1. Praise God.  Last Thursday's informational meeting for Celebrate Recovery at FWC went very well.  Ryan and I learned a lot about this ministry.  Continue to pray for Brad, Ryan and me.  We'll be meeting tomorrow for breakfast to discuss how PHM can partner with these effort.  We plan to meet with FWC to explore opportunities, too.  
2. Praise God.  God is orchestrating some amazing God connections and presenting opportunities for us to share the vision of PHM with those individuals.  Pray that our words would always be His words.  
3. Pray for me.  Tomorrow night I'll be sharing my testimony with those playing flag football.  Pray for those who would be listening.  Pray for their hearts to receive the words.  Pray and ask God to give me the right words that would resonate with those listening.
4. Continue to pray for FWC and OWU.
5. October is pastor appreciation month.  Thank you pastors out there serving the Lord.  Whew, what a calling!
6. Continue to pray for the leadership team of PHM, our marriages and our children.  Pray that we will never lose our saltiness in this old world.
7. Continue to pray for the nation and the upcoming election.  

Transforming the hearts of man…

Fighting for the Heart of the Few...

Antidote for a Discouraged Heart

I apologize for allowing such a span of time to pass between writings.  Life is busy!  But God is good and still drawing young men to PureHeart.  Thank you for your faithful prayers.

Our last note was titled A Discouraged Heart.  This week I want to share with you some thoughts on curing a discouraged heart.

Our objective is to counter discouragement.  Recall with me, the Lexicon Results for macac, the Hebrew word for discourage: to melt, waste away, vanish, drop off, grow fearful or to cause to melt.  Our hearts can melt, waste away, vanish, drop off, grow fearful or be caused to melt.

To counter a discouraged heart one must encourage the heart.  

According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, courage is defined as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

The Greek prefix en means in, among, within.

Combining the two we arrive at the meaning of encourage; to put courage in the heart, soul and spirit of a person.

What can we learn about inputting courage, spirit, confidence, approval into the heart of ourselves and those we are called to rub elbows with in our daily activities and Christian walk?  

Let us return to Scripture, to the place the word encourage is first mentioned.  The word encourage is first found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 1 verse 38.  The Hebrew word for encourage is chazaq, which means to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute.  We need to be strengthening one another’s hearts.  

Who Needs Encouragement?
Everyone needs encouragement regardless of their title, social class or age.  I pity the soul who pridefully pursues life without it.  

Scripture specifically instructs us as believers to encourage one another.

1 Thessalonians  5:11 NIV
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13 NIV
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
(Notice the benefit of being an encourager!)

Hebrews 10:25 NIV
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

How do we encourage one another?
Individuals are encouraged in a number of ways.  Some find courage in a positive word.  Some are encouraged in acts of help while others are encouraged by words.  

Returning to 1 Thessalonians 5, let us continue and learn how to encourage.
Vs. 14 instructs us to encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Vs. 15 make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Vs. 16 be joyful always;
Vs. 17 pray continually;
Vs. 18 give thanks in all circumstances,
Vs. 22 avoid every kind of evil.
Vs. 25 pray for one another

That is a pretty good list for starters.  

Let’s face it, although we as believers are all called to be encouragers, few are.  If you are blessed to have one or two encourages in your life, praise God for them.  And start encouraging others.  Start looking for opportunities.  Start opening your eyes and look for those around you that need to be encouraged.  They are everywhere.  Begin with the end in mind.  Start being an encourager!  

Join me praising God and praying for the following:

1.  Today is See You at the Pole.  Pray for this event that is student lead.  Pray that it will continue to spread.
2.  Praise God for the watchman and women of PureHeart Ministries.  You prayers are felt and greatly appreciated.
3.  Praise God for His guidance and direction.  God has PHM in His hand.
4.  Continue to pray for Brad, Ryan and me.  Pray for our board of directors and advisors.  
5.  Continue to pray for FWC and OWU.  
6.  Pray for the guys that meet with us.  Pray for our words that we speak to them, may they be firm when needed, loving when appropriate and encouraging.  Above all, may they be truth from God.
7.  Continue to pray for our families, our wives and children.  

Sharing from the Heart,

Steve

Good morning!

PureHeart is still alive and well, just busy with life, work and family.  Forgive me for not sending these on a regular basis.  My writing time has been limited.  I'm working on our next devotional titled, "An Antidote for a Discouraged Heart."  It's not complete but I wanted to get our praises and prayer requests out to all of you who faithfully cover us with your prayers.

1. Praise God.  We've started meeting with a group of young men again after taking some much needed break.  Pray for this group of amazing young men.  Pray for a sensitive spirit that will hear and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
2. Praise God for the start of our fifth year of ministry!  It's been an amazing journey.  
3. Pray for PHM.  Pray for our protection.  Pray for direction.  Pray for our health, children and our wives.
4. Pray for God-given ministry opportunities.  There's ministry opportunities all around us.  Pray that we will be bold and courageous.  Pray against anything that opposes the Kingdom, against pride, legalism, unbelief, lust.  
5. Pray for those whose lives have been disrupted by hurricane Ike.  Pray for the recovery efforts that are underway.
6. Pray for the upcoming presidential election.  
7. Continue to pray for OWU, the students, professors and administrators.  
8. Pray for each of your local places of worship.  Pray that each would be aligned with scripture in all they do and not just  places of religious activities.

I recently read a statistic that stated, I believe, in 2007 churches as a whole collected $31 billion dollars.  The question on the heals of that astounding amount was this: For what? ...  or: How did the Kingdom benefit?   I realize there are a lot of amazing things being done in ministries around the world.  It sure raises a good question, though, doesn't it.  Makes you stop and think.

Appreciate your prayers.  I'll do my best to have a note out next week.

Sharing from the Heart,

Steve