Tag Archive for: encouragement

November, 2022 Newsletter

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Grateful & Thankful ! 🙂

Darlene Larson & Teresa Lasher with her new book!

I’m so grateful this season for many things. As you can see from our smiling faces, I’m privileged to know a famous author and life coach, Darlene Larson. Her name, along with others, is listed on the acknowledgement page in the front of my new book, The Child becomes The Parent: Coping with Grief.

Listen to what Darlene has to say:

“About two years ago, I had the honor and joy of coaching Teresa Lasher (thank you, Teresa). A slice of her and her father’s story was talked about. It grabbed my heart. Then COVID steam rolled in and more of her story with her father unfolded. She published her book this fall and it covers MUCH in a loaded 50 page book about her father and her journey.”

We continue as friends and write together in community. What are you thankful for today?

Who would choose to walk a path of loss and grief? This path became Teresa Lasher’s story as caregiver to her elderly father. She wrestled with helplessness and exhaustion. Fighting for his physical, emotional, mental well-being and safety, he continued to slip further away during the Covid pandemic mandated isolation.

Desperately needing wisdom and preparation for existing and unforeseen battles, Teresa had to learn coping strategies. Granting herself permission to take time off, she often escaped outdoors to write and muse. She chose to exercise forgiveness where needed. When dealing with fear, doubt, and grief, God sent people who showed kindness at just the right time. In Teresa’s story of incredible hope and insight, she learns there are unexpected blessings in the midst of her grief journey.

If you’d like a copy for yourself, as a gift, or to be used in a group setting, local copies can be obtained through Kregel Parable Bookstore or online.

What folks are saying about the new book:

  • This is a very well written book, straight from the heart. It’s very easy to read and very relatable, having also gone through the slow loss of a parent as they struggled with dementia…”
  • This book was well written and easy to read. Teresa shared a very personal, difficult journey. It was a great encouragement to me, and showed God’s faithfulness each step of the way. Highly recommend!

Also available is my 90-day count your blessings & live life in the present devotional book, Life is: Good, Fragile, and Precious—Loving yourself so you can love others. What others are saying:

  • “A story of bravery in the midst of uncertainty…an inspiring and truth told book for those that are walking through a fearful and pain filled health diagnosis.”
  • “Teresa Lasher’s book has been written not only to tell her story of surviving a brain tumor but to give each of us hope and encouragement as we find our way through each day. It inspires us to live our lives to the fullest by learning to love ourselves so we in turn can love others.”
  • “This is a carefully crafted book that step by step helps readers look in the mirror and assess their own life journeys – especially when those tumultuous moments arise.”

Do you consider yourself an Encourager?

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“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today”—Hebrews 3:13.

We must not give up! Some days and hours are just tougher than others. We all have days when we feel good about ourselves, our family, and the world in general. But there are also those times when we feel the entire world is against us.   purple-white crinkle flower (Copy)

I get that. I’m with you and have the same types of ups and downs. My ups and downs may not be the same as yours, but nevertheless can be defeating. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us to encourage each other. Daily. That’s a whole lot of encouraging. He knew that as humans we are likely to forget yesterday’s triumphs. For me, a good feeling is easily replaced by a not-so-good feeling. If one person make a comment about my work that I consider negative, my mind lingers on that thought a lot longer than a praise note.

That’s why we need a lot of cheerleaders in our life to counteract the naysayers…those who think before they speak. I understand the need for people to critique. I’ve been amazed at the great counsel that comes from writer’s groups and friends who work with the English language on a daily basis. Great value comes from another set of eyes to look through my work.

The problem comes from when one or two negative comments cause me to quit writing or creating all together. Through the years I’ve learned there is something to be learned from every commentary I receive. Asking God what portion of this information I need to take to heart and what part do I need to discard and forget. God is my ultimate source of critique. His wisdom trumps all others.

Prayer of encouragement: Dear God, may I be the one to communicate hope and light to someone in need. I know that when I share with others the blessings go both ways. Amen.

How about you? Do you have a resource to filter your writing or creativity mode through? Maybe it’s a writer’s group or group of friends whom you trust their intuition. If not, why not make that a priority this week to find at least one other unbiased person to share your talents?

Comfort one another

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” —
2 Corinthians 1:3–4.

We need each other. God created us to work through and live out our faith in community. When one member is down and experiencing defeat, rejection, or depression, God provides a shoulder to lean on — sometimes through another person.

The reality is that there will be suffering. But this verse also promises the Father of compassion will be there to comfort us. And when we feel that comfort ourselves, it comes naturally to share that same comfort with a friend who is down or discouraged. This type of compassion is even more authentic when you have experienced a similar trial.

In my writer’s group, we all bring various talents and experiences to the table. Some authors have experienced great trauma in their past; others walk through troubled waters now.  In our groups, we have married and single members, others have children and grandchildren. Yet, we share a common bond as we wait on God, his perfect timing for publication, and just the right location to see each individual story in print.

Comfort one another

There is not a sorrow or a joy that goes unnoticed by God. He can use each up and down in our life to encourage another. He delights when we share our emotions and encourage each other to rely on him and not on our own methods or strength.

Dear God, Thank you for guiding me and shielding me through past times of turmoil. I need to keep on trusting in the midst of today’s circumstances. Nothing is wasted because you can use every high and low for your glory. Every day weaves a new piece of the tapestry called Life. Thank you for giving me comfort. And thank you for also providing comfort in the form of another compassionate person just when I needed it. Amen.

Encouragement

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Warren Wiersbe says, “God’s people do not live in the past but they know how to use the past to give them encouragement in the present and hope for the future.”

Reminds me of Jeremiah 29:11–13: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…”

 I’m told not to dwell on the past for if I spend my entire day dwelling on the past, I’ll miss the present and the future. Yet, Mr. Wiersbe’s comment about knowing how to use the past makes sense. If I remember the past as a tool to help me not repeat my past mistakes, this can serve as encouragement. Not to dwell constantly and beat myself up, but to recall what snare God rescued me from. As I recall those nearly fatal mistakes, I thank him for his grace and mercy in my past life. Then I can look forward to what lies ahead, learn from my mistakes, and move on to greater heights.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for rescuing me from a potential huge mistake. I felt your presence and now see your divine intervention. Protect me from continuing to bring up the mistake in my mind. I know you forgave me, and now I want to let it go. I owe my life and peace of mind to you. I know you forgave me, but help me forgive myself.

Ask: Is there something in your past that keeps nagging away at your brain? Is there a particular occurrence that just won’t go away no matter how hard you will it to be gone? Do you realize that God wants you to be free of those captive thoughts?

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