BOA #98 - Surprise Brings Joy! - a podcast by Dr. Stan Ott

Surprises can thrill us, renew us and bring us joy, although we do know some surprises can be painful and very difficult to bear. Surprising people in a manner that sparks joy is one wonderful way to practice the words of I Thessalonians 5:11, “encourage one another and build up one another.”

One of the things we learn from Chip and Dan Heath’s book "The Power of Moments", is that it takes thought and effort to elevate an ordinary moment so that it encourages the heart and so that it is memorable. This advent season is the perfect time to think through some of the people in your life – those who are close to you – family, friends and so on – and those less familiar to you – your supermarket clerks, the people who serve you at Starbucks, your postman, those whom you ordinarily might not pay attention to.

What might you do – a word spoken, an act taken – that would lift their hearts – even if it requires you to step out of your comfort zone or even feels a tad embarrassing to you? Then narrow it down. Choose a few people and follow-through. Ask the Lord who loves you to love others through you as you surprise them with joy

Further episodes of The Building One Another Podcast

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