Encouragement

Encouragement!   It has the force to lift-up, plump-up, square-up, man-up (or woman), buck-up and cheer-up... to name a few 'ups'  that can pep-up and break-up the spiral of depression and negative shadows that can plague our day.  Our God is gracious to know what we need in times of discouragement and often will send a messenger to bring a breath of fresh air to help renew our spirit.  These messengers may be a friend or a stranger - whether it be a two legged or four legged critter!  Our Father God knows that sometimes we need a touch "with skin on it" to soothe away anxieties and hope for a better tomorrow.

                                                        The dictionary definition of encouragement is:  

                                                          - to inspire with hope, courage or confidence...

                                                          - to give support to; foster... 

                                                          - to stimulate, spur...,. 

                                                        Other words defining encouragement is comfort, rally, reassure.

God is not restricted to human or animal to help make our day.  It can can in the form of an inspired word or music.  His creative nature is all around us in abundant beauty and we stand in awe of a God who is beyond limitation.  The below photo was taken by a friend of mine who captured this glorious  Grant County sunrise from the deck of her home.  What a beautiful way to start the day in God's promise of new beginnings.   

September Sunrise - Photo by Linda Watson

A quote by Helen Keller says...."The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."    Here was a woman who was blind and deaf, yet left a legacy of infusing hope in encouragement for others.  She was not privileged to enjoy the sight of such an amazing sunrise or hear melodious sounds. But she had a higher sight and sound in her heart where encouragement became an active force in her life and made a difference not only for her  personally, but for others.

I wrote about Helen Keller in a prior post in March of 2013.  Click on the below link if you would like to read my message entitled, "Mountains, a Grain of Sand & Helen Keller".... 
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/03/mountains-grain-of-sand-helen-keller.html

Since I mentioned in my last posting about iPhone Photography, I'd like to bring to your attention the photograph featured in today's illustration.  It was not taken by a 'big-gun camera' but rather Linda took this awesome sunrise image with her Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Until we meet again, see you next time at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, November 9th.....