Today is my daughter’s sixteenth
birthday. Where has the time gone? I remember the day she was born. I remember
when she took her first steps. It was like yesterday! Today we celebrate her
life.
When we celebrate people, we add value
to them like nothing else. We all have a need to feel special. We need to feel
valued. We want to belong. There are many ways we can celebrate the gift of
life. This is especially effective when people are going through a difficult
time. When we invest our time, talent and treasure in others, we’re fueling
them to rise higher.
Years ago, I was visiting a large church.
I was attending a special conference on world missions. The pastor of the
church mentioned that they’re going to take up a special offering for a single
mom who had some urgent needs. They passed the bucket around and my first
thought was why aren’t they taking an
offering for our mission work? Reluctantly, I put some money in the
offering bag. My attitude was, “If
they’re not celebrating me, why should I be excited?” (I know I was a low
life then). Right after the offering the pastor announced that someone was
going to donate a new car to the lady in need. What happened next is still
stuck in my mind vividly. Two teenage boys sitting in front of me jumped up and
gave the biggest high-five I’d ever seen. They’re hugging each other in joy.
These two teenagers were genuinely celebrating the blessings of other. The Holy Spirit taught me a lesson watching
those boys that day that I’ll never forget - celebrate the victory of others.
One
way we can celebrate people is to speak positive words of encouragement into
their lives. When we speak highly of
people, we give them power to perform better. Anyone can pull people down but
we’re commissioned to build people up. When we speak life into people, they
start to believe in themselves again. Always find something to compliment
people about. It could be the tie they’re wearing or a piece of jewelry. Something
simple can be a huge encouragement to the other person.
Another way we can celebrate people is by giving gifts. Often we think our
gifts have to be expensive or extra-ordinary. That kind of thinking will limit
us. We can give simple gifts such as a Starbucks gift card, send a box of
cookies, a handmade card or buy people a meal. There are whole businesses built
to create gifts for you to give. Give gifts and celebrate people.
A
powerful way to deposit into people is to pray for them.
Prayer is a mighty weapon in the hand of ordinary people like us. Prayer makes you a super-human. Of
course, we don’t have any power in ourselves but when we call on God’s power to
touch people’s lives, He hears us. Our prayers can heal people of their hurt,
troubles and struggles. Let us learn not only to pray for people but to pray with them.
One
of the best ways we can celebrate people is to share the love of God with them.
This is why I’m sharing Christ around the world for the last twenty seven
years. Thousands of lives have been touched and changed by the love of God. You
too can share Christ with someone you know. The Bible says that the whole
heaven celebrate over the salvation of one person.
Friend, let’s try to find ways to add
value to people. Celebrate people with an encouraging word. Celebrate people by
giving a small gift. Pray with people. When we celebrate others, God will send
people to celebrate our lives. I celebrate you!
Happy Birthday Cassandra Jyoti
Anderson! I love you and am proud of you.
Contact Sandy Anderson to Speak: Call
972 800 4346, Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net
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