Good Morning Girls!  Have you had enough encouragement yet?  Impossible!  I could never have enough.  I guarantee you will never hear me say "I'm sorry, I didn't need to hear that, I have had enough encouragement for today".  That being said, did you know that all encouragement is not good for us?  There are times when we are encouraged to do things that contradict our beliefs.  They move us away from, instead of towards our goals.  They pull us down rather than lift us up.  We can be "encouraged" to just "relax, have a drink, it won't kill you."  Or, " if you're with friends, the calories don't count".  Or one of my favorites "just let your hair down, don't be so uptight" (hey, maybe that's why I cut off my hair, now people can't say that to me).  The difference in this kind of encouragement is that the ones encouraging you are doing so for their benefit, not yours.  They are doing it to feel better about what they are doing.  They are doing it to alleviate the guilt they feel.  They are doing it because as you continue to grow and change for the better, they feel worse.  Many  times this "encouragement" comes from the people closest to you.  Your family, and your friends.  Sometimes it is done with intent to hurt you, many times it is out of ignorance.  There are a few ways to deal with these "encourager's".  If you can, simply avoid them.  If you can't,  stand your ground and continue to do what the Lord has put in your heart to do.  You don't have to give them a long explanation as to why you are doing what you are doing.  You don't have to try to convince them that what you are doing is right, and in fact, they should join you in your endeavors.  You don't have to shrink back and be intimidated by them.  The most important thing for you to do is to stay true to your beliefs, your goals, and your path.  If the Lord prompts you to do anything beyond that, trust that He will give you the words and the wisdom to address them.   Remember that in most cases they have no idea how hard you are working, and how important your goals are to you.  Treat them with love, pray for them, and believe that you will be an example for them when their hearts are ready.  In the few cases, when you know the encouragement comes with malicious intent, do not engage in a debate with them.  You do not have to be timid, but you will rarely come out ahead with an individual who knowingly tries to encourage others to do what is wrong.  Again, stay clear of them if possible.  If they are unavoidable, pray for wisdom and strength in your interactions with them.  Remember, God will never let us be negatively encouraged beyond our abilities to stand firm.  He will always provide a way out.  Take some time today and ask the Lord if there are any negative encourager's in your life that are interfering with His plan for you.  Pray for them and ask for wisdom and strength.

Psalm 64:5 They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. "Who will ever notice?" they ask.

Love you all-
Jen