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A Dozen and One Ways to be a Barnabas

October 12, 2010 by Erynn Sprouse 7 Comments

  1. Dinner Santa: Bring dinner to a struggling family. Make sure it’s freezer-friendly in case they have that day’s meals ready before you arrive.
  2. It takes a village: Sit with a young mother during services and help train her child(ren).
  3. Java fellowship: Invite someone out to coffee… or in for coffee ;o)
  4. Exercise in positivity: Think of something lovely about someone you have a hard time liking then tell them about it.
  5. Listening ears: Call an older sister in Christ whom you’ve never called before and just chat. Ask her about her family or what she did for a living or about her childhood… and just listen.
  6. Baker’s goodness: Make a batch of cookies, divide it into plates of six cookies each and distribute them (maybe to members who tend to be neglected, or shut-ins, or your neighbors, etc.)
  7. Feed body and soul: Take a stack of tracts and PB & J sandwiches to hand out near a homeless shelter.
  8. Spontaneous encouragement: Send a “thinking of you” note/ message/ email/ e-card to the first person who comes to mind.
  9. Sticky surprise: Bring a stack of paper and some stickers to worship for a child who has a hard time sitting still.
  10. Sweet Anonymity: When you go to the store, buy an extra few groceries for a family in need and a candy bar for each member of the family too. Put the family’s name on the bag of groceries and leave it somewhere safe for them to find (their porch, with the church secretary, on a table in the church building foyer, etc.)
  11. Secret secret sister: Pick a sister who needs some extra encouragement and become her secret sister.
  12. Old school treat: Send a letter via snail mail to an internet savvy friend.
  13. Laundry fairy: call a busy mother of young children. Tell her you’ll be by in 10 minutes, that you do not want to come in (this way she doesn’t have to clean for a visit), but you do want to pick up any dirty laundry she has. Wash it, fold it, bring it to the next services.

 

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Erynn Sprouse
Erynn Sprouse
Erynn is the author of Perfected (A Study of Hebrews). She and her husband, Jeremy serve with the Patrick Street church of Christ in Dublin, TX . Her husband is the pulpit minister and evangelist. Erynn is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to their six children: five young knights-in-training and one sweet princess. They are 2003 graduates of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. Erynn is the creator and a regular contributor form Come Fill Your Cup.
Erynn Sprouse
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Filed Under: Encouragement Tagged With: Barnabas, dozen and one, Erynn Sprouse, how to encourage

About Erynn Sprouse

Erynn is the author of Perfected (A Study of Hebrews). She and her husband, Jeremy serve with the Patrick Street church of Christ in Dublin, TX . Her husband is the pulpit minister and evangelist. Erynn is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to their six children: five young knights-in-training and one sweet princess. They are 2003 graduates of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. Erynn is the creator and a regular contributor form Come Fill Your Cup.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer Jensen says

    October 12, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Great ideas!

    Reply
  2. Shawnele says

    October 12, 2010 at 11:53 am

    What wonderful ideas!! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. MooBee Mama says

    October 12, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Love these ideas! Great way to get our thoughts off ourselves for a change. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Heidi Sprouse says

    October 12, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    Thanks a bunch for sharing these! It seems like lots of these things are one I USED to do, but haven’t in a long time. Excited to get back at it!

    Reply
  5. Alexandria Roach says

    October 12, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    It’s easy to get wrapped up in our ‘own’ lives. Thanks for some good ideas!!! I personally could really use the laundry idea, at least a couple times a week….needing my own Barnabas….. 🙂 Should I post my own Barnabas needs in the church bullitin? 🙂 Seriously…Thanks for the ideas of how I can serve as a christian sister!

    Reply
  6. Susan Follis says

    October 14, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    I really like your suggestions! A very encouraging article. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Cheryl M. says

    June 2, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Thank you for these reminders! I’m disabled and sometimes feel like I just can’t do anything for anything, but with this list I can see there are a lot of things I CAN and SHOULD be doing to encourage others. I know that by sending notes or cards or making phone calls I will probably be just as encouraged as they are!

    Reply

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Welcome to Come Fill Your Cup!

CFYC About Image Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!

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