InstaEncouragements Blog

Our Words Matter: Where Do Careless Words Come From?

1/29/2021

Welcome to "Our Words Matter" a 5-part mini-series about using our words wisely and avoiding careless words. Last month we looked at What Are Careless Words. Today, we're looking at Where Do Careless Words Come From? Over the next two months (the last Friday of each month) we will also look at:

What Do Careless Words Do?
How Do I Avoid Careless Words?

I hope you'll join us for "Our Words Matter" because they do!

Careless words primarily originate from two places.

1. Thoughtlessness and Impulsivity
2. An Excess of Speaking

Let's dive in and find out more about how Our Words Matter!

1 Comment

The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Zeal

1/26/2021

7 Comments

Welcome to
The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible Study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

7 Comments

4 Ways to Stay Connected to God’s Word

1/22/2021

1 Comment

I think I have mentioned before that I am a single missionary serving the Lord in Peterborough, England.

There are not many days that I don’t encounter some kind of adventure. It might be learning something about the culture of England or navigating through a new city driving on the other side of the road or maybe dealing with a “flat” battery in my car. Just a normal day in the life of a single missionary, right?

It was on a recent Sunday morning that I walked to my frost-covered car and found that the battery was dead or “flat” as we say here.

Thankfully, I made a few phone calls to cover my responsibilities at church and was met with the offer for a lift to the service and help later in the day to jump-start the car as well as help to get the battery replaced.

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The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Yield

1/19/2021

13 Comments

Welcome to
The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

13 Comments

Embracing the Blessings, Burdens, and Blahs

1/15/2021

2 Comments

Embracing the Blessings, Burdens, and Blahs

A new year is the closest thing to true magic. On the eve of a new year, I feel like Anne of Green Gables believing that

“Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it.”

Of course, I know I’m going to ruin that clean slate after a few steps into it, but for some reason, that doesn’t lessen my anticipation.

I have many New Year’s resolutions for 2021, but whether or not I achieve them all, I know that 2021 can be better. I’m not saying that because 2020 is the year no one ever wants to relive. I’m saying that because 2021 isn’t going to magically erase the darkness of 2020.

If anything, that darkness of disease and turmoil may increase. But I believe 2021 can be better.

2 Comments

The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Wait

1/12/2021

16 Comments

Welcome to
The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

16 Comments

Boast in His Holy Name

1/8/2021

4 Comments

"Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful." 1 Chronicles 16:10

Mom, I have the best ninja skills!
Did you see my awesome painting?
Can you watch me do my cartwheel?
Look at the amazing tent I made!

Children seem to have no reservations when boasting about their many accomplishments and talents. Although we see flaws and imperfections, their little eyes are focused on a much better version. Boasting as a child comes with a certain amount of boldness and enthusiasm that we simply can’t get away with at any other time in our lives.

Clayton, our five-year-old, will often grab my face with his sweet chubby hands and pull me towards him to make sure that I notice all the wonders he is about to perform.

4 Comments