InstaEncouragements Blog

The Blessing of Loneliness

10/28/2022

I'm currently in the midst of close to 7 months of traveling in the States reporting to #churches about what #God has done in #England during my first term on the field. I've spent over 5 years in 2 churches in England, and as I reflect on those years, there are tons of #blessings that I have experienced and could share with you. But the unexpected #blessing that I've found to be the most precious is the blessing of #loneliness. Why would loneliness be a blessing? Read more... #Christian #Bible

I am currently in the midst of close to seven months of traveling in the States reporting to churches about what God has done in England during my first term on the field. I have spent over five years in two churches in England, and as I reflect on those years, there are tons of blessings that I have experienced and could share with you. But the unexpected blessing that I have found to be the most precious is the blessing of loneliness.

Now you might be sitting there reading this and thinking that I have lost it. Why would loneliness be a blessing? Well, let me take you back to my childhood and teen years.

My two sisters and I heard my dad tell us repeatedly the following phrase. You might even call it a family motto since today it is posted on the door to my parents’ home as you leave. The phrase is this – “Be a blessing, not a burden.”

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Sweeter Than Honey: Do Not Grow Weary of Doing Good

10/25/2022

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Sweeter Than Honey: Do Not Grow Weary of Doing Good

From the Old Testament to the New, the eternality of God's Word is clearly proclaimed:

Job tells us, “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12).

Isaiah reminds us that, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

And Matthew records Jesus saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

God's Word is like an eternal Love Letter to us!

Have you ever received a love letter, friend? Did you read it? Did you read it just once, or did you read it over and over again? A Love Letter is a treasure when you love the One who sent it!

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What is the Significance of the Negev in the Bible?

10/21/2022

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What is unique about the #Negev desert? What sets the Negev apart from any of the other deserts in #Israel? First thing is that despite being a #desert, the Negev covers about 55% of Israel's landmass area. It is also home to more than 8% of the total #Israeli population. According to historians, the Negev desert is one of the oldest discovered surfaces on earth. The dead sea and the ancient fortress of Masada are located in this region of Israel. But what does the Bible say about the Negev?

"Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negev!"
Psalm 126:4

What is unique about the Negev desert? What sets the Negev desert apart from any of the other deserts in Israel?

First thing is that despite being a desert, the Negev covers about 55% of Israel's landmass area. It is also home to more than 8% of the total Israeli population.

According to historians, the Negev desert is one of the oldest discovered surfaces on earth. The dead sea and the ancient fortress of Masada are located in this region of Israel.

But what does the Bible say about the Negev?

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Sweeter Than Honey: Treasure the Treasure of God's Word

10/18/2022

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In 1 Thessalonians, Paul encourages his readers to keep on keeping on and listed 15 things we should keep doing in his powerful benediction. Today, we're looking at his second, and final, letter to the #Thessalonians which scholars feel was written not too long after the first. In this letter, Paul writes much about the Second Coming as if maybe there was some confusion, misunderstanding, or false teaching among the church about the event. Then, in chapter 3, Paul encourages them not to be idle.

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7 Blessings of Crisis From Psalm 91

10/14/2022

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Psalms 91 & 92 are well documented in my #Bible. I've been there many times and camped there on occasion. The margins are full of notes. There are many spaces in these 2 powerful chapters that are heavily highlighted. There's some underlining, circling, and lots of notes! In the margin beside #Psalm 91 I've written “7 Blessings of Crisis.” Not sure where it came from, maybe a sermon, but it’s good and I want to share it with you today so when you're in a #crisis you can see the #blessings too!

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Ps. 91:1-2

Psalms 91 and 92 are well documented in my Bible. I have been there many times. I have camped there on occasion. The margins are full of notes. There are several spaces within these two, powerful chapters that are heavily highlighted. There's some underlining, some circling, and lots of notes! In the margin, beside Psalm 91, I have written “7 Blessings of Crisis.” I’m not sure where this came from, a sermon most likely, but it’s good and I want to share it with you today so that when you're in a crisis, you can see the blessings too!

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Sweeter Than Honey: Asa's Prayer

10/11/2022

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In chapter 14 of 2 Chronicles we see Asa, king of #Judah, going to battle against Zerah the Ethiopian. “And Asa cried to the #Lord his #God, ‘O Lord, there is none like You to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.’” (2 #Chronicles 14:11). #Asa turns to God first. First things first! Asa knows where to run with his insurmountable problems.

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Where to Look When You Need Wisdom

10/7/2022

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Wisdom was there when #God established the heavens (Genesis 1:1). drew a circle on the face of the deep (Genesis 1:2). made firm the skies above (Genesis 1:5). established the fountains of the deep (Genesis 1:7). assigned to the sea its limit (Genesis 1:9). and marked out the foundations of the earth (Genesis 1:10). Wisdom was there before “…the first of the dust of the world” (8:26b) and #wisdom “delighting in the children of man” (8:31). That’s us!! #devotional #Biblereading #Biblereadingplan

This past April, while reading through God's Word with the Sweeter Than Honey Bible reading plan, on April 21, I came across Proverbs 7-9. Proverbs is a book known for its Wisdom.

“The Lord possessed me [wisdom] at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before He had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When He established the heavens, I was there; when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, when He made firm the skies above...

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