"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

This summer while driving on vacation, a friend was on a conference call with his management team, discussing workers within their systems. I kept hearing him ask on the call, "How can we help/him her succeed?" As we talked later, I found out that it is exceedingly difficult to fire European workers (where he works), due to the strong labor laws. Wisely, my friend has chosen to approach every situation with how he can help make it succeed...how he can support, encourage, equip, surround these struggling workers so they can be effective members of the team.

It makes me wonder...what if we approached our ministries with the same question? How might it change how we work with parents who drop off their kids for Sunday school? How might it change how we approach that young person who challenges us with every breath? How might it change our perspective on that pesky council member? In those moments of frustration and weariness, it's not easy to look for the positive. But I wonder about the times and places and people with whom I need to change my question so I can help others succeed. And I am so thankful for all those moments you choose to ask and act on how you can help God's people succeed so they can live out their calling as effective members of God's team.

Together in Christ,  

Catherine Anderson