InstaEncouragements Blog

Parenting: the Job That Never Ends

3/29/2019

How do we parent adult children?

I used to think that parenting was hardest when my children were so dependent on me for everything, which started when they were infants. However, as my children grew up, went off to college, and then moved out of the house I realized parenting became a whole lot harder. I know that must sound strange because I no longer dressed them, helped them with homework, transported them to ballgames, cooked their meals, or did their laundry.

So what makes parenting adult children so difficult?

You are no longer their authority.
You are no longer a part of their decision making.
You are no longer a part of everything they do.

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16 Names of God & What They Mean

3/26/2019

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16 Names of God and What They Mean All throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His many names. When we study these names that He reveals, we better understand who God is. The meanings behind His names reveal the character and nature of the One who bears them.

"Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13

In Old Testament times, names were given not only as an identification but many times a special meaning was attached to the name. All throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His many names. When we study these names that He reveals, we better understand Who God is. The meanings behind His names reveal the character and nature of the One Who bears them.

Who is God to you? Is He your Most High God, All sufficient One, Master, Lord of Peace, Lord Who Will Provide? Is He your Father, you Jehovah Raah, the Lord your Shepherd?

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4 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Healthy Relationships

3/22/2019

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Developing relationships is a continuous part of life. From an early age, friendships are made—some for the short-term, others for a lifetime. Your child will make friends, and unless he or she is guided by the wise advice of loving parents, they can easily make friends with the wrong people.

The choice of friends during the formative school years can, and often does, influence a child for they'er entire life. A vital part of parenting is laying out a biblical foundation for your child to follow when selecting friends.

The Bible plays a vital role in how we should choose our friends. What better advice can a child, or a parent, receive than the wisdom and knowledge contained in the pages of Scripture? From Genesis to Revelation, principles and examples of good friendships, like David and Jonathan, provide Christians guidance in building healthy relationships.

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12 Ways to Help Your Teen Love God More

3/19/2019

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12 Ways to Help Your Teen Love God More How can we account for the sacrifficialness of Ruth, who willingly gave up her own future, and Isaac, who was willing to give up his life? What can we do to have our teens willingly obey without nagging and threaten?

Why is it that some teens are so obedient and others are not?

You may even find this to be true with teens in the same household. Teens raised the same way, by the same parents, can turn out drastically different. We have experience this in our family. You may have experienced it in yours as well.

How can we account for the sacrifficialness of Ruth, who willingly gave up her own future, and Isaac, who was willing to give up his life? What can we do to have our teens willingly obey without nagging and threaten? The key, I believe, is in helping our teens love God more. Loving God is at the root of obedience.

Ephesians 6:4 tells us:

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

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How to Have A Good Day

3/15/2019

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I used to feel that the phrase have a good day was somewhat cliché, a saying used by business people who really didn't care if you actually had a good day or not. However, I have come to love and appreciate the phrase. After all, who wouldn't prefer to have a good day rather than a bad one, right?

I've often wondered if telling someone to have a good day would actually make it so. Certainly, it has no magical implementations attached to it, so, I rather doubt it. Although I have to admit, when someone says have a good day to me, it does lift my spirit and it's an encouragement. Maybe that's because it means so much more to me these days. I am more intentional about how I use the phrase. When I tell you to have a good day, I really mean it!

I remember as a young girl, singing a song in Sunday school that went like this, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before."

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5 Things You Can do Today to Raise Godly Children

3/12/2019

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A key responsibility of parenting is the education of our children as we seek to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

As parents, we are instructed by Scripture to train children in the way [they] should go.

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Compare or be Content

3/8/2019

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I have always been a t-shirt and jeans type of girl. Rarely, if ever, do I wear a pair of heels. (We do not have enough health insurance to handle the risk!!) Loving the comfortable defines who I am. Getting my nails done or spending precious minutes on my hair and makeup is low on the priority list. Extra minutes of sleep or more time to sip my coffee is where I invest.

Although this is who I am, I work alongside, fellowship with, and have dear friends who are just the opposite. Never a hair gone astray or a nail left unpolished. They discuss name brands and scroll Pinterest for the latest fashion tips.

As I sit and listen to their discussions I am placed right in the middle of that age old game. You know the one I am talking about. I have participated in it more often than I would care to admit.

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