Speak volumes

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Genoa Blankenship, a 40-year-old mother from Richland, Washington, admits she didn't really like running until it helped her detect a rare form of cancer. It was the jostling motion of the sport she took up to spend time with her daughter, her OBGYN told her, that had brought her intestinal tumor to the surface-allowing it to be detected and treated before it took her life. While recuperating from the surgery and chemotherapy that saved her, Genoa shared her story on a Facebook group called A Year of Running and happily reported that she began receiving encouraging messages almost instantly from people all over the world along with pledges to run for her when she couldn't. Not only did this aid in her recovery, she said, but changed her perspective on running entirely. She now embraces the sport and the people in it. 

Wow. Motivating words and actions can sure change a person's perspective can't they? And if they can change a person's perspective on running, just think how they could change a person's perspective on Christianity. Which is exactly why each and every believer, that means you and me, should be looking for opportunities each and every day to "encourage..and build each other up". Look around-there are hurting people everywhere who could be forever changed by a simple word of encouragement or a pat on the shoulder. So changed in fact that they might gain a new perspective on what it means to be a Christian and choose to embrace Jesus.

You know, Blankenship also said that, "For people who didn’t even know me to do something like this spoke volumes to me." And that is surely something that people should say about us right? May our words and acts of encouragement most definitely speak volumes about the love of Christ to a world that so desperately needs to hear it. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that we are to encourage and lift one another up. Help us to look for opportunities to do this with those people you place in our lives. And help us to do it so lovingly that we might lead others to you. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www. team413.org

Brandon Heath - Give me your eyes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY

http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/she-hated-running-until-it-helped-her-detect-a-rare-cancer