Our last ‘normal’ meeting of the semester was last night - Encouragement Night!  It has become somewhat of a tradition at Challenge and displays one of the distinctives of our ministry.  Its all about the heart.

On this night we take 2 or so minutes for each person in the room and others encourage them with how they have seen character or heart attitudes displayed (or gained) in the person’s life and actions. It is really an amazing night as we get to hear how God has used students and how they have been growing spiritually and blessing others.  It also gives us a chance to help students who have a difficult time receiving or giving encouragement.

Now this is not the only time in the year that Challenge students encourage one another and build each other up - it goes on all the time, but it is a time to specifically focus on giving a good word and cheering students’  hearts.

 An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.  Prov. 12:25

It is also fun to hear the creativeness which some people have in giving encouragement.  We don’t always get that privilege when it goes on just person to person.  People’s hearts are also displayed when they share and so we know each other more deeply as a result.

A reminder to stay alert at all times comes from this man.  Sounds like he enjoyed freedom and rescue over Easter.

Arizona’s state missionary used to tell us “We are all one step from stupid.”  I can sure use this reminder.  It is so easy to be wrapped up in busyness of what we should be doing, that we lose a situational awareness.  Its not hard to find or remember examples of this.

1 Peter 5:   ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.