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Welcoming Words Newsletter    February 2024

By Debbie Sorensen

Hello there friends! This month, when we celebrate Presidents of the United States, I want to welcome you to look at what made many of them stand out from the ordinary. Integrity, character and truth were values that created a solid foundation from which they led.  

Webster defines integrity as: “an unimpaired condition; soundness; adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values. The quality or state of being complete or undivided. Syn. Honesty, unity.”

Today’s Focus:  We have been blessed with leaders like George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, to name a few. Of course, they were not perfect and had grueling lessons to learn as they proceeded forward. What set them apart was their willingness to welcome others into the discussions to make a difference in the lives of others. 

The cornerstones of our country were founded upon truths that God had set forth for His creation. These individuals stood firm on doing what was right and followed advice that had stood the test of time.

Application: Here are some helpful suggestions I’ve learned, to move from discouragement to joy.

  1.) Pray. Try something new in this regard. Set aside a short eight minutes when you get up. Use two minutes to be quiet and come into God’s presence. Read a passage of Scripture for two minutes. Take two minutes to praise and thank God for his blessings. Spend the last two minutes interceding for the needs of others and yourself.   

2.) Stand for God. Use His Word to advocate for what is right. Exhort others to return to the Ten Commandments.  

 3.) Do good. Reach out to others. Look people in the eye and greet them. Make a quick phone call to say “Hello, I’m thinking of you.” Send a text of encouragement. Be willing to open a door, or let someone step ahead of you in line.

Joy, is as close as a sincere welcoming word. God created a new world from nothing, and He said, ‘it was good.’ Joy is good for body and soul. If you feel you have no joy, give it to the Sovereign God of the universe and allow Him, to create something, out of your nothing. 

Isaiah 42:16 NKJV tells us. “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.”

Why it matters:  

We all have heavy burdens in life. Use words that welcome and encourage others. Those burdens can be shared and a load lightened. 

In Psalms 30:5b NKJV, “Weeping may endure for a night. But joy comes in the morning.”

Contact:  Debbie Sorensen at [email protected]