InstaEncouragements Blog

10 Observations From Psalms 51

11/30/2018

The Psalms are God's beautiful reminder that quite often life without Him involves sadness, confusion and despair. The book also reminds us that sometimes, even with Him, life is hard and we don't have all the answers. The Psalms help us pour out our souls in complete dependence on Jesus Christ, and at the same time they invite us to trust His heart, even when we can't see His hand. For our good. For His glory.

Psalms 51 is no exception. It does all this, and more.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me....

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The Broken Way and The Abundant Life

11/27/2018

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I first read The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp in 2016. Immediately I knew this book would change my life. Here are just a few of the highlighted quotes found in my copy of Voskamp's book:

“The only way to live a truly remarkable life is not to get everyone to notice you, but to leave noticeable marks of His love everywhere you go.”

“I’ll take it. I’ll take His words like a daring covenant, not knowing yet what’s to come: there is no growth without change, no change without surrender, no surrender without wound—no abundance without breaking. Wounds are what break open the soul to plant the seeds of a deeper growth.”

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.”

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Sacrifices of Thanksgiving from Psalms 107

11/22/2018

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Sacrifices of Thanksgiving from Psalms 107

For years I claimed Psalm 107:2 as my life verse.

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble." Psalm 107:2

He certainly redeemed me from a life of potential trouble. I am so thankful today for His pursuing, redeeming, rescuing love towards this unworthy soul!

We traditionally center our Thanksgiving praise around the five verses of Psalm 100. Maybe you memorized these verse as a child. It's a beautiful passage of thanksgiving and praise.

Psalms 107 is another beautiful passage of thanksgiving and praise. It begins in with "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" and ends with "Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord."

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Gratitude is a Choice Fueled by Perspective

11/20/2018

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Gratitude is a Choice Fueled by Perspective

I'm not sure where this quote originated, but isn't it the truth!

"Gratitude is a choice fueled by perspective." -Anonymous

We can be such ingrates! It's so easy to harbor a spirit of ungratefulness. It comes natural to be ungrateful, and it's seemingly unnatural to be grateful. But it all pivots on our perspective.

This time of year our perspective becomes a little clearer, especially this week of Thanksgiving. We're more thankful because that's what this week is all about. We become a little more grateful and focus more on our blessings and less on the "I wants" of life. But just let Black Friday roll around and we see the ads for all those things we want but can't afford. Let Christmas Day come knocking on our social media wall and we see all those things our friends got for Christmas that we didn't.

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18 Characteristics of True Christianity

11/16/2018

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I don't know a better roadmap for Christian character than what is presented in Romans 12. The Bible is crystal clear about what a true Christian lifestyle should look like. These twelve verses, I call them the twelve from twelve, are a great tool and guide. Write them on the walls of your home. Memorize them with your family. Choose eighteen days of the month and focus on one characteristic each day.

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.

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You Were Created For Such a Time As This

11/13/2018

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YOU Were Created For Such a Time As This

I love, love, love the book of Esther! Esther was such a brave woman. Willing to be used of God. Making wise choices. Choosing to do the right thing in the bold face of opposition. May this be said of all of us, brave, willing, wise and choosing to do the right thing at the right time. For such a time as this.

My favorite verse in the book of Esther is found in chapter four.

"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

This particular verse reminds me that God doesn't need me to accomplish His purpose. His will and His plan will be brought to fruition with or without my help. But oh! To be part of that wonderful plan!

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The Plans He Has For You Include a Future & Hope

11/9/2018

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Hope is a word we like to hold on to tightly. I hope this happens. I hope that doesn't happen. But what if you had been held captive for 70 years, your homeland had been destroyed and your relatives murdered? What if God not only allowed this, but He planned it? Could you still hold on to hope? God Orchestrated It! Just let that sink in.

Read these verses from chapter 29 of Jeremiah: