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Intro:

Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day.  One of the things I am always praying for is for people to reach their potential. This week we’ll be talking about that, and I hope you see that your potential is within reach.  The giftings and callings in your life can be maximized to actualize all that God has for you.  Here is your encouraging Word for today.

 

 

This is the season for Graduations and Milestones.  Probably each of you know at least one person who is moving from one season in their life to another.  As our own daughter graduates from the Northwest College, we are so proud of her.  We are thankful that her steady faithfulness has paid off, and she gets to say she has finished a goal that was important for her, before she goes on to the next season of her life.   In the midst of momentous accomplishments….whatever that may be in your own life, we need to realize that once we make it to our goal, we have to maintain and continue to grow.  Stagnation is not an option for the believer.  Here are three important things we will address this week, so that you can actualize all of your potential.  Where you are is great, but let’s keep on growing.  Here are some great steps to keep you on track:

 

Increase your core strength – Prov 4:20-23 Out of your core come all your issues. What is at the heart of your life is what is important. If your core isn’t strong, your body will suffer. Stability comes from the inside out.  We want you to have inner strength so that you are balanced, flexible and strong.

 

Get better at what you are good at – You can’t be good or an expert at everything! II Peter 1:5-11 tells us to continue being perfected.  Find areas that you know you do well, and continue learning in those areas.  Delegate or ask for help in the areas that aren’t your greatest strengths.

 

Operate in Faith – Roman 1:17 say the just shall live by faith.  Faith is a dynamic that is essential to all areas of life. I can remember asking my husband once, long ago when we were young in ministry….. “When do we get to quit using our faith?” Of course you know the answer….never.  We live by faith and we walk by faith. It is an area we must be strong in to reach all of our potential.

 

So as you strive to reach your fullest potential, remember this: You are a blessing to the body of Christ – Strengthen your core, get better at what you are good at, and keep on using your faith.  When you do, you please God! Think of it, you make God smile!  How encouraging is that!

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Speaking words that cheer up and encourage are like finding buried treasure. They bring joy for a moment, and then often have lasting benefits!

The book of Colossians is full of buried treasure that benefits our relationships. In the second chapter of Colossians, verse 2, Paul writes, My purpose is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that you may know Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We are encouraged to “know and discover” all of what God has for us. He uses encouragement to help us grow in our relationship with Christ. That is what a good friend will do.

There are many circles of friendship. I look at Jesus and see that he had 3 very close friends in his closest circle, the next circle had the 12 disciples, and the next circles were larger than that. Whoever you have in your circles, make sure the ones closest to you are the ones who help you grow. You need to have people around you who speak life into you! To be a good friend, we have to do the same in our relationships. We want to be around people who fortify and defend us, not flatten and defeat us!

What are some ways you can fortify a friendship with your words? 1) Take time to really listen. 2) Think about what you would like to hear if you were in their shoes…..is it time for a 3 point sermon, or do they need some empathy? 3) Fill your words with God’s Word. Find scriptures that pertain to their situation and let it wash over them to heal and cleanse. All of us can use come refortification, and a friend can be a burden lifter.

What are some ways you can defend a friendship with your words? 1) Stick up for them! Be a loyal friend, keep your word, and use your words to guard and support them. 2) Speak honestly – don’t let them go down the path of sin, call a spade a spade! Be sure you are honest both ways, and give them credit when it is due. 3) Most of all, be a person of prayer, and pray a hedge of protection around them. Our words in prayer are powerful! Things change when we pray…..circumstances can turn around! Why not distribute some of the wonderful treasure of encouraging words to the friends in your life. It may be just what they need to find victory on their journey.

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EWORD For Kidz
Hi, this is Dorette with an encouraging word for kids today. I hope you know how powerful words are. The Bible tells us that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. I want to encourage you to speak only life giving words. Here is your encouraging word for kids today.

Hey kids, do your friends say mean things to each other? There is this weird trend to say hurtful words to friends in fun, but I am not a fan. It doesn’t matter who you are, words can hurt worse than a wound. If you have started doing that, or know friends who do, I want to encourage you to set a different standard. Mean words should never be spoken to anyone. We should never say them, and we should never hear them. That would be a perfect world, but we live on an imperfect earth, where we can be good examples and treat others like you want to be treated. Luke 6:31 tell us to do just that. I don’t like my thoughts or ideas being slammed, even in fun. I’m sure you are like that too. I know you hear people laughing when they are slamming someone else, but it is not Godly, and it is not right. You and your friends can be ones who treat others with respect, and choose to encourage instead of discourage others. What are some words that might encourage a friend?
How about these:
I appreciate your friendship
You are way cool
I think you are awesome
Your ideas rock
My mom is happy I hang out with you
You make me laugh
Thanks for helping with my schoolwork
Can I help you with yours?
Use those ideas to let your friends know you appreciate them. Make sure you use your words to build up and encourage your friends. They will grow in confidence from the words you say. Remember to say good things to yourself too! You can build up your own confidence that way too.

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What words do you like to hear from your friends? What words do your friends like to hear from you? Just in case you need some starters, here are some suggestions:
You teach me so much
I want to be like you when I grow up!
You are such a great friend
I’m glad we are friends
I believe in you
Let’s do lunch
Can I make your family dinner?
Can I help you get ready for….a party, or other big event?
You are a great…..wife, mother, friend, prayer partner, workout buddy
I’m better because I know you
I appreciate your prayers
Can I pray for you?
God is working in your life
You inspire me
I’m blessed by our friendship
I love saying those words to my friends, and thankfully those are words I have heard from my amazing friends. With too many friends to mention, I am so thankful that words from friends have encouraged me in all circumstances in my life….joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, health and sickness, and the good and the bad. And especially over 50th Birthdays! I hope you recognize the value of words in friendships, and that you let your friends hear encouraging words from you regularly.

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Are you interested in finding a good friend? How to win friends and influence people is a really good book by Dale Carnegie that was written years ago that has great advice that is timeless. If you need a friend the main key is to be a good listener. When we show that we are interested in what someone else is interested in, very often you will find a friend. I have a friend who heard me speak one time about the kind words my dad used to say to me when he was alive. He was the king of kind words. When ever I spoke with him on the phone, he would regularly mention 2 things that I have never forgotten. He always mentioned that I was a good mom, doing a good job with our kids, and he would say words that are kind about my appearance. I didn’t realize until he went to heaven in November 2005, how much I hung on his words whenever we spoke. Well, one of my sweet friends heard me say that about my dad, and now very often when she sees me, she tells me I am a good mom and that I look beautiful. Talk about a cup filler. What that made me realize is how much every mom needs to hear that they are doing a good job, and every lady wants to hear that they are beautiful. So I’m giving you an assignment!! Find a way to encourage moms everywhere with life giving words of blessing, and make sure you let all of the amazing women in your life now how beautiful and valuable they are! Your words can make a world of difference in their life.

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One of the ways friends can encourage us with words is through prayer. My prayer partner and walking/workout buddy is the dearest woman on the earth. I call her love personified. We see each other at least 2 or 3 times a week to work out and pray together. She comes to our church so I see her there too. We definitely have prayed for each other, and I would be more than confident to have her in my corner any day. She knows how to get heaven’s attention, and to storm the enemy’s gates. She is one tenacious lady who gets thing accomplished. I think everyone needs to have a prayer partner who you know you can count on. Mine just happens to be my workout buddy also. Gal 6:2 says for us to carry each other’s burdens, and that’s the scripture I think about when I think of her. She is like the scuba diver who is prepared with oxygen, flippers and a mask, who comes in as a rescue swimmer and gives oxygen so the swimmer without all the gear so they won’t drown. I think it is called buddy breathing when a scuba diver does that, and it can save someone’s life. I know having a good friend and hearing the encouraging words of a friend, not only breathe life into our soul, but put the wind back in our sail. So today, I want to encourage you…..do you know someone who can use some oxygen or some wind? Be a buddy breather, and let your words encourage your friend.

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Laughter is like medicine. You’ve heard that Bible verse before and it has been proven scientifically. Laughter helps to heal a body. I hope you have someone in your life who makes you laugh. Often it is our kids, and I can’t remember when I laughed so hard all afternoon when I took my son Carson and his friend Dawson on rides at the Fair. We laughed until our sides hurt! Sometimes the one who makes you laugh is a good friend – my laughing buddy and good friend is Carola. We relate to each other so well, we are both in the ministry, and sometimes it seems like we are twin daughters of different mothers. We think a lot alike and we often say the same thing at the same time….maybe because she was raised by parents from Europe too. She made my day last week when she happened to be in town and we got to go to spend some time together. We joined up with some other good friends and just had the best time, just relaxing and laughing until our sides hurt! I think about her words in my life, and what an encouragement she is. Not only through laughter, but by phone calls, and emails, and little gifts. All of that put together say to me I value you, and I value our friendship. Those words and deeds are what make great friendships. Why not share some laughter today? Or call your friend, send a text or an email and encourage your friend. It might just make their day.

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Is there anything better in life than knowing the love of a good friend? Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. Someone once said, “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” Another thing a good friend does for you is encourage you with their words. Their words in your life can feel like oxygen to your soul. Proverbs 12:25 says that an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. This week we will look at friendships, and how powerful our words can be in our relationships. Here is your encouraging word for today.

Monday
What kind of friend are you? This week we talking about the power of words, and specifically we are talking about their impact in our friendships. So what kind of friend are you? Do your words point out flaws? Do you overlook flaws and say something nice? Or do you determine to help fix flaws gently? We like the ones who just don’t see our shortcomings, but the ones who help us grow and who gently instruct us are the ones we should really appreciate. It happens pretty regularly that I have a typo or two in my email …and sometimes people point them out. I usually spot them in other’s work, but hate it when mine are pointed out. There are those who either notice them and don’t say anything, or notice and comment. And then the third kind, who notice and ask if they can help make it better. Tawnya is a person just like that. She has started coming along side me to make my eword better, and to be an encourager in my ear. She will be a blessing to help not only my email, but my radio program as well, and a whole lot of other areas. Bless you, Tawnya! The words, I would love to help you, were the best words I could hear from my sweet friend. What words can you say to your friends? The words how can I help, or even I would love to help you, may be the best words they could hear as well. A special thank you to all of those who have helped with my dailyeword in the past, and especially to our amazing media team.

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Springtime is a wonderful season of the year. (We actually should say that about every season!) Stages of life are like seasons. Seasons come and go, and we pass on to the next one before you know it. Seasons and environment and stages of life change. We expect and believe for the best, but things don’t always turn out the way you expect. Storms come and winds blow. Sometimes it makes you want to be a kid again! Children seem to have a way of finding wonder in life better than we do as adults, even in the wind and storms. They see life as wonderful! They get excited over little things – and let even small things bring a joy filled moment to their day.

You probably watch the movie called “It’s a Wonderful Life” each Christmas. George Bailey has one bad thing lead to another in his life, and he was overcome by the sorrow of unmet expectations and depressing disappointments. He felt like his dreams had died and he should too. He was rescued by a novice angel named Clarence, and he ultimately got to see how wonderful his life really was. There was a turn around in his heart.

What he discovered was a profound truth. The wonder of life does not depend on the location of the man, but on the posture of the man’s heart. Whether your dreams have been crushed, or there are disappointments on every hand, you do not have to be controlled by your circumstances. Paul said it this way – “I have learned how to be content in every situation. My joy level isn’t dependent on my circumstances.” I can enjoy a wonder – full life because I choose to live a life full of wonder. The best really is yet to come! So it really doesn’t matter what is going on around you – keep the posture of your heart right, stay in the joy of the Lord, and live the wonderful, abundant, joy filled life that God has for you. Your best days are ahead! I believe mine are too! Happy 50th Birthday to me, this weekend!

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Hi this is Dorette with an encouraging word for kids. I hope you know the wonder of living life full! Jesus wants us to live with joy, enjoying every day and being thankful for every gift we receive from God. I hope that you are encouraged to live that way today!

One thing that you kids do naturally that us older people can learn from you is to enjoy even the small things. There is so much that we have seen and done that we can kind of yawn instead of jump for joy and be glad! But we need you to re-teach us this lesson. Life is wonderful! Jesus came to give us life to the full, overflowing and abundantly. Even with bumps along the way, life can be a wonderful, beautiful ride. That doesn’t erase the fact that bad things can happen to good people, because we do live in a fallen world. We need to remember that we are richly blessed – just even by where we live. We have so many opportunities that many people around the world never get to experience. Probably all of you had 3 meals plus snacks yesterday – that’s something to be glad about. We probably had a soft bed to sleep on, computer access to all that we desire to be connected to, and someone to love you. Those are great things to be thankful for. So instead of thinking about all the things you don’t have, or wish you could have, being content is saying, I’m thankful for the place I am in right now. That’s a great place to be! Keep getting excited about little things, and always be content in the joy of the moment. Maybe we as adults will catch on!

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