InstaEncouragements Blog

Alexa, Turn on the Party Lights!

7/31/2018

Some time ago I strung lights around the perimeter of our three-season porch. Beautiful, round bulbs that give off a lovely glow and say, "Let's have a party!" I call them my party lights.

Recently my husband connected them to our Alexa Home app and now I can say, "Alexa, turn on the party lights!" whenever I want them on. It's magical! I know when Alexa turns on the party lights, there is going to be a good time.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we had that kind of control over other aspects of what seems to be our out-of-control lives?

Oh that we could shout commands like, "Alexa, make school gun violence end." or "Alexa, give us all the money we need to live a life of comfort." or "Alexa, cure my father of his cancer." We could go on and on and on.

However, we must remember, the things that seem to be so out of our control, are never beyond the control of our Heavenly Father!

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Gun violence, finances, even cancer are all in the control of our good and loving Heavenly Father. Never out of control, never overlooked, never forgotten. Never is He for one moment surprised by the events we didn't see coming. He is the Potter, the Weaver, the Healer, the Enabler, the Provider. He's got this, and He's got YOU! Nothing is out of His control!

Today, acknowledge that. Pray about the things you have no control over. Give them to God, and don't take them back! He is the Almighty, the Comforter, the One who sees and knows all. He knows you. He knows your needs, even before you do. Pray for peace over the uncontrollable parts of your life. Ask for the peace that passes all understanding. God can use your trials as a stepping stone to grace and a great testimony of His faithfulness to those around you.

What things, beyond your control, will you give to the Heavenly Father today?

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23-Year-Old Me How Will You Be Intentional Today?

7/27/2018

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23-Year-Old Me How Will You Be Intentional Today?

When I was 23, I carried a one-year-old on one hip and an infant in the opposite arm. Those were exciting times filled with lots of adventure and very little sleep. If you’re that 23-year-old right now, God bless your weary soul!

Back then there was no such thing as “free time.” To pick up a Bible and sit down to read without interruption was a rare thing—almost unheard of. The blessings of memorized scripture was a godsend. The nursery workers at church were angels. But that’s a whole other post!

Memorizing Scripture has been a part of my story since I was a young child. I know though, that this great blessing is not a part of everyone's story. Today, when I face difficult situations, I can pull down a passage of Scripture from my mind’s library to meditate on.

Another part of my story has been classic hymns like Amazing Grace, To God Be The Glory, The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art and When I Survey The Wondrous Cross. I realize not everyone shares this treasure trove tucked away in the library of their mind. If you do, please stop and say a prayer of thanks right now for you, my friend, are truly blessed!

These things, the memorized Scripture and hymn lyrics, are anchors for my soul. I am grateful to have them as reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

If you have young children, I encourage you to make the memorization of Scripture and singing of classic hymns a part of their story. Be intentional about this. Make a plan.

Carry it out. Someday they too will be adults, busy about life. Those truths, locked away in their minds, may be what helps them navigate difficult situations. It may be what brings a prodigal home. It may be the comfort they need when you go home. It may be they teach them to their children.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In our home we have framed passages of Scripture hanging on the walls and a favorite hymns playlist playing on Spotify. These things are important to us. They helped us lock away snippets of Scripture and lyrics of hymns in the minds and hearts of our children. They help create a peaceful home.

Gospel ABCs Alphabet

Looking for a way to get your little ones memorizing Scripture? Check out The Gospel Alphabet book from Coffey Design Co on Etsy!

"I wanted my kids to memorize Scripture. I know that there are a lot of Christian ABCs sets out there...so why another one? I want my kids to learn how to share, how to love others with their words and to obey authority. But before all these things...they need the Gospel! So I created this 5x7 flip book to help me teach them the truths of the Gospel in a simple way.

Each letter has a Scripture verse that contains a word that begins with that letter. This has been an awesome way to teach the Gospel to my kids. Since there are 26 letters, you can teach a verse each week in 6 months! Or just do one every other week and cover them all through a whole year! Can you imagine if your kiddos learned 26 verses about their need for salvation and how Jesus came to make it available!?! Faith comes by hearing...and hearing by the Word of God!" --Stephanie Coffey

Scripture Art

We are all about displaying God's Word on the walls of our home. And when it's as beautiful as these prints—bonus! Check out our Scripture Art page.

How will you be intentional about this today? What’s your plan? How will you carry it out so that you too can write God’s goodness and faithfulness in their minds and on their hearts?

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Listening to the Rain and Things to Think on

7/24/2018

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Listening to the Rain & Things to Think on

Last night I lay awake for what seemed like hours. In reality, it was only two, very long hours. I read as usual. Reading myself to sleep has become quite the habit of late. It's relaxing. It's only me, and no interruptions. Usually it's a chapter or two and I'm sleepy. But last night it was two, three, four... I was growing somewhat agitated with myself. I knew I needed sleep, desperately. So two hours in and I put the Kindle away and began to pray, "Lord, please help me sleep tonight..."

Lately, sleep has eluded me quite often. Anxiety, which has never been even the slightest part of my life, has crept in with a vengeance, infiltrating my soul. I hate to admit it, but sadly I've allowed it.

Don't get me wrong, I know where my faith rest, I have no doubts. I know Who formed the stars, Who named them, Who cares for the sparrows, Who calls me redeemed. Sometimes though I have what seems like temporary spiritual amnesia. It can be debilitating. My mind wanders to all the possible, but unlikely, scenarios that life could throw my way. Before I know it, my heart is racing and my hands tremble as if I've had one too many cups of coffee.

So I pray, and I meditate. My goto scripture passage of late is in Philippians.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

I allow my mind to think only on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. I practice these things, because my soul longs for the peace of God.

God is true. In Revelation 19:11 He is the Faithful and True One. He is honorable. His intentions for me are honorable. He wants only the best for His children. He is just, and pure, lovely and commendable. I know all these things. I meditate on them. I pray and I'm about to fall asleep and then it happens.

I hear the rain.

God knows how much I love falling asleep to the sound of rain drops! There's no other sound I'd rather fall asleep to, except maybe the ocean waves. But this night He's allowed me to read and not fall asleep. He's allowed me to meditate on scripture and pray, and then He's spoken through the sound of rain.

"I love you child. I cherish you. I've preserved your life. I've kept you and I will continue to keep you. You are loved. You are Mine. You are held in the palm of My hand and no one can take you, nothing can happen to you that I do not ordain."

He knew the rain was coming. He knew I needed to hear it. Oh, God, how can I ever doubt you? You kept me awake to hear the rain. You spoke through the rain to remind me of all these things.

I listen to the rain with a renewed spirit, and fall asleep.

Philippians 4 is a great chapter of exhortation, encouragement, prayer and God's provision. Here's a couple more of our favorites from that chapter.