Christian Words of Encouragement

  “Be strong and courageous…”  (Joshua 1:6) Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the    Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. During these trying days, we remember the popular saying, “Not all heroes wear capes.”  These words resonate with us because we understand that the ability to show courage extends far beyond superhero characters.  Experience teaches us that we all can show courage in our day to day lives.  Courage, like other virtues, is not always demonstrated with big, dramatic actions.  Instead, it is demonstrated in small words and deeds, such as when we speak up for those without a voice or extend a helping hand to those who are in very difficult situations.  Because courage looks to help others, it is a very important virtue, especially today.  Indeed, as poet Maya Angelou has said, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t prac...

  “For they [humans] are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow.”  (Psalm 144:4, NLT) “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV) There is a beauty in this day that may go unnoticed.  We know well that life is busy, full of duties and obligations, and the hours fly by quickly, like a ‘passing shadow.’  In the midst of all this busyness, it is important to take some time to observe and contemplate life’s beauty.  We could find it in the laughter of a child or in the vivid colors of a rainbow, to name just two simple examples.  If we keep our hearts and minds open to seeing it, we may find it in unexpected places.  As Saul Bellow has said, “Unexpected intrusions of beauty.  That’s what life is.”   May God give us grace to see so that we can better navigate life’s journey together...