We began the week with visiting the story of Dorcas in Acts 9:36-43.

Dorcas. It was the many widows she had touched, who approached Peter to tell and show him the things Dorcas had done.

We don’t have all the details of the many acts Dorcas had done, or the words she had spoken to the other widows. None has been recorded for us.

But this we do know – Dorcas was a doer of the word, not just a hearer. She put into action what she heard and learned. The story brought this reminder:

“If you’re always “doing good works” even behind the scenes, it will not go unnoticed forever.”

(from Women of Courage, page 73)

Think of someone you can reach out to with a kind deed or word and then, do it!

Make a phone call. Send a card. Make some cookies. Send a small gift. In other words – Be a Dorcas today!

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Mary and Elizabeth – two women in similar yet different circumstances.

We find their story in Luke 1: 39-45.

Two pregnancies – one an older woman married to a priest. The other a young woman, unmarried and yet a virgin. Both highly improbably situations, yet we know all things are possible with God.

It was the last line in the prayer that struck deeply:

“Send me an Elizabeth, yes. And also make me an Elizabeth to someone else. Amen.”

(from Women of Courage, page 83)

Are you going through something difficult, or perhaps, just come through a difficult time? Is it possible that you can be an “Elizabeth” to a “Mary”? Is there someone whose spirits you can lift today?

Are you noticing the readings this past week were prompting us to reach out to others?

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We brought this month of April, and our time in Women of Courage, to a close with reading about the Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10:1-13.

The Queen of Sheba had heard all about about King Solomon through the rumor mill. But she knew better than to trust what she had heard.

She came to visit with him bearing gifts, and to converse on a level in order to know about him for herself. But she didn’t only bless him with resources, she blessed him with her words.

The devotional brought this line in the prayer:

“Help me the kind of open, giving, encouraging friend the Queen of Sheba was to King Solomon – the kind that shares what’s true and reminds others of their place in this world.”

(from Women of Courage, page 91)

What face comes to mind when we talk about people who may need a kind word? What hurdles would you jump to make time to visit and encourage her?

The focus this past week was on becoming good friends to those around us, and we all could sure use a good friend!

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Dorcas,
Mary and Elizabeth,
the Queen of Sheba –
all teach us to reach out to those around us.

Image 1: by Craig Letourneau from Pixabay
Photo 2: by Juli Kosolapova on Unsplash
Photo 3: by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

Today I am joining … Tell His Story and InstaEncouragements .