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VII.  POSITIVE ACTIONS.
Matthew 10:40-42

Encouragement requires positive action.  And to have positive action we must comfort, support and strengthen each other.

A student said, "The first day you boarded Mrs. Torchianna's bus, she asked you your name and never forgot it.  Each morning it was, 'Hello, Roger.  Hello, Marybelle.  I hope you're having a good day.'

And as she drove she would sing to us.  Mrs. Torchianna never forgot a student's birthday.  She wrote it down on a chalk board that she'd attached to the back of her seat.  Then, as the birthday child boarded the bus, she would signal to the other students, and everyone would begin singing "Happy Birthday.'  It was something that we all looked forward to.

Every Friday, she baked large delicious chocolate-chip cookies.  These were kept in a brown paper sack beside her seat.  We'd ride home Friday afternoon, smelling those cookies.  If you had behaved during the week, you got a cookie as you left the bus.

We had the best-behaved school bus in town, and it was all because of Mrs. Torchianna.  She created an atmosphere of camaraderie that encouraged us to be our best.  Positive action works wonders!

A traveler said, "One September our family took a trip to northern California to visit the magnificent redwood forests.  The majesty of those forests took my breath away.  Talking to a ranger about the trees, I said, 'I'll bet their roots must go down deep into the earth.'
'Actually, they don't;' he said. 'Their roots are really quite shallow so they can pick up as much surface moisture as possible.'

'What about high winds and storms, then?' I asked.  'How do they keep from being toppled over?'
'Their roots are all twined together,' the ranger said.  'The trees have a kind of lock on one another that supports them.  I guess that's why you always see them in groves.  Just one couldn't stand alone,'
The church community is like that.  We support each other.  In fact, a poet put it this way:

You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer         And even once say "I".     You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer         And even once say "My."     Nor can you pray the Lord's Prayer         And not pray for another,     For when you ask for daily bread         You must include your brother.     For others are included         In each and every plea-      From the beginning to the end of it         It never once says "Me!"             ---From the book The Lord's Prayer
As Christians we need to have positive action toward each other. To have positive action:

I.  WE MUST COMFORT EACH OTHER.

A devotional writer said, "From the window I notice a small brown wren huddled on the grass beneath the bird feeder, struggling to fly.  The frigid wind bends the branches of the crab apple tree.  Fifteen minutes pass.  He cannot seem to find the strength.  Is he sick?  Too young?  Too weak?  It seems sad.  But I suppose there is little I can do for him.

Suddenly my attention is drawn to another wren that flies to the feeder.  I am astonished as she begins to toss seed with her beak from the ledge of the feeder down to the grass below.  It falls like kernels of grace upon the little bird, satisfying his hunger.  The next time I pass the window he's gone.
Can we do less than a little bird?  Small things can be very important.  A woman said, "Several months ago I saw a sign on the cash register of my local super-market: 'ROUND OFF FOR THE NEEDY.'  "What's that? I asked the checkout girl, pointing at the sign.  She said, "If people want to donate the odd change from their grocery bill, we funnel it to organizations to help feed needy people,"  Odd change?  'Here, I smiled' dumping my thirty-six cents back into her hand.

While doing my grocery shopping this week, I was amazed to see a huge banner: "OVER $10,000 RAISED FOR THE NEEDY.  THANKS!'  Ten thousand dollars?  From small change? Incredible.
Later as I put away groceries, I thought of my life.  Was I discrediting the small change" opportunities that came my way?   Maybe I didn't have time to direct the children's pageant at church, but I could spend a few evenings painting sets.  Maybe I couldn't chaperone the week-long teen ski trip, but I could make a bag of sandwiches for them to take along.  Little things-Jesus knew how important they were.  He said, "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42).

As Christians we must comfort one another.

Paul said, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (II Cor. 1:3-4).

Then, to have positive action:
II.  WE MUST SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

A sports fan told of an experience. He said, "We sat enthralled as a high school basketball team battled for the state championship.  Three players seemed able to shoot the ball into the basket from anywhere on the court.  Only gradually did I begin to notice Number Eleven.
Number Eleven did not make a single basket the entire game.  But when someone else made a basket, it was usually because Number Eleven had captured the ball and passed it to him.  Number Eleven was not a recognized hero, but he was the best back-up player I've ever seen.

Andrew was a good back-up player, too.  Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus.  Andrew found loaves and fishes for Jesus to multiply.  Andrew was never a hero, but he gave heroes the back-up support they needed.
It's exciting to be a hero or heroine-to be the one everybody admires.  But there are times when the best way we can help get God's work done is to be in the shadows, as a support to somebody else.  An old poem says:
     It's wondrous what a hug can do
     A hug can cheer you when you're blue
     A hug can say "I love you so."
     Or "Gee, I hate to see you go."     A hug is "Welcome back again"
     And "Great to see you, where've you been?"
     A hug can smooth a small child's pain     And bring a rainbow after rain.     The hug: There's just no doubt about it     We scarcely could survive without it.     A hug delights and warms and charms-     It must be why God gave us arms.     Hugs are great for Fathers and Mothers,     Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers     And chances are your favorite aunts     Love them more than potted plants.     Kittens crave them, puppies love them,     Heads of State are not above them.     A hug can break the language barrier     And make your travels so much merrier.     No need to fret about your store of them     The more you give the more there's more of 'em,     So stretch those arms without delay     And give someone a hug today!             -Dean Walley
As Christians we must support one another.  Paul said, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up" (Rom. 15:1-2).

Finally, to have positive action:
III.  WE MUST STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER.

A Senior Citizen said, "I remember a day when I was about seven years old, the new music teacher asked each child to sing a line from the songbook so she'd know where to seat us for class.  My heart was I pounding because I'd been told that I couldn't carry a tune.  My singing that day was way off-key, but Miss May was a wise teacher.  She placed me in the center of a group of children with good pitch.  And I found, to my utter surprise, that in that situation I really could carry a tune.

I think it's like that in a church family.  A beautiful chorus is created by all the voices singing together.  When one gets off pitch, the influence of the whole can bring that person back into harmony.

Every one needs strength.  Chin Young, is a Korean Christian, with enthusiasm, a positive outlook and cheerful attitude.  Finally, someone asked her why?  "Oh," she said, "we were a large family in Seoul, eight children in all.  While we were growing up, Mother kept a notebook for each of us.  In it she would put our picture, and then alongside it, write down the accomplishments or improvements she had noticed that month.

"We children always waited eagerly for the end of the month so we could read what she had observed.  After we read her comments we stood a little taller and tried a little harder."  Chin Young smiled. "The nicest thing was that Mother was so busy looking for good things she didn't seem to mind our little failures.  Happiness, contentment and goodwill permeated our home."

People who don't get this kind of validation as children need it desperately.  Sometimes they try to get it by boasting or showing off, or by bullying and putting others down.  These destructive lifestyles do not strengthen the person or fill his needs.  But, we can do that by extending God's love and grace.  As Christians we must strengthen one another.  Paul said, "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith" (I Thess.3:2).

CONCLUSION:

Encouragement includes comforting, supporting and strengthening each other. 
We never know when we're making a profound difference in someone's life.  A successful Christian musician tells his story.  He said, "At fourteen years of age, I was in the office of my youth leader.  His name was Phillip.  I don't remember why I was there, but I will always remember something that happened there that day.

The phone rang.  Phillip answered it and was having a lengthy conversation.  His guitar was leaning in the corner of his office.   To pass the time, I picked it up and tried to get a tune out of it.  The best I could do was an unrecognizable, one string rendition of "Smoke On The Water."  Phillip, while still on the phone took notice of how I had become involved in my musical activity.

Finishing his conversation, he turned to me and asked if I had ever considered playing the guitar.  Philip played extremely well and I admired his talent.  In my adolescent state of low self-confidence, I indicated a desire, but also feelings of apprehension, as to whether I had any talent.  Sweeping my apprehension aside with one compliment about his belief in me, he proceeded to give me my first guitar lesson.

In that moment, Phillip released my dormant potential.  He set me on the course to achieving a career in music.  He turned the wheel of inspiration.  Today, I get many letters and Emails, mostly from people I have never met, telling me what my music has meant to them.  Sometimes, when I listen to an album I've recorded, or hear a crowd of thousands sing one of my songs, I recall the day that Phillip took a few minutes to pass on the gift he had to me.

Will you pass on the priceless gifts of comfort, support or strength to those around you?   Will you take that extra minute to smile or assist or give a pat on the back?

The Scripture says, "Let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may simulate to love and helpful deeds and noble activities; Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together, as is the habit of some people, but . . . encouraging-one another . . ." (Heb. 10:24-25a, Amp.)
(WC2000)
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This message  is from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 
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I have had excellent response to my offer to send books for postage only.  I have depleted my supply until I only have about 11 books I can share with you, but I will be happy to send you all the books we have available at this time.  All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage which comes to about $3.50 (which is the cost, the last time I mailed them).  Please wait until you receive  your books before remitting. 
Even though my stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted.  I have most of them on a CD which I will send with your order.  All I'll need is  your Mailing Address and the Word Processing program you use.  (I use Word Perfect, but can supply it in Microsoft Word also). 
For those outside the US and Canada, the cost of mailing a CD would be a rather inexpensive way to get copies of our books.

All I'll need is  your Shipping Address and the Word Processing program you use.  (I use Word Perfect, but can supply it in Microsoft Word or ASCII).  I don't plan to have any more books printed, unless there is a demand for them.

Miles E Wesner