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As I walked through the back door and down the hallway of the nursing home, I noticed paramedics standing near the location of my mentors’ room. I had a moment of panic until I was closer and realized, it wasn’t my friends’ room, but the one just before his.
I kept my head down and concentrated on maneuvering the hallway. As I neared the group of caregivers and medical personnel gathered around an individual in a wheelchair, I glanced over. Immediately, I recognized the woman. She was someone who had attend our church years before with her family.
I smiled as I glanced in her direction but could tell she didn’t recognize me, so I continued my quest to locate my friend. I looked in his room, but it was empty, so I continued on down the hallway toward the dining room. I finally spotted him and silently breathed a sigh of relief. There he was fit-as-a-fiddle, having lunch with his wife and some friends. I could see the ambulance blocking the cars in the front parking lot and was glad I had to park in the back.
Let’s rewind for a minute.
This past Sunday was the first time in three-weeks I got to worship and be physically present with my church family. It felt good, to be home participating in service and not watching online from an out of state location. But I was so looking forward to heading straight home after church and relax.
That’s when it happened!
I felt a nudge from God. A nudge I tried to ignore.
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Truthfully, I argued for several blocks with God in my head. I was rationalizing why I needed and deserved to go home and rest. Why did he want me to all of a sudden go visit my longtime friend and mentor in the nursing home?
In fact, I already had made plans to visit this friend and his wife on Monday. I was tired. I hadn’t eaten lunch, and ….
On and on the excuses went until I reached the last logical and best route to take to the nursing home. I stopped arguing and made the turn rationalizing that if I went now, I would have all Monday to be at home, write, work on marketing and get some household chores done.
I wasn’t really upset that I made the turn to go visit my friend, after all it had been over three weeks since I had visited with him and his wife.
As I pulled into the parking lot, the front was packed and there was no room, so I drove to the back of the building. I sat in the car for another five minutes wrapping up a phone conversation before heading inside for my visit.
After lunch we moved to the family room area to visit when suddenly in walked a woman I knew. It was one of the daughters of the lady in the hallway with the paramedics. She locked eyes with me, and I could see shock and also relief in her eyes. I immediately got up and went to her. We embraced and she told me her sister was with her too. I told her to go finish up with her mother and paramedics and if she needed me, I would stick around.
Shortly after that interchange, I saw the paramedics wheel the woman out and drive away. It was the same time my friend was ready to go take a nap and I was about to go in search of the women whose mother was just taken away.
They reached me before I could even leave the family room. We sat and talked, I asked how long their mom had been in this nursing home. I hadn’t seen her before. I explained that I came to see my friend at minimum every other week and sometimes every week but had never once seen their mom. However, because of my travels and then snowmageddon, I hadn’t been around the nursing home for about a month.
I found myself encouraging them, praying for them and the situation they now found themselves in. I prayed for healing, wisdom, discernment and strength for the road ahead. I also confessed to them that I wasn’t supposed to be there that day. I explained I had planned to visit the next day but as I was driving home from church I felt a nudge from God to come right away that day and not wait. I had no idea why until that moment. They were so glad I obeyed and so I was.
Being an agent of encouragement is simply responding to the prompting of the Lord. It isn’t always about speaking profound or life changing words, sometimes it’s just about being there for someone to bring them comfort. Sometimes it’s to pray and other times to listen.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)
God is calling each of us to be agents of encouragement. It’s His desire for us, the church, to step up, fill in the gaps, be His hands, feet and mouthpiece. We are to #BeTheGift He is sending to the world, our world, our circle of influence. We may not know what people need, but He does. If we take the time, make ourselves available, and listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who knows how many lives will be saved, transformed, comforted and forever changed. We all have the opportunity to #BeTheGift of encouragement others need today.
This is exactly why I wrote “The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for others.” This book is about learning to hear the voice of God in our own life so we can respond to those God bumps and little nudges He gives us on a daily basis. God is calling us to be agents of encouragement and to be the gift the worlds needs today.
We live in a time, where those around us are in desperate need of a real encounter with Jesus and in need of encouragement. We are called to encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), and to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). My book will teach you how to step out and do just that.
To order your copy today:
You can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, OR your favorite online retailer,
Plus, newly added, you can now get a signed copy from me. Click Here to order yours today!
We all have the opportunity to #BeTheGift of encouragement others need today.
This weeks Spotlight Post:
I really liked this idea from Leslie over at From Play Dates to Parties. Whether you have small kids in need of some fun party shaped sugar cubes, or you are hosting a baby or wedding shower these would be a fun addition. I can also see these being used for a women’s tea or a Mother’s Day event at churches. Head on over and check out Leslie’s sight, let her know I sent you and be prepared to be inspired!
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post: The Reluctant Encourager was featured here:
My Posts: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We! & Know Your Why & Jesus in Us! were featured here:
My Post #BeTheGift was featured here:
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Posts: “Will You Sit with Me?” & New Mercies Everyday & Wait for it were featured here:
My Post: The Power of your Story, The Reluctant Encourager and #TeamJesus were featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Those nudges are pivotal. I try very hard to pay attention to each one. xo
Oh yes, they are Susan. I know you know that full well, and I have no doubt that you pay attention and respond to God’s prompting.
Debbie, again, I am amazed at how clearly God speaks to you. You are a wonderful encourager, reminding me that I need to listen harder. Thank you!
Laurie, thank you. It has taken me some years to develop the ability to hear clearly, but sometimes it’s not as clear as I would like it to be> I just keep stepping out and responding to the little things and it has helped me fine tune my hearing. 🙂 Blessings
“Agent”
I love that, because it highlights the missional nature of our calling!
Paul calls us ambassadors, too!
Yes! You are so right Michele – we are ambassadors aka agents. sometimes undercover and sometimes right out in the open. Thank you for sharing this today.
What a blessing you must have been to that women, Debbie! Thanks for the encouragement to listen and respond to His nudgings.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Tammy, you are most welcome for sharing the story and encouragement. Both of the women have reached out and messaged me after Sunday even to share just how much it meant to them and thanked me for being obedient to God’s prompting. I was so blessed to have been sent by God that day. Blessings
I love this testimony how God orders our steps. Those divine appointments are cause for praise! Thank you for sharing this…I need these reminders all too often.
Thank you Michelle – yes, God does indeed order our steps and for that I am so grateful…and you are most welcome for sharing.
I like ‘agent’ as well. Really helps us see our mission and assignment from God in a real way. Turns ‘happenstance’ in to ‘assignment’ thanks for your post!
Thanks Karen. I too like to be reminded that I am on assignment from God – that it is what He has called me to do, even if it is just smiling at a person, or commenting on their smile. I need to pay attention to the people who may cross my path and missions God may have for me.
We get to be a blessing and experience it when we step out in obedience. God is so kind to use us. laurensparks.net
I so agree Lauren. Sometimes, I am amazed that God would choose to use us at all, but He does. He gives us wonderful opportunities to step out in faith and obedience to bless others and we in return end up blessed. 🙂
Thank you for another delicious party! I am off to visit links.
you are always welcome, Marilyn
Thanks for sharing your stories to encourage us to listen to those nudges. We are not called to do life alone, but in community. Listening to those nudges shows how God is so alive in our world today, too.
You are most welcome Lynn. Thank you for taking the time to be here and read my post. I so agree – we are called to do life in community, and listening to those nudges is so very important.
I called those spiritual nudges the “urge to push”. It just wells up inside of me and I can’t say no to it. I have seen God do amazing things when I push on to what He has set aside for me to do.
Thanks for sharing this great story of encouragement.
I like that Karen and how you described it too.. a welling up on the inside that you just can’t say no too. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment this week. 🙂
I’m encouraged by your obedience! I love testimonies like this and yours was easy to read. God bless your ministry.
Thank you Mary. I am glad you were encourage and I pray it inspires you to step out and create a testimony of your own with God. Blessings
Thank you for reminding me to listen to God’s promptings.
You are most welcome Elizabeth. Blessings
I’ve really been trying to work on this area of my life. As an admitted introvert, it was far too easy for me to get lost in the crowd at our former large church. Now that we’re attending a small assembly, I’ve been forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and do the meet and greet thing. It’s been good for me, and encouragement is a quality I plan to continue to cultivate.
Julie, being an introvert does have it’s challenges, I know cause I have tendencies that way too… Truthfully, I do, but when you step out even just a little bit, it makes a world of difference and is well worth it. I loved to read your last line that encouragement is a quality you plan to cultivate – YAY – this world needs more encouragers. Be bold and step out some more. Blessings to you as you do.
What a wonderful blessing. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
thank you so much Patrick. It was a beautiful but cold sunny weekend. But the sun was out so I am not complaining one bit.
So beautiful! And such an amazing testament to how God can use us if we are open and listening to Him! Thank you!
Thanks for hosting and for linking up @LiveLifeWell!
Blessings,
Amy
thank you Amy!
I love it when God lets us see why He gave us that nudge! He builds our faith for those times that we might not know the reason why. And it’s such a sweet gift to encourage our own hearts in the process too!
Oh BettieG, I so love when God allows me to know the why behind those nudges. All too often, we don’t know, but when He reveals it, it is amazing. Thanks for being here today.
What a blessing you were to your friends. I think all Christians would say that we want to be “agents of Encouragement” yet we easily dismiss the voice of the Lord as a silly idea, or just ignore it because it is inconvenient or hard. I love how you were obedient and that you share the story. Help us all to be more open to God’s gentle guidance. Great words of encouragement. Visiting from “Let’s have Coffee” and I see that you have a link up, I will try to stop by for that tomorrow. Many Thanks 8)
Thank you for stopping by today Debra. I do hope that you will be able to come back and linkup today. 🙂 Also, I sure hope I was able to be a blessing and an encouragement to them and others as well. Blessings