InstaEncouragements Blog

What if I Lose My Way?

2/26/2019

Can I Lose My Salvation?

It’s been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus Christ personally offered forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Of the millions who have accepted His offer, many have found the peace and joy of knowing they have a secure relationship with their Lord and Savior. Others, however, haven’t felt so secure. Some routinely struggle with confusion and uncertainty, wondering if they’ve lost their salvation in Jesus Christ because of something they have or have not done. Maybe you are one of these? It’s a frightening and tense place to be in when you are uncertain about where you stand in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Bible stresses that salvation completely rests on trusting in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as full payment for our sins.

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8 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor

2/22/2019

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"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Today we're going to talk about 8 simple ways we can be an encouragement to the shepherd of our flock— our pastor.

Pastors can be the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may plague the best of them.

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John the Apostle of Love

2/19/2019

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The apostle John is familiar to us because he wrote so much of the New Testament. He wrote the book of John as well as three epistles that also bear his name, and the book of Revelation. Besides Luke and Paul, John wrote more of the New Testament than any other author.

Most of what we learn of John is from his own writing. We see his character and personality through it. We see his love for Christ and dealings with the early church. And finally, in Revelation, we see his vision of the future.

Both Scripture and history record his influence on the early church. John was a man hidden in the background, much like Andrew. However, he had his turn at leadership, reaching as far as Asia Minor, as he outlived all the other apostles.

John, the younger brother of James, was known for his zeal and ambition. He, like his brother, was willing to call down fire on the Samaritans.

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Hope When My Heart Hurts

2/15/2019

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I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence. Psalm 140:12-13

Soooo…. The other day I was struggling with depression. Yes, [raises hand] I struggle with depression. For those who know my story, the last few years have been incredibly painful. Where can I find hope when my heart hurts? I have looked in many places. The only thing that has brought life to the deep sting of death is God’s Word, the Bible.

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James the Passionate Apostle

2/12/2019

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Of the three apostles closest to Jesus, Peter, James and John, James is the one we know the least about. His name never appears alone in the gospels. He is always mentioned with his younger brother John. Much like Peter and Andrew. The only time we see James mentioned by himself is in the book of Acts where it records his death. James was the first apostle to be martyred.

James, and his brother John are often referred to as the sons of Zebedee. This indicates that their father was of some importance. His prestige may have been a result of his financial standing, family lineage, or both. It appears, from Mark 1:20, that the family business was large enough to employ several servants.

"And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him." Mark 1:20

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Feather Like Faith to a Brick Wall Resolve

2/8/2019

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Feather Like Faith to a Brick Wall Resolve

As I stood in the kitchen hovering over my Insta Pot, I had no idea what the next few minutes would hold. Much like a popular crime show, I have listed the events in chronological order to paint the scene. I have chosen to leave out names to protect the guilty. To help with the proper amount of drama, it would be helpful to imagine each event with that ominous and dark sound effect.

5:07 – A call comes in from my husband saying the car won’t start.

5:09 – I am the recipient of an eye roll and huge sigh from a teen who doesn’t want to clean the living room.

5:10 – Another teen, who is currently struggling in every class with the exception of weight training, insists there is nothing they could possibly study.

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God Delights in the Small Things

2/5/2019

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Of the four apostles closest to Jesus, Andrew is the least known. Yet he was often the means by which others were introduced to the Savior. He is known as the apostle of the small things. From the very beginning he had an eagerness to follow Christ and a zeal for introducing others to Him.

"One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus...." John 1:40-42

Those five words, "he brought him to Jesus" define Andrew's purpose in life after he himself met the Savior.

"...it is clear that the four disciples in the inner circle all aspired to be leaders. That is why they sometimes had those shameful arguments over who was the greatest.

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