InstaEncouragements Blog

4 Ways to Love Someone Who is Grieving

7/29/2022

Loss. Sorrow. Grief. Whether they happen to us directly or to those we love, they are frequent and regular parts of our existence in a sin-cursed world. In the last month alone, my husband and I have experienced a family member who has suffered a miscarriage, the sudden death of a beloved and faithful fellow church member, and a dear college friend of mine who abruptly lost his job and means to support his family.

Although we cannot escape grief in this life, as believers we have the blessed consolation of experiencing it very differently from those who live without God. We still grieve, but we do so with hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Even in the midst of deep pain, we have hope that God makes no mistakes, that He always keeps His promises, that He loves us and walks with us, and that one day all will be made right. He is our hope and the hope with which we can comfort others.

3 Comments

Aging With Grace: Week Eight

7/26/2022

10 Comments

When someone mentions the book of Ruth, I think of the beautiful love story between #Ruth and Boaz. That’s what makes it a favorite of so many. But there's another love story in that book that is just as beautiful. It has to do with #Naomi and God--the story of a love that takes a bitter widow and brings her to a place of flourishing. In the midst of unimaginable pain, Naomi felt her life was useless and hopelessness. Naomi’s life had unraveled, but God was reweaving it into a beautiful tapestry.

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

How would you like to learn how to age with grace with us this summer, friend? I have done this study, and let me tell you, it is not just for older women! We are all aging, even if you're 18 years old, you're aging, and we all want to do it with grace, right? Join me here or eight weeks this summer on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 est beginning June 7 through July 26.

10 Comments

But I Don’t Want to Wait…

7/22/2022

5 Comments

Maybe you've said to your little ones just

I remember when I was a little girl, my parents would tell my sisters and me to wait. Maybe we were waiting for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive for a visit, or we had to wait for our friends to arrive at church or for dinner to be ready. Waiting for the little ones is hard!

Maybe you have said to your little ones before, “Just stand still,” while you were waiting in line at Target. Maybe you have been sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, and you have to remind yourself to stop bouncing your leg up and down and just sit still while you wait. Maybe in church, you have looked down the pew at your kids and given them the “Be Still” stare during Sunday’s sermon.

Whether we like it or not, waiting is part of life. It seems like we are always waiting for something in life.

5 Comments

Aging With Grace: Week Seven

7/19/2022

4 Comments

Have you ever noticed that #children tend to be short-sighted? They live for the moment. They do not consider the consequences of their actions. Those of us who are #parents desire to teach our children the importance of taking the long view instead. Just as it is considered childish to be short-sighted, from a physical standpoint, it is also childish spiritually for the #Christian to live their life with no thought of the future. #Biblestudy #goodreads #bookclub #Bible #Scripture @aging #grace

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

4 Comments

2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

7/15/2022

0 Comments

What should be our #motivation for #praying desperate #prayers? #Hezekiah lays it out clearly in #Isaiah 37. “…that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are the #Lord.” Isaiah 37:20b Friend, #God hears your prayers of #desperation. He sees your tears, just as He did with King Hezekiah. “…Thus says the Lord, the God... I have heard your #prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.” Isaiah 38:5 #pray #Biblestudy #Oldtestament #Scripture #Jesus

“Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” Isaiah 38:3

As I was reading through God's Word with the Sweeter Than Honey Bible reading plan this summer, on July 6, I came to Isaiah 37-39, and the two desperate prayers Hezekiah, King of Judah, prayed.

Hezekiah's first prayer of desperation is found in Isaiah 37:14-20. It's a prayer for the saving of a nation. Hezekiah's second prayer of desperation is found in Isaiah 38. It's a more personal prayer asking God to spare his life and give him more years. Let's look briefly today at these two prayers of desperation and see what we can learn from them to impact our own prayer life.

0 Comments

Aging With Grace: Week Six

7/12/2022

6 Comments

How do we #flourish in times of darkness Teaching 5th graders provided the opportunity to learn an important lesson about #flourishing. In seeking to find out under what conditions a plant would grow best, we planted 3 bean seeds--one seed we watered and placed in complete darkness. One we placed in light with no water, and the third was watered and placed in a window. The surprise for us all was that the seed watered but in darkness was able to become quite tall, but it was completely white.

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

6 Comments

4 Things I learned From Jonah

7/8/2022

1 Comment

Why did #Jonah ever think he could escape from the presence of the #Lord? When the men on the ship ask Jonah, “…What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” (1:8) “he said to them, ‘I am a #Hebrew, and I FEAR THE LORD, the #God of #Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’” (1:9). I find it ironic that Jonah, who tells a bunch of sailors he fears the Lord God of Heaven who made the sea, is trying to run from his God. #Biblestudy

As I was reading through God's Word with the Sweeter Than Honey Bible reading plan this summer, on June 21, I came to the story of Jonah and the great big fish.

As I read the book of Jonah, one question immediately came to mind—Why did Jonah ever think he could escape from the presence of the Lord? Have you ever wondered that too?

When the men on the ship ask Jonah, “…What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” (1:8) “he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I FEAR THE LORD, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’” (1:9).

I find it ironic that Jonah, who tells a bunch of sailors he fears the Lord God of Heaven who made the sea, is trying to run from his God.

1 Comment

<<Previous

4 Ways to Love Someone Who is Grieving

Aging With Grace: Week Eight

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

But I Don’t Want to Wait…

Aging With Grace: Week Seven

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

Aging With Grace: Week Six

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

4 Things I learned From Jonah

Top Posts

Featured

Categories

Archives

4 Ways to Love Someone Who is Grieving

Aging With Grace: Week Eight

​Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

But I Don’t Want to Wait…

Aging With Grace: Week Seven

​Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

Aging With Grace: Week Six

Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

4 Things I learned From Jonah

Join the movement!

Top Posts

Featured

Categories

Archives

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study