I heard of a young student, attending a preaching school, who went home for Christmas break. A horrible snowstorm stranded the regular minister in another town where he had been visiting a member in the hospital. The leaders of the congregation asked the young man to substitute for the regular minister.

The young preacher started his sermon by explaining the meaning of a substitute. "If you break a window," he said, "and then place a piece of plywood over the hole -- that's a substitute."

After the sermon, a well-intentioned woman wished to compliment the young man. As she enthusiastically shook his hand, she said: "You were no substitute. You were a real pane!"

Ever gotten a compliment like that, where you went away scratching your head wondering how to take it?

It's easy to assume the worst. We live in a world where people are more often inclined to put you down than to lift you up, where they would rather ridicule you than encourage you.

Be different! Make it a point to say something encouraging to someone today, and do it in such a way that there will be no doubt as to your intention. "Exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today'..." (Hebrews 3:13a).