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Title: Be A Barb
by Jill Peterson
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Be a “Barb” by Jill Peterson
Welcome to my very first article for faithmania! I am so excited
to be able to write about things that are near and dear to my heart, and
I hope you will find a common bond here as we learn more about the Lord
together. I have a heart for women, and I believe that we need to spend
more time
lifting one another up instead of tearing each other down. No matter if
we are married or single,
with children or without, stay at home moms or working women, we need to
be about the business of encouraging one another. My text for this is based
on Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 5: 11–“ Therefore
encourage on another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(NIV)
The title of todays message is “Be a Barb”, and according to
Webster, a barb is “a sharp projection extending backwards, such as a fishhook”,
or “ a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment”. These are examples
of the kind of barbs NOT to be! The type of “Barb” that I want to model
myself after is my friend, Barb. She is an encourager, a prayer warrior,
and the type of Christian friend that everyone should have. Let me give
you an example. My in-laws were about to celebrate their Fiftieth wedding
anniversary and my husband, his brothers, and their wives had worked had
to make sure this day would be very special for their parents. I must admit
that with the day fast approaching, I wasn’t so sure that I even wanted
to go. Going meant facing a family member that was extremely difficult
to deal with, and this person seems to delight in sending barbs of the critical
and biting variety my way, causing the whole family much tension. A few
days before the big party, I went to my Monday morning Bible study group,
and felt led to share what I was facing with the group. Barb immediately
spoke up, and assured me that she would pray for me all that week until
after the party, as did the rest of the group. Saturday came and I awoke
with a strange sense of calm. Barb was praying, so were the others, I could
feel it. Their prayers wrapped around me like a warm, protective blanket.
As my husband, our sons, and myself prepared to go tho the party, I remained
remarkably calm, the sense of being surrounded in prayer never left.
Hours
later, I was amazed, the party had gone off without a hitch, and the difficult
person even proved to be helpful. No sign of tension invaded the atmosphere
of celebration of my in laws.
That next Monday, Barb bounded into Bible Study and asked how the party
went, and I thanked her for her prayers and told the group that the party
was a great success. Barb replied “That’s good because I wiped you off
of the refrigerator yesterday”! Wiped me off of the refrigerator??? She
went on to explain that she keeps a running list of prayer requests on her
refrigerator, and wipes them off as they are answered. What a testimony.
You see, Barb’s husband is not saved, but every day he sees a list of people
that his wife is faithfully praying for. He sees those prayers answered,
and new requests take their place. He sees how faithful his wife is to
pray. I believe he sees Jesus in her. Her simple, wipe off board has inspired
me to do the same. It’s a pretty simple thing to put on your fridge, and
a great reminder throughout the day to take a moment and offer a prayer
on the behalf of someone else. When others see it and ask what it is, it
gives opportunity to share your faith. Right now I have the “Prayer of
Jabez” from I Chronicles on my refrigerator, and last week a
friend of mine was visiting, and she read that verse over and over. She
was dealing with making a difficult choice regarding her current job, and
she thanked me for having that on my fridge.
Our homes reflect our
faith. Put encouraging verses in locations throughout your home where you,
your family, and anyone who visits can see them and reflect upon them.
Tell your friends, co-workers, etc. that you are praying for them. Just
knowing that someone loves you enough to pray for you is encouraging whether
things are going good or you are faced with a tough situation.
Be a Barb.
Be an encourager, someone who builds up and not tears down. Be on your
knees for others, they will be blessed and so will you.
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E-MAIL JILL AT:
MorningMoments@faithmania.com
I'm 43 years old, married for 25 years as of this coming
November 13, have two sons, ages 20 and 16 which my husband and I have homeschooled
since birth. Our oldest son went to a Christian school when he entered
11th grade, and is now attending Penn State. I've been born again since
I was a child, as has my husband. Both of our children have accepted Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Saviour. We live in a rural community, and are
all active in our church, a small United Methodist Church. It is my hearts
desire to help women raise Godly families, and I love to write. My hobbies
are writing, gardening, and leading or taking part in women's Bible studies.
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