I Will Be Changed

I am sitting in Dulles International Airport typing this blog on my phone while I wait to board the plane.

We have been in DC the last few days, and we are leaving from here to fly to the DR to hang out at Mission Emanuel for the week.

I guess you could call it a missions trip. I hesitate to do so because, having now done this trip a half dozen times, I have learned that I am more on the receiving end of the blessing than they are.

Nevertheless it is a good thing to go. As the Dominican doctor down there tells my wife, “your presence is an encouragement.” And so there you have it – our purpose.

Encourage the saints.

What’s your relationship with encouragement? Do you find purpose in it? As I sit here typing on my phone I’m wondering what would it be like to focus my life around such a thing?

To live a life of encouragement.

What if I treated marriage through that lens? What about my parenting? My work? My friendships?

I slip so easily into the advisor role…

You want to know a word Jesus never used? Should. Jesus doesn’t should us.

He encourages us. He strengthens us. He offers joy, peace and love.

I’m so thankful for that.

I’m thankful that for a week I get to chance to practice that.

And in that way I will be changed.