Emphasis Preaching Journal

The author of Hebrews valued encouragement! Almost every day, while chatting with my wife on the telephone from her insurance office, she begins our colloquy with a cheery word. Dalinda likes to say, "Can you tell me one good thing that has happened to you today?" Many of us in the ministry and other helping professions focus on the negative in our daily activities. Our conversation is too often focused on the problem people with whom we must deal, the might-have-beens we could have obtained in a higher paying profession, or the lack of growth in our flock.