Are you a Barnabas?

It's simple really. A few words of encouragement can lift up a friend and change the future while words of disapproval, cynicism and disbelief can easily send a person and their dreams plummeting into the pit we all know so well.

Barnabas first appears in scripture in Acts 9:27 when the disciple known as the Son of Encouragement introduces us and his fellow believers to Saul, a murderous Jewish leader who'd met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. While the other disciples refused to speak with Saul out of fear, Barnabas gave a troubled new Christian a second chance. Without Barnabas, would the world know two thirds of the Bible? Would we have Paul, the greatest evangelist who ever walked this earth?

Probably not.

Barnabas' words of encouragement to Paul and the new members of the church paved the way for Christianity as we know it. Simple words of encouragement were all it took to spread the love of Jesus Christ to a sad and discouraged world.

When the time arises, and God asks you to step up to the plate and spread His words of love and encouragement, are you a Barnabas?

I know it's hard. In our society today, we tend to lean more to "down to earth," to "reality" and to "keeping your head out of the clouds." But, why? The word encouragement is written 59 times in the New International Version of our Bible. In every case, it was to spread God's word and keep the church and its members going through persecution and hardship. God mentions constantly for us to encourage one another. He knew we all needed it. That time is now.

Be a Barnabas is a place for love and encouragement in day-to-day life. Originally, this site was geared toward single parents and their children, which is still a key force for BaB and will be a focus for our content. But, don't we all need encouragement? Parents. Children. Teens. Tweens. Pastors. Leaders. Politicians. Writers. We all need encouragement, especially encouragement with God. So, stay with me, visit me often and sign up for my blog alerts for weekly words of God's encouragement straight from the pages of the greatest book ever written.

Be encouraged. Be strong and strive for your dreams in God's service. And remember: It doesn't matter where you've been. It matters where you're going.

In His Service,

Chelle

Back to Life

It's been a long time. I haven't been on this site in a while. The in-person lunches ended a year ago. I think it was harder on me than I thought to not do the lunches anymore. It was a beautiful season, and I have many brothers and sisters in Christ now that I would never have had the blessing to know. I am so grateful for that time, and for the new time this ministry is in now. God has a new plan for Be a Barnabas TM, and I can't wait to see where He takes me AND us! Welcome along for the encouraging ride of your life!!!!

I came back to the site tonight and had no idea that I had posted 51 times to this blog! Amazing. And, most definitely God! I scrolled back through the years, and found this post I wanted to share.

I am an encourager. I want to be God's kindness and love to the world. I want to be the woman God created me to be. I invite you along with me on this journey.

Enjoy...

Originally posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Gimme a G!

Gimme an O! Gimme a D! What's that spell?

Okay, I will admit, I get really excited about being God's Cheerleader as I wave my pom-poms high in the air wishing I could do basket tosses without seriously injuring myself. But, seriously, can you really be overly enthusiastic for God?

I think not!

That is why today at Be a Barnabas, we will focus on the good, the bad and the ugly of being an encourager for God. Being a cheerleader isn't always back flips and cheers. Sometimes, you are trudging through mud getting your cute little skirt and matching tennis shoes all yucky. That's right, I said yucky.

Sometimes in life we say things we don't mean. We either phrase it incorrectly, use the wrong word alltogether, or let our words bypass our filter and send the sludge out for all to hear.

I recently had a friend make a comment about a turning point in my writing career. This short yet innocent remark did its best to send me plummeting in a tailspin diving under my covers to hide my head in writing shame. Did she mean it as such? No.

But one thing's for sure, it made me wonder how many times an innocent remark escaped my lips instead of staying on my tongue where it should have died in the first place.

OUCH! Makes me want to hide behind my pom-poms. I know I've done it, and I'm sorry for it and humbly repent.

Our words are power. They create life…or bring death. I choose life. And, through this, I am eternally grateful to my friend for helping me realize it so I may guard my tongue as Christ commanded. Remember when James said that both fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring? (See below)

The wise Solomon once said, "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." (Proverbs 15:4 NIV)

This week, I will consider all my words before they escape into the air with crushing potential. Once it's out there, it's out there never to be taken back, and now with e-mail, it can be forwarded. Scary thought isn't it? ;o)

Until next week, keep praising, keep encouraging, and keep those pom-poms flying high.

In His Service~

~Chelle
God's Cheerleader

James 3:9-12 (NIV)

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

To God be the glory...