Make a Difference

Let me start off with some questions today:      

          1.   Do you ever wake up and think of how you might make a difference in someone’s life for the better      

                that day?

    2. Have you ever prayed to that end?

    3. When was the last time you made a difference in someone else’s life                       

        or someone made a difference in your life for the better?

Do you know how easy it is to make a difference in many people’s lives?  Let me suggest some things that could make a difference in someone’s life for the better today:

Greeting someone with a big smile is a good starting point.

Asking people how they are, but be sincere and pay close attention   

     to their response.  Too many times people ask but seem to care    

     less and people can sense that response.

Giving a nice compliment about their hair or clothes or something    

     positive about them that is true, would be a good idea.

You might visit a nursing home and ask to visit someone that could

     use someone to talk to and then make a new friend.

You could help your neighbor do some lawn work or make something

     that both of you could share together like cookies or a cake and if

             they like to sew or knit or whatever they like to do, you could talk

     about whatever it is and maybe participate with them

     encouraging them to keep up the good work.  It seems that today

     it is hard to make personal friendships with people with all the

     technical gadgets that are available.  

Maybe you could befriend a believer and encourage them in the Lord,

     maybe through a Bible study or maybe a good conversation about

     the Word.  

Prayer is something anyone can do that believes in prayer and is

always a positive thing that you can do to encourage someone.  Sending cards or letters or a telephone call to bless and encourage   

someone is always a good idea.

If you have a struggle with implementing these things in your life because you may be the needy person; pray that the Lord will give you the gift of encouragement and then try to reach out to others.  There are people everywhere that are struggling with something and could use a kind word or a kind deed done on their behalf.  

If you are married it could be your spouse that needs some encouragement today which could be accomplished by giving him or her a big hug and telling them how much you love them while mentioning the positive things you love about them and how happy you are to have them as your spouse and closest friend and confidant and how much you appreciate them and the things they contribute to the marriage.  Don’t forget your kids or grandkids, you can make a difference in their lives also by encouraging them and blessing them with kind words and actions showing them that you appreciate them and when you need to correct them do it out of love like the Lord does for those that are His children.  Remember, if you love your children, correction is always necessary when they misbehave and correction is not meant to be fun but it isn’t meant to be abusive either.

I haven’t added any Bible verses in this Tidbit but there is a man that comes to mind, most believers know him by the name Barnabas although his real name was Joseph.  He earned the nickname Barnabas by the early Jerusalem believers because he was such a great encourager and the name Barnabas means (Son of encouragement) or the (Son of consolation).  He was also a Levite from the country of Cyprus.  He stood up for Paul when no one else trusted him.  Barnabas was an amazing encourager to the early church and the Lord used him many times.

This is a gift that more people should be praying for because it is so needed in our day.  This is something I try to do in my Tidbits and I hope that this one is no exception.  If you want to read about Barnabas, read Acts 9:27 through 15:39 and also 1 Corinthians 9:6, Colossians 4:10 and Galatians 2:1, 9, and 13.  I hope this has been an encouragement for you to want to be another Barnabas and make a difference in someone else’s life today and every day.  I have given you something to think about and I hope it has been a help to you.  God bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!