The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Teaching and Encouraging All" for Saturday, 23 April 2016 with Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Teaching and Encouraging All" for Saturday, 23 April 2016 with Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 So here’s what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three’s the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you’re saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you’re also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn’t stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions.
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You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.[1 Corinthians 14:31 (NIV)]
One morning, I visited a kindergarten class during the children’s daily calendar lesson. When the teacher asked questions about the days of the week, the children raised their hands high, eager to answer. As each student responded to the teacher’s questions, others applauded their classmates for answering correctly. Even when a student answered incorrectly, the teacher and the other students encouraged the child until he or she gave the right answer.
The children’s responses to their classmates reminded me of how Christians should seek to strengthen and encourage both believers and unbelievers. Whether we read scripture, pray, sing, or offer other spiritual gifts, Christ asks us to strengthen the faith of our brothers and sisters. When we allow God’s Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we can encourage and show others how to grow in their relationship with Christ.
Read more from the author, here."Friendship"
My friend’s father is facing a terminal illness. Dan (not his real name) is the primary caregiver for his elderly father. I met Dan two years ago, and we developed a friendship. Both of us enjoy watching NBA games, so we usually talk about our favorite teams, individual players, and upcoming games. We also share a fondness for jazz, which leads us to ongoing conversations about jazz legends.
As I have gotten to know Dan better, I frequently ask him about his father’s progress. Dan’s reports are often discouraging, and it now appears that the treatments his father is undergoing are not working. Caregivers often feel stressed, and as I listen to Dan talk about the numerous doctor's appointments he takes his father to each week, I hear weariness in his voice. With the increasing stress he faces each day, Dan now looks tired, and more often than in the past, he seems lost in sadness and despair. He tells me how difficult it is to watch his father—once a strong and healthy man—become frail and lose control over his body. He also speaks of the sorrow he feels when he thinks about his father’s impending death.
Although Dan never talks about faith or a belief in God, he has asked me to pray for his father, which I am committed to doing. He also has questioned why a loving God allows his father--and others--to suffer. Often, I do not know how to answer his questions, so I find myself scanning my brain for an answer, searching for words that will comfort and reassure him. Even when I offer a response, I often make generalized comments about the future such as “things will get better,” or “everything will work out.” A few days ago, however, I realized that rather than saying something that does not mean anything or does not help, I simply need to listen to Dan. I now understand that I do not always need to provide answers to his questions. Instead, I simply need to be present with him in the moment and not try to fix his anxieties. More than anything, I believe it is important to show Dan that I am a dependable friend who will sit with him, share in his moments of distress, and encourage him. Perhaps I can even share his daily burden by running errands, cutting his grass, or providing a meal for him and his father.
Proverbs 18:24 speaks of a friend “who sticks closer than a brother.” I sense that is what God wants me to be to Dan. Indeed, Christ may be calling you to be such a friend to a brother or sister who is hurting and feeling discouraged.[James C. Hendrix]

The Author: James C. Hendrix (Indiana, USA)
Thought for the Day: God gives us gifts so that we can share them with others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to share our gifts with all your children. Amen.
Prayer focus: School children---------------------