Uppers and Downers

My friend Stephen Weber sends out a Daily Encouragement devotional through his web site @ www.dailyencouragement.net He is such a blessing to many including me. We met several years ago and I sensed his heart for God and his commitment to encourage others.

Here are a few lines from today's devotional entitled Refreshing Others:

"Several years ago I heard a speaker use an interesting illustration of how we impact other people. He spoke of being around those who always take you "up" on the elevator. It's as if being around them is like getting on an Up Elevator. They're energy givers, encouragers, refreshers, who have a powerful way of uplifting. As I consider my long string of friends through life I am blessed to have so many who invite me to go up with them.

Then there are those who have only one button on their elevator; the basement! They're energy drainers who discourage and have a way of sucking the very breath right out of you. And yes, I have also met my share of these as well. (But thankfully not nearly as many.) Getting on the Down Elevator with them is never an "uplifting" experience.

Let me encourage each daily encouragement reader to consider the blessing of having a refreshing spirit. As the Proverb states, "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." I hope you are blessed by those having this quality today. I also encourage you to conscientiously demonstrate this quality from your heart.

Of so many I can proclaim, "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Today you will interact with others in various settings. May God bless you with those who will encourage and refresh you. May they strengthen you and take you up on the elevator! And may you seek to be that provision today for the weary, discouraged soul whom you meet in the course of this day who is in need of uplift. Today you have a choice; will you be an upper or a downer?"

Check out Stephen's web site @ http://www.dailyencouragement.net

Dear friends, let's refresh those we interact with today! Don't be a downer! May those we relate to sense the presence of the Lord in our lives. May we be like a refreshing stream.

"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints" - Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

The Barnabas Building

Here's a photo (I took today) of The Old Colonial Weaving Building where my office is located. Yes, I DID take it today.

Actually there's a large picture of the building hanging in the main lobby. I took my SONY in there and took a photo of the photo.

Mine is the corner office between the post and the door. I'm not sure when that original picture was taken. What a privilege to share the corner of the building with colleagues who are Christians! Our landlord loves the Lord and we often pray together in my office.

That corner office is where much of "the Barnabas Blog" originates (in a geographical sense at least). As God ministers to my spirit through His Word, I pass those little tidbits of truth and blessing on to the world in cyberspace.

May you be encouraged today knowing that we are praying for you here in Peterborough. The prayer of the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:9,10 (ESV) is echoed here. "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Much love in Christ, my dear friends! Rest in Him!

- David

Have You "Been There"?

How often have you heard someone say, "I know what you're going through, I've been there", when you know that they have never experienced what you're facing. Empty, shallow words! When someone who has actually plumbed the depths of despair comes alongside you, you "know" that they understand what you're going through. There's a unique bonding of spirits. This has happened to me often and as recently as a couple of weeks ago, I sat down with a friend and realized that he knew exactly what I was battling.

Elizabeth Skoglund (see link) has penned an extremely helpful book, "Bright Days, Dark Nights" in which she tackles subjects like depression, loneliness, anxiety and change. She quotes extensively from the writings of the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon who was no stranger to extended periods of dark depression. The following quote was illuminating and reassured me that when we go through the dark valleys, we are fitted and equipped to take the hands of others and lead them through when they face similar situations.

Spurgeon writes:

“I often feel very grateful to God that I have undergone fearful depressions of spirits. I know the borders of despair, and the horrible brink of that gulf of darkness into which my feet have almost gone; but hundreds of times I have been able to give a helpful grip to brethren and sisters who have come into that same condition, which grip I could never have given if I had not known their deep despondency. So I believe that the darkest and most dreadful experience of a child of God will help him to be a fisher of men if he will but follow Christ. Keep close to the Lord and He will make every step a blessing to you.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

Whatever the mountain that looms before you or the valley that you're struggling through, understand that a loving Father is walking every step with you and will use this "dark" time to enable you to help others. You are NOT alone. Take His hand and trust His heart.