persecute them. Barnabas became his advocate and supported him. He not only mentored John Mark, but also Paul! Both became great missionaries in spreading the gospel.

We underestimate the power of encouragement. Each day we encounter people who need a word of praise, a kind word, or time from us. Who are they? Maybe they are within our own family, in the work place, or a neighbor across the street. Let’s also take heed of God’s reminder to “encourage one another and build up each other” (I Thessalonians 5: 11 NET). Be a Barnabas in someone’s life today.

PRAYER: Father, help me learn to be a person of encouragement. Keep me mindful that people are more important than my goals and schedule. Show me today how You can use me to build up and show kindness to others.

“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (I Thessalonians 5: 14, 15 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

Caregiving Lessons

By Carin LeRoy –

As we climbed in the car to drive back to where my mother-in-law lived, she told a story that I’ve heard many times before—how she first met her late husband. I listened, once again, nearly able to repeat the story verbatim. Many times over the last several years, I’ve learned to listen to the same stories and answer the same questions, sometimes only minutes apart. Alzheimer’s disease has robbed her of her short-term memory. When we arrived back at her apartment in the assisted living facility, my husband and I cleaned her room and tidied up her things—something she can no longer do for herself.

According to the National Family Caregiver Association, there are presently over 65 million Americans providing some form of care to someone in their family. If you are not a caregiver now, at some point in your life you may be.

As difficult as it is to be in a caregiver role, I believe there are many things God can teach us as we tend to another’s needs. I know I am learning patience, compassion and a lot about selflessness. It takes patience to hear stories and answer those questions…again. I become more compassionate as I realize she is no longer the independent person she once was. Still, she deserves love, respect and care. As I plan my day I think of how lonely her days are. Selflessness enlightens my heart as I consider how connecting with family will bring her joy. I put my day on hold.

Life isn’t just about us and our needs, but about serving the needs of others—especially those in our own family. If you find yourself in a caregiver role, then use it as a time to serve as Jesus did—a time when you can be a blessing and encouragement to another. I am reminded of the verse in Proverbs 14:31 that says, “…whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” If you are struggling as you care for someone today, remember your care and kindness honors God. He also says, “…blessed is he who is kind to the needy,” (Proverbs 14: 21 NIV). Who more should we care for than the needy within our own family?

PRAYER: Lord, keep me mindful that helping others, even those in my own family, honors You. Help me to be a blessing and encouragement to someone today that needs me.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (I John 3:16-18 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

The Ultimate Cost

By Carin LeRoy –

Many claim he was a genius. He knew eight languages fluently—English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin and German. Some say he spoke each one so well that they all sounded like his native tongue when spoken. He earned a master’s degree by the age of 21. He had a love for language and was considered a great linguist. But his life’s work cost him greatly.

William Tyndale was born in 1494. His great passion in life was to translate the Bible into the English language from the original text of Hebrew and Greek. He believed the Bible should be in the hands of every person, even the common ploughboy. His worked tirelessly to translate even though he encountered great opposition. Forced to leave England and go in exile for years, he continued his work. Relentlessly, he carried on until betrayed by a friend who handed him over to authorities. He was thrown in jail and accused of heresy. He suffered for over a year without light, enough food or sufficient clothing for warmth. He was burned at the stake and died as a martyr in 1536 at the age of 42.

From the ashes of his burnt body rose a great monument to commemorate his life’s work. In 16ll, the complete Bible was printed in the English language. About 90% of the King James Bible is Tyndale’s work. His translation and the way he crafted words into English are said to be literary genius. Many of his phrases are still in use today.

This year marks 400 years since the completion of the King James Bible. Even though it cost him his life, Tyndale’s dream came true. Every English-speaking person has the opportunity to open Scripture and read it for himself. As I think on the hardship and ultimate sacrifice of Tyndale’s life, I wonder if we don’t take this for granted. At our disposal every day we have the ability to read, to study and to understand the Word of God. Thousands of other languages of unreached peoples still have no Scripture in their language. Let’s be thankful today for our ability to have and read God’s Word. Let’s pray for those who still do not have it in their languages.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that we have the Bible in our own language and the freedom to read and study Scripture each day. Help me not take this great privilege for granted. Send out workers into areas of the world that still need Your Word translated into their language.

“How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through Thy precepts I gain understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” (Psalm 119: 103-105 KJV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

Caleb’s Choice

By Carin LeRoy –

Have you ever been around negative and complaining people? They are not pleasant to be around. Many years ago I knew a friend who had a negative outlook on most everything. You name it, she complained about it. I liked this friend, but when I was around her I felt dragged down, too. Her pessimistic attitude had become a way of life, and she refused to look at the positive side of anything. From my perspective, her life was miserable because she chose to make it that way.

Negative attitude sees the worst scenario or the gloomiest outcome. Discouragement, unhappiness and cynicism can take hold in our hearts. God is not seen as being in control, and our faith becomes shallow as we choose to perceive life from this angle.

Grumbling and complaining against God resulted in the Israelites wandering 40 years in the wilderness. Because of their negativity and lack of faith, God prevented all but two from entering the Promised Land. “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, as surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land” (Numbers 14:26-30 NIV). God sees complaining and negativity as a serious offense.

But Caleb was different. He followed God with his whole heart. “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to” (Numbers 14:24 NIV). When others around him were frozen in fear and grumbling against God, Caleb spied out the land knowing he trusted a God who would conquer all the difficulties the Israelites faced. He was allowed to enter the land as his reward. Caleb made a choice to trust in a God who was much bigger than his circumstances.

Negativism not only affects us, but influences those around us—our family, friends or coworkers. Be like Caleb; have a spirit that is willing to trust in an all-powerful God. Challenges will come, but what attitude will you have? It is a choice. Decide to be positive.

PRAYER: Lord, help me not to be a complaining and negative person. Give me a heart that sees You bigger than my circumstances and a willingness to be positive.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things” ( Philippians 4:8 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

Faith in the Spoken Word

By Carin LeRoy –

My little grandson will never let my husband or me get away with not keeping our word. When my husband mentioned he would make a swing in our backyard, he came in weeks later and said, “Papa, when are you going to make that swing? You said you were going to build us one.” My husband got busy and kept his word. Or to me he’ll say, “Nana, you told me I could have a Popsicle after you taught your piano lessons.” His expectation was that we would keep our word. As grandparents, we want to show our little guy that we can be trusted.

In John 4, we read the story of the official’s son who was sick and near death. When the father heard that Jesus was nearby, he went to Jesus and begged him to come heal his boy.

“Sir,” he said, “Come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said, “Go home. Your son will live.”

The man believed the words Jesus spoke and left for home. While he was still on the road, his servants came running to meet him and tell him that his son was alive. The father realized he was healed at the exact time that Jesus had spoken the word and told him his son would live.

As we look at Scripture we see great men and women of faith. Noah built the ark because God spoke. Even though he didn’t understand, he obeyed. The Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days and conquered it. God spoke, and they had faith to do as He said. Mary, mother of Jesus, didn’t comprehend how a virgin could conceive, but trusted that what God said was true. All of these incidents needed a listening heart and willingness to obey even when it made no sense to them. Circumstances that seemed impossible, took faith that God would do exactly as He had spoken. And He did.

Do we believe when God speaks? We have a Bible full of Scriptures where God speaks to us. We have promises to believe, commands to obey, admonishments to follow and warnings to adhere. We can become great people of faith, too, as we take God at His word. What is God speaking to you today?

PRAYER: Lord, give me the faith to believe that what You speak is true, and that You will fulfill all the promises that You have given in Your word.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1: 3 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

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