Recently in Hard Times Category

Day 14: Personally encourage a friend

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

birthday.jpgToday is my birthday, so share another kind gesture and wish me happy birthday!  I turn eighteen years old today, so it's a big'un.

Another big day for us challenge-accepters.  We've been going at this for two weeks now!  We're halfway through!  How has your experience been so far? 

Personally encourage a friend.  You may feel a little intimidated by this challenge, but don't let it get you down.  I want you to go to a friend who may be struggling or who needs an encouragement, and encourage them.  You don't need to carry on for an hour, but I want you to give more than a little compliment.

Perhaps you should pull aside your friend and say something to the affect of, "Hey, I know you've been struggling lately.  I just wanted to let you know that I've been praying for you to have courage lately.  I hope life has been getting better for you."  Speak sincerely.  Imagine how much your words will encourage your friend.  This will truly let him or her know that you care and that you've been thinking about them.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Take someone out for coffee/ice cream!

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Heaven's Face

Day 16: A song that makes you cry

Steven.jpgI'm not much of a cryer in general, but a song that always makes me feel a little choked up is Heaven Is the Face.  Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song after the tragic death of his young daughter, Maria Sue.  The lyrics to this song are so beautiful and eloquent and emotionally impacting. Watch a video of Steven Curtis Chapman performing this song here.  I'll post the lyrics below.

Heaven Is the Face

Heaven is the face of a little girl with dark brown eyes
That disappear when she smiles.
Heaven is the place where she calls my name,
Says, "Daddy, please come play with me for awhile."

God, I know, it's all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I'm aching for.
God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door.
So right now...

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep,
Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing.
And heaven is the weight of her in my arms,
Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams.

And God, I know, it's all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I'm longing for.
God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door.

But in my mind's eye, I can see a place,
Where Your glory fills every empty space.
All the cancer is gone, every mouth is fed,
And there's no one left in the orphan's bed.
Every lonely heart finds their one true love,
And there's no more goodbye and no more not enough,
And there's no more enemy.  No more.

Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss,
And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone.
Heaven is the place where she takes my hand,
And leads me to You,
And we both run into Your arms.

Oh God, I know, it's so much more than I can dream.
It's far beyond anything I can conceive.
So God, You know, I'm trusting You until I see
Heaven in the face of my little girl.
Heaven in the face of my little girl.


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