Hebrews 12.1 A favorite scripture of mine!
I was a cheerleader in junior high – I loved being part of the game, on the sidelines, cheering the team on with first and ten, do it again, shouting in unison and willing that extra point over the goalposts; funny thing was I didn’t know the first thing about football. I didn’t know the rules that governed the game I only loved the rah-rah of the cheering squad!
This past weekend a blogging friend, Colleen, posted on FB that her blog had reached a goal and she was excited to share that with her friends. The comments filled up and I wanted to add mine so I typed, “rah rah sisterhood!” Then my friend, Tara, blogged about the rah-rah sisterhood – you can read that here.
Isn’t that who we are as Christ-followers? We are each other’s cheerleader. We are sisters, united. We are help-meets to one another. When you hurt? I hurt. When you are joyful? I rejoice. THAT is what our role should be. It is not a personality trait we were born with, to encourage – it is a mandate from the Guide Book!
Our brother Paul had a few things to say about encouragement:
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13.11
Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4.18
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5.11
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3.13
We are called to be The Rah-Rah Sisterhood. Reaching out to those who have no hope. Those who are helpless. Those who are needful. Those who are the least of these? This week the interweb has been screaming for us, The Sisterhood, to do something. Ann Voskamp wrote about it here. Jennifer Dukes Lee, here. But what can we do when it seems as daunting as climbing Mount Everest without gear or training? Ann and Jennifer suggest ways on the links mentioned. And, if we can’t give? We can pray. All of us are capable of that. Prayer is a mighty army.
The red thread of redemption, which weaves in and through us, is not pushy or piercing, but when we know Truth, I believe with all my heart it is required of us to do something with it.
Isaiah 50.4 He teaches me.
The Sovereign Lord Himself has given me The Word that sustains the weary …
What am I going to do with it?
xo
Linking today with:
Women with Intention Wednesday
“Not pushy or piercing . . .”
I love this, and I love your calling to be a cheerleader for the sisterhood.
Blessings today — I’m your neighbor at Tell His Story.
Thank you so much for visiting, Michele.
Oh friend, first off thank you for linking back to my post. Always fun to see traffic coming to my site because someone linked back to me. I love how many verses there is in the Bible about encouraging one another. I know I wouldn’t have survived seminary if I didn’t have my encouragers/my cheerleaders along the way. So I do my very best to be that for others.
Rah-Rah!!!
We all need a RaRa Sister. Thanks for cheering me on today. 🙂
Mary, we certainly do!
So glad you’re part of the rah-rah sisterhood. 🙂
Me too,Kristin!
“It is not a personality trait we were born with, to encourage – it is a mandate from the Guide Book!” Love it. Love the entire post, also the links you referenced, I’ve been researching Ann’s efforts today. And yes, prayer is a mighty army!
Ruthie, the mightiest!
Amen! I’ve been blessed by your encouragement, Susan :).
Rah-Rah! Yay Anita!
Susan, you are the best Rah-Rah Sister ever…always encouraging and affirming your sisters in Christ…many blessings to you ❤️
And, my friend Beth, I can repeat those exact words back to YOU!
Yes and I am so excited to have found such fabulous women who cheer one another on in their gifts and purpose!! Yay for sisters in Christ who compliment and complete one another and not compete with them!
Complete not compete…love that – great title for a post!
You already know I love your words my friend! I love coming here because I get Truth (bold and honest) served up with fresh encouragement. Today, you managed to literally combine both together into a perfectly blended smoothie (can you tell I’m hungry?). I admit, I believe in the GIFT of encouragement, but I also FULLY agree with the natural overflowing the presence of Christ in our lives should encourage others as well. You touched on both here…and frankly, I think you have the natural as well as the gift of encouragement down! 🙂
Oh Bethany, let’s fix another smoothie next week for our edification!!!!!!
I love this! We all need a sister cheering us on and we all need to be someone cheering others on! Very encouraging-thank you! 🙂
Michele, thanks for visiting and commenting!