InstaEncouragements Blog

Mary: Submission Rarely Is It An Easy Thing

12/27/2019

How could she expect anyone to understand? She was a young girl who was engaged. Now she was expecting a baby that was not her fiancé’s child. In her culture that could mean death by stoning. How could she explain that the angel of the Lord had appeared to her and asked her to be part of a holy miracle that had been determined before creation?

Mary was willing to do what God asked of her, but she had no idea what all was involved when she would become the mother of the Messiah.

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3 Reasons Why God's Gift of a Savior is So Important

12/24/2019

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3 Reasons Why God's Gift of a Savior is So Important

All too often Christmas gets swallowed up in the busyness of shopping, sending cards, wrapping presents, parties, lights, baking... You may be there today. As we rush around, we often miss the wonder of what Christmas is all about. Even when we know, we can miss it.

Christmas began with a Gift given to the human race over two thousand years ago. That Gift, was a Child, born in a Bethlehem stable and laid in a manger. His birth was announced by wise men guided from the East by a very special star. Have you ever thought that God may have organized the entire solar system and universe in a way that would signify the birth of Jesus?

This Child was the Gift we need most—a Savior, the Holy Son of God, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is the Good News proclaimed by the angel to shepherds on night duty as they watched their flocks:

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Joseph: The Man God Chose to Raise His Son

12/20/2019

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“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’

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5 Ways to Raise Grateful Children in an Entitled World

12/17/2019

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5 Ways to Raise Grateful Children in an Entitled World

How many times have you told your child to say “thank you?” Probably a lot. Did you know that gratitude will have beneficial effects on your child's well-being? In fact, research has shown that children who express gratitude on a regular basis have more positive emotions, like joy, love, and happiness, and fewer negative emotions, such as bitterness, envy, and resentment. They also have increased feelings of connectedness and improved relationships with peers and adults alike. They experience greater satisfaction in school and improved academic achievement. They even have better physical health than children who don’t take the time to notice and appreciate the good things around them. This is powerful stuff!

As parents, we can help our children develop an attitude of gratitude through a variety of simple acts and activities.

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Christmas Q & A

12/13/2019

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We're going to have some fun today with a bit of Christmas Q & A.

Who knows why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th?
When did the holiday first become popular in America?
Where did the long-standing traditions of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree come from?

Answers to some of these questions may surprise you. Let's see how much you know.

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Adoring His Attributes Review & Giveaway

12/10/2019

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Adoring His Attributes: A 30 Day Devotional for Worshipful Prayer

What if we begin the new year by adoring the attributes of God?

What if we are intentional for the first 30 days of 2020 with our prayer and worship of Him?

What if we knew this would be life-changing?

I've been reading Adoring His Attributes: A 30 Day Devotional for Worshipful Prayer and can I just say, friend, this will be a beautiful, life-changing, Christmas gift for every girl on your list?!

You can purchase your copy here.

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