Seeker

On Day 5 of the Advent Word global Advent Calendar , today's word is #raise. The word 'raise' reminds me that we all need a helping hand to encourage and lift us up. This is especially so when life really gets us down so that even just getting up in the morning feels too hard to do. I love the way that the Book of Psalms is so honest about life's difficulties and miseries. Many of the Psalms are full of complaints to God. The Psalms are also full of trust that God is able to help. Psalm 145: 14 reads: "The Lord upholds all who are falling,   and raises up all who are bowed down." Image Credit: sasint on Pixabay

Have you ever acted as a mentor for another person? To sponsor them or to help their development? Have you been helped in your career or life development by a mentor? I've experienced both in informal ways and as part of formal schemes. Mentoring is not a new idea. It has been basic to most apprenticeship systems for many hundreds, if not thousands of years. A good mentor can enhance a person's life or career through helping to build competencies and confidence. The role of mentor requires a range of skills, values and knowledge. One particular aspect of mentoring is the mentor's encouragement of the 'mentee'. Encouragement does not mean giving constant false praise. It's more about strengthening, so can include identifying problems, or giving someone a bit of a shove in a better direction. Some people have a particular gift of encouragement. One person who good at encouraging others is commemorated today. He was Barnabas, 'son of encouragement'....

When the s*** hits the proverbial fan what helps you?  Often the most significant help is given by a person, preferably someone who is there for you in whatever mucky situation has blown your way, s omeone who knows how to encourage in difficult circumstances. And I don't mean the person who says, 'there, there, it's alright' when it obviously isn't. A real encourager is tough enough to face the dirt and pain with you, costly though it may be. Somebody the church remembers today as an encourager is Barnabas, who worked alongside St Paul in the 1st century AD.  You can read more about him in  Acts 11: 19 - 30 . About 16 years ago the Vicar who encouraged me to offer for ordained ministry advised keeping a 'Barnabas file'. This is a collection of encouragements received in the form of cards, letters etc. - something to turn to, as my mentor put it, "when the s*** hits the fan" as it does sometimes and you feel everything you do is useless....

Do you know Elizabeth's story? This post was first published on 14 November 2011 on the Big Bible Project as the 2nd of my monthly series 'Blogging Women of the Gospels. Here is what I wrote: Watch out Watch out for Elizabeth’s story on the Twitter Nativity, starting soon. You can follow ‘Natwivity’ on  Twitter  or be a fan on  Facebook . If Elizabeth’s voice seems absent from this year’s ‘Natwivity’, what’s stopping you tweeting for her? Elizabeth’s story sometimes gets forgotten in telling of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. But without Elizabeth’s encouragement and insight, who knows what might have happened to her young relative Mary? Elizabeth’s pregnancy was as unexpected and seemingly impossible as Mary’s. Disgrace and Disappointment Elizabeth was a good woman, from an elite family. She was married to a priest – Zechariah – for too many years not to have produced the expected children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were a faithful but childless couple. In th...

Yesterday I promised a round-up of some bloggers who have helped me on my way, challenged or amused me. There really are too many to list or thank, but here are 5 for now. Please do not be offended if you think I should have included you. I'm grateful to you all, especially those who write the blogs I regularly follow. You can see the list towards the bottom of the right-hand sidebar. Many, many thanks. That "snapper-up of unconsidered trifles" Autolycus was one of the first people to comment on my blog when it was a baby. Thanks to Autolycus and the link in his post Belgium Invades I now know what Rockall looks like. This huge rock (tiny island) was just a name in the shipping forecast before. This post includes a video clip of the brilliant Flanders and Swan with their song 'Rockall'. Autolycus regularly posts excellent photos with well-written comments, mostly London based and with an eye for the unusual. The Beaker folk of Husborne Crawley blog ofte...

Some people are natural encouragers. Barnabas, a Jewish Christian from Cyprus was one of those people. He is remembered mostly for the way he encouraged others - people like St Paul and John Mark. 'Encourager' is what his nickname Barnabas means. His real name was Joseph (or Joses in Greek). Take a look at the short fun video which introduces Barnabas and asks what difference one person can make. Be a Barnabas from Chris Kinsley on Vimeo . Today 11 June is the commemoration of St Barnabas. What if he hadn't done what he did? Who have been the key encouragers in your life? Are you an encourager? Bountiful God, giver of all gifts, who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas   and gave him grace to encourage others:   help us, by his example,   to be generous in our judgements   and unselfish in our service;   through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,   who is alive and reigns with you,   in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ...