"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are
doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
I especially liked math in High School. It was an easy subject for me because it
made sense to me and I enjoyed solving problems. Whenever I had a tough problem,
I would go over it right before bed, and when I woke up, I generally had the
solution. At that time of my life, I loved the concept of God, but I didn't
really know Him. I only knew that He loved me.
My grades in math were mostly very good. I realized, however, that I could do
better than what I was doing, and I decided to aim for a perfect grade for my
next term, a 10/10. I worked hard. I aced all my quizzes and tests, but towards
the end of the term, I made a small mistake and ended up with a 9.5/10 on the
assignment. Still, even with this grade, I had a 9.9/10 average for the class. I
was certain that I would end with a 10/10.
When grades came out, I was excited. Finally my perfect grade! When I opened the
report card, however, I was doomed for disappointment. I had a 9.5/10 in math…
It's quite silly at times what we aim for, but at that time of my life it was
important, so I approached my Math teacher about my grade. I was shocked by his
response: "No student deserves a 10/10. Only teachers deserve 10/10."
I was completely discouraged. Being young at that time, I decided that working
hard was not worth it. I still earned good grades, but no more 9.5/10.
It's quite easy to become discouraged. What's even worse is if we are
discouraging others. Our Heavenly Father is not a God who discourages, He is an
encourager. Feeling alone? He is with us. Death in the family? He surrounds us
with His arms. Lost a job? He will sustain us, and even though a door has been
closed, He opens wide open windows of opportunities. He constantly encourages
is: "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you
listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17 (NIV)
The only one who discourages is the evil one: "The accuser of our brothers, who
accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." Revelation
12:10c (NIV)
Are we encouragers or discouragers?
As for me and my house, we promote encouragement alone.
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.