Encouraging Words from Charlie Gross

Our encouragement today comes from a connection nature helped me make between the diversity of beetles and the plethora of Christian denominations. I hope you can get the same encouragement that I did simply from the way we split, divide, and disagree over theology, but hold to the center of faith in Jesus Christ.

Our encouragement today comes from a simple little sticker on the back of a Toyota Sienna. It simply said, I hope something nice happens to you today. That simple message lifted my spirits and encouraged me to look for nice things, do nice things, and pass nice things along. Hope it does for you, too.

Our encouragement today comes from my lunch diet. It was inspired years ago by a friendly dietician, but then was recently modified. You won't believe where the conversation about my diet took me! Listen, laugh, and be inspired.

Our encouragement today comes from the three little words, It's a choice. When you stop, pause, and consider that we all have a huge variety of choices to make, why not make good, positive, upbeat, encouraging choices. Listen to my rationale.

Our encouragement today comes from some observations made at the Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. It's a favorite stop for my grandson, Jacob and me. Two different people went above and beyond for us and it not only encouraged me, but inspired me.

Our encouragement today comes from some simple tips and tricks to be 'on time' for appointments and events. What is embarassing is that just yesterday I was 5 minutes late to an appointment because I didn't double check the address in my GPS. UGH!

Our encouragement today comes from a little boy with large rubber boots, looking eager to help with a messy project. It melted my heart and made me think. I hope it does the same for you. Be encouraged as you build relationships.

Our encouragement today comes from some reflection time on why I haven't podcasted in a couple of months. This is a simple concept to say, but sometimes hard to do. Create the time and space in your busy schedule to learn how to improve!

Our encouragement today comes from our speed along the Northwest Lancaster County River trail. It gave me pause to reflect on the categories with which we evaluate or assess our experiences. Hope you are encouraged with this very simple observation.

Our encouragement today comes from another insight on the Northwest Lancaster County River trail. I had to downshift three times to climb a hill. But, I had anticipated it, so all is well. I then started to reflect on the concept of anticipation. Listen up and be encouraged in your own anticipation.

Our encouragement today comes from a gorgeous sunrise on the way to the river trail. It brought back some childhood memories which then triggered some theological reflection. Listen up and be encouraged.

Our encouragement today comes from another ride on the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. But this encouragement comes from what I didn't see. It made me ponder some deeper mysteries. Perhaps you'll be encouraced by this reflection and what you don't see.

Our encouragement today comes from an observation made about my brown leather belt from Mexico. Yes, I know this is odd, but listen to my thinking about this belt. It may cause you you to pause and think about your own work.

Our encouragement today comes from a random observation made about the state of the world. But, if you know me, this is fairly typical. I hope that it spurs you on to some creative thinking around your own situation. Let's think about less.

Our encouragement today comes from a red Chevy pickup truck with the logo - Koinonia Guide Service on the side. It got me thinking about the various types of guides we use in our lives. Perhaps it will get you thinking about that too.

Our encouragement today comes from Jesus' attitude and focus in the story of raising Lazarus from the dead. In just the first 17 verses of John 11, we see two distinctly different attitudes portrayed by Jesus and his disciples. I hope you get challenged and encouraged by Jesus' attitude.

Our encouragement today comes from a beautiful, simple story of how the nudge of the Holy Spirit eased our travel woes. My hope for you is that you will be encouraged and blessed by this little tale of traveling mercies. Maybe you too will feel the nudge.

Our encouragement today comes from the Diane Sawyer ABC Special titled - The Mystery of Richard Simmons. This was a powerfully encouraging broadcast for at least three reasons. Listen to this five-minute podcast and be encouraged and challenged in new ways.

Our encouragement today comes from my daily Bible reading in Luke chapter 18:35-43. It's the story of the blind beggar outside Jericho. I'm encouraged by all of his asking. Especially, asking in faith! My hope is that after you listen to this, you too will ask in faith.

Our encouragement today comes from a rather wierd quirk I have while watching crime shows on TV. I usually Google the victim's name to see who dunnit and what sentence is handed down. But, there's some intereting encouragement in the WHY I do this. Check it out.

Our encouragement today comes from some great advice following an embarassing incident. The bottom line is to accept help when it's offered and maybe more than that, ask for help in accomplishing your tasks. I know it's not rocket science, but it could enhance your life.

Our encouragement today comes from Luke 5 where Jesus heals the paralytic lowered to him through the roof. He saw their faith and healed him. Then I askeed ChatGPT to give more examples of faith and write a sermon on it. It's a powerful sermon. Listen and be encouraged.

Our encouragement today comes from the simple concept of FREE. This simple idea came to me while riding my recumbent bike today because I found this bike listed for free on Facebook Market place. Listen to where this thought took me next. It's life-giving.

Our encouragement today comes from the words and faith of Habakkuk and especially when I updated the words from 600 BCE to words for today, in today's context. Listen to this short podcast and be encouraged to live by total faith in Almighty God.

Our encouragement today comes from the providence of listening to one of my podcasts from five years ago and how it fit perfectly with an upcoming Sunday sermon. The timing of all this was just amazing. And the topic could change your life.

Our encouragement today comes from a simple observation after pondering my response of, I wonder why? It went from there to a wild story from the 1800s about curiosity and efforts.

Our encouragement today comes from a brief shopping trip to Books A Million with my mom. Maybe you will be inspired or encouraged by mom, too.

Our encouragement today comes from the perfect timing of God's words for my worrisome life. I'm always amazed at how the Lord brings just the right words, stories, and images to me, when I most need them. My hope is that some of these encouraging, worry-free words are what you need to hear today.

Our encouragement today comes from the realization that we are at our best, we are in our zone, when we are being useful for someone else or for something greater than ourselves. This seems to be a recurring theme for me. In this podcast I show some of the factors around NOT being useful.

Our encouragement today comes from the simple realization that we are at our best, we are in our zone, when we are lavishing our gifts on the world and one another.

Our encouragement today comes from the integrity and the strength of Joseph. Joseph heard God's word through angels and obeyed. Joseph was a man of few words (none recorded in scripture) but he was integral to God's plan.

Our encouragement today comes from simply asking for what I needed. It's a crazy story, but makes a powerful point. Oh, and since this is version 2, I included the original ASKING podcast from Oct 2020 at the end as an option!

Our encouragement today comes from slowing down and spending time with God in prayer, conversation, and listening. I hope you can find encouragement in this too and spend more time in prayer.

Our encouragement today comes from some simple tools that helped snap me out of a funk, out of a depressed mood. It involves God's Word, prayer, exercise, Encouraging Word podcasts, and Moritist psychotherapy. Give it a try!

Our encouragement today comes from an idea that would help me to move closer to my overall purpose. It came out of some soul searching and then a few hours of concentrated work.

Our encouragement today comes from starting to listen to a podcast from back in 2020. I listened to it before, but after a few years, I still get encouragement and enjoyment from hearing the episodes. I hope you do too!

Our encouragement today comes from a couple of personal stories about remembering to use the resources that I have. I hope it inspires you to do an inventory of your own resources and then use them to help others!

Our encouragement today comes from my personal problem of a lagging imagination. It seems to be my constraint to more writing. So, listen to a brainstorming session that has the possibility of enhancing my imagination.

Our encouragement today comes from a thought that must have been a gift of God. It's a strategy for lifting your spirits and making a difference in your life and in the lives of others. Listen and then go for it!

Our encouragement today comes from an experience on the NW Lancaster County Rivertrail. It was a very sunny day and gave me a realization about perfect timing in life.

Our encouragement today comes from an image I had on Labor Day Monday as I was pumping up the tires of our recumbent trikes. It might be a strange image, but indeed it is a powerful one, because we are safely held in the palm of God's hands.

Our encouragement today comes from pondering the toughness of life while pedaling along the Northwest Lancaster County Rivertrail. I think that you will find these two thoughts useful in this chaotic, difficult, rough and tumble world.

Our encouragement today comes from my weekly Lunch engagement with my mom. We love spending time together and get into some interesting topics. Today's topic turned theological and is quite helpful for when bad things happen to us and others.

Our encouragement today comes from a lovely, serene, peaceful weekend in Dallas Center Iowa with Dave and Dianne.

Our encouragement today comes from editing some amazing Antarctica photos. I learned this new feature on my iPhone and it has some interesting theological ramifications. Listen and be encouraged. Have a great one!

Our encouragement today comes from reflecting on some jumnbles in my day. Perhaps your day gets jumbled from time to time. Listen to my reflections on my jumbled day. Maybe it will encourage you to do some soul searchng as well! Have a great one!

Our encouragement today comes from some recent observations. I share four little life stories that have given me a boost, made me smile, warmed my heart, and just plain encouraged me along the way. My hope is that you notice those little things in your life!

Our encouragement today comes from an observation while driving to an appointment in 37-degree weather. I remembered how 37 degrees impacted some dear friends of mine. Listen to my story. My hope is that you get encouraged by 37 too!

Our encouragement today comes from an observation along the Northwest Lancaster County River trail. I noticed the trees and poles blanketed with vines and ivy. This set off my imagination about blankets. My hope is that you get encouraged!

Our encouragement today comes from a strange connection I made by hitting my brakes to avoid hitting a dove. I wore away some of my brake life but then connected it to what my Lord Jesus did for me..... and you! Listen and be encouraged.