InstaEncouragements Blog

Heather’s Story: I Will Hope in Him (Part 2)

4/30/2019

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore, I will hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:21-25

My friend Heather has graciously allowed me to share her story in a four-part blog post series title Heather’s Story: I will hope in Him. As you read the lines of this post you will see that this is really more God’s story than it is Heather’s. It is raw and gripping, and still being written. However, her journal entries are so encouraging for anyone who is in the deep, deep well of grief. This season has just begun for Heather and her sweet family, but they have hope. They live hope. They express hope.

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Are You Ready to Receive God’s Blessings?

4/26/2019

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Are You Ready to Receive God’s Blessings? I love it when I commit to read through the Scriptures in a year. It is AMAZING to be able to see the scope of God’s plan from Genesis to Revelation!

I love it when I commit to read through the Scriptures in a year. It is AMAZING to be able to see the scope of God’s plan from Genesis to Revelation!

In my reading, I always pause when I come to the chapters about God’s chosen people, the Israelites. I actually have a love/hate relationship with these people because they remind me so much of myself.

God chose Abraham’s descendants to be a testimony to all the other nations of God’s goodness, holiness, and power. He performed miracles on their behalf to get them out of their bondage as slaves in Egypt so they could go to the land He had promised to give to them. Unfortunately, the children of Israel did not always cooperate with God and His plan. The journey, which should have taken eleven days, ended up taking forty years!

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Heather’s Story: I Will Hope in Him (Part 1)

4/23/2019

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Heather's Story: I Will Hope in Him (Part 1) I think my biggest takeaway from this post is where Heather writes,

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore, I will hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:21-25

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When Hope is Lost

4/19/2019

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When Hope is Lost: Recently, my husband said something that gave my heart a serious wake-up call. I was crying like I’ve been doing for the past two months since my best friend suddenly and unexpectedly went to heaven. My grief can be overwhelming and I was drowning...

Recently, my husband said something that gave my heart a serious wake-up call. I was crying like I’ve been doing for the past two months since my best friend suddenly and unexpectedly went to heaven. My grief can be overwhelming and I was drowning in an ocean of tears when my husband walked in the room. He desperately wanted to comfort me, but when he looked me in the eyes, he said,

“You know God’s Word tells us as believers that we do not grieve as those without hope. When I look at you like this, I don’t see any hope in your eyes.”

Although I knew he meant to help me, that statement felt like a punch in the stomach. His words continued to tumble in my mind until I sensed the Holy Spirit confirming what he said. “It’s true.” I thought, “My hope feels as broken as my heart does.”

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Sonja's Story: Redemption (Part 2)

4/16/2019

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Sonja's Story: Redemption (part two) Thankfully, there is more to my story! In reality, it's God's story. I do not understand why or how or the purpose, nor would I wrap this all up in a pretty bow and call it done. I am simply and prayerfully opening a door for you to peek into a time in my life in the hopes that you will be encouraged to make different choices.

My friend has graciously and bravely allowed me to write her story.

Read part 1: Sonja's Story: Choose Life (Part 1).

She has been both open and transparent in hopes that Sonja's Story will reach someone who is about to make that critical decision between the life and death of their unborn child. Today, Sonja is the executive director of a pregnancy resource center. It is her ministry to make sure others know that they can make different choices than she did. Warning: While the contents of this post are in no way graphic, they may still be disturbing to some. 

Journal Entry: November 18, 2014

Thankfully, there is more to my story! In reality, it's God's story. I do not understand why or how or the purpose, nor would I wrap this all up in a pretty bow and call it done.

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10 Favorite Bible Verses On Adoption

4/12/2019

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10 Favorite Bible Verses on Adoption Over a year ago, my husband and I started our adoption journey. The wait has been long and hard, but God gives endurance through His Word.

This is part 2 of our series on adoption: 10 Favorite Bible Verses on Adoption by Redeeming Goods.

Hi Friends!
Over a year ago, my husband and I started our adoption journey. The wait has been long and hard, but God gives endurance through His Word.

I’ve been compiling a list of Bible verses to encourage us along the journey and wanted to share that list with you!

“In you the orphan finds mercy.” Hosea 14:3

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Sonja's Story: Choose Life (Part 1)

4/9/2019

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Sonja's Story: Choose Life (Part 1) Today I am trapped in a hell of my own making. A place where no matter how many times you say you are sorry, no matter how many wishes you make to undo what has been done, there is no going back. No relief from the nagging remorse, because the person that I need to apologize to the most is not here.

My friend has graciously and bravely allowed me to write her story here. She has been both open and transparent in hopes that Sonja's Story will reach someone who is about to make that critical decision between the life and death of their unborn child. Today, Sonja is the executive director of a pregnancy resource center. It is her ministry to make sure others know that they can make different choices than she did. Warning: While the contents of this post are in no way graphic, they may still be disturbing to some. 

Journal Entry: February 13, 2013

Today I am trapped in a hell of my own making. A place where no matter how many times you say you are sorry, no matter how many wishes you make to undo what has been done, there is no going back. No relief from the nagging remorse, because the person that I need to apologize to the most is not here.

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