An Encouraging Word

In my last post I shared about an outreach we did at the jail. Our church has been doing outreaches for the last several years. We have a booth at the local fair and local boat races that we set up with signs that read, “Free Dream Interpretation” and “Free Life Readings.” It doesn’t look like a “church” booth and because of it we have gotten to minister to thousands of people through the years. Once a month we open our church up for outreach from 9:00 pm until 2:00 am on a Saturday night. We call it “The Den.” A local band plays, we offer lattes, coffee, and tea, as well as dream interpretation and life readings. This is perfect because our church doesn’t look like a church and we are surrounded by bars and clubs.

We have learned a biblical base method of interpreting dreams and a “life reading” is simply an encouraging prophetic word. A prophetic minister I know once said that he was able to see people’s sins and in the beginning of his ministry would point those things out. He was convicted by the Lord to tell the people something they don’t know. People already know the bad things about themselves and they often have trouble seeing the good. I’ve found that seeing what God sees in them blows them away.

One couple Tom and I gave a word to at the fair told us they were at the booth the year before and the people then told them the same thing we just did. I would say that had a positive impact on their lives because they remembered what was said a year earlier. God is so good.

Anyone can give an encouraging word and many of you who read this blog already do. You have no idea how some of your comments bless me. I’ve been battling with whether or not I should continue writing. I wasn’t sure that anyone would want to read my book or be interested in publishing it. I kept thinking about what I call the American Idol Syndrome (the people who can’t sing but their family and friends tell them how terrific they are and are shocked that the judges didn’t pick them). I didn’t want to be one of those people. Today, I was reading one of the blogs I visit and I recognized she was talking about me. She called me a “real” writer. Well I was truly blessed when I read her words. At that moment I heard God say to me not to give up. So thank you E for your encouraging words.

I try to listen to the Lord in order to say words of encouragement to people around me. I only say what is in my heart to say. I am a person who doesn’t use words of flattery. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. So to all of you who are reading this, let me encourage you to look at those people God has placed in your lives and give them an encouraging word today. Ask the Lord to show you something positive, encouraging about the person and then share it. It can even be the check out lady at the grocery store or the paperboy. You may never know the depth your words will have on someone, but the Father does.

Have a Happy Easter.

© Nadine Z. 2007