InstaEncouragements Blog

A Lesson from King Jehoshaphat

2/19/2021

Have you ever been reading in one of the books of Kings or Chronicles and wondered what in the world was going on? Maybe like me, you get lost, at times, in the kings of the divided kingdoms and know that you need to spend more time setting all that straight in your mind.

But every so often, I find that even after being saved for more than thirty years and reading through the Bible several times, that same chapter, verse, or principle just jumps off the page and grabs me like never before! This, my friend, is the wonderful nature of the Living Word we have in our possession today.

Paul said it this way in Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” It is like digging for treasure every time we open God’s Word. Let’s look at one of these treasure passages I found recently in 2 Chronicles 20.

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The One Thing I Did To Revitalize My Bible Reading

5/12/2020

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The One Thing I Did That Revitalized My Bible Reading

This year, I am reading through the Bible in chronological order of book authorship.

This is different from reading the Bible in chronological order. That's a great way to read God's Word as well, but when I've done that in the past I find myself skipping all over the Bible at some points and it's easy for me to get distracted.

Reading through the Bible in chronological order of book authorship simply goes book by book in the order that they were written. Plans may vary as it is difficult to accurately date the writing of some books of the Bible.

Besides reading through the Bible in chronological order of book authorship, let me share with you the one thing I did that has revitalized my Bible reading this year.

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From a Proverbs 31 Woman to a Titus 2 Woman

3/20/2020

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From a Proverbs 31 Woman to a Titus 2 Woman

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

When we read about the character traits of the Proverbs 31 woman, we find that she is a virtuous, faithful woman who reverences her husband. She exhibits strength and endurance, is well-rounded, charitable, and provides well for her family. We also read that she is well-dressed, the wife of a good husband, honorable, wise, kind, and a good mother. She is praiseworthy, attains, and excels at her goals, but most of all, we read that she fears the Lord!

As I grow older, I think about the amount of energy the Proverbs 31 woman must have needed to be and do all of these things. It seems exhausting! I know, however, it wasn’t all her, it was God working through her.

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3 Effective Ways to Study Your Bible

3/17/2020

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This year, I am studying God’s Word with a fresh, new approach. I'm reading in chronological order of book authorship.

It's easy using this Bible Reading Itinerary.

This is different from reading the Bible in chronological order. That's a great way to read it as well.

I am also listening to the Bible with an audio version while I read.

I’m an audible learner, so this approach has been a tremendous help when it comes to comprehending what I read.

Let's link up, and then join me over at Money Wise Steward, where we will discover 3 effective ways to study your Bible.

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36 Verses of Thanksgiving & Praise

11/26/2019

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"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!" Psalm 95:1-2

Bring on the fresh, green beans, sweet potato soufflé, roasted turkey with stuffing, my mama's homemade cranberry sauce, and those mouth-watering, fresh-out-of-the-oven yeast rolls. Then, there's the homemade pumpkin pie and pecan pie with a big cup of afternoon coffee. I'm stuffed! The Thanksgiving meal is truly something to behold, it's it? I'm not sure why we only eat this good once a year.

We go all out decorating our homes with stunning fall décor, from the wreath on the front door and pumpkins on the steps to the table runner and centerpiece. Family and friends come together and we all eat way too much!

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Psalm 77—A Guide To Godly Grief

11/15/2019

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Psalm 77--A Guide To Godly Grief: How would you help someone who’s going through deep pain and heartache? How would you counsel and comfort them? How would you help them find hope when all seems lost?Picture

How would you help someone who’s going through deep pain and heartache? How would you counsel and comfort them? How would you help them find hope when all seems lost?

Maybe you’d say something like, “It’ll all be okay. You’re stronger than this.” Or “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out in the end.” Maybe you don’t know what to say, so you’re just there with your presence but no words. Perhaps you avoid them because you don’t want to say the wrong thing.

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6 Things We Can Learn From Habakkuk

1/1/2019

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This passage is so exciting to me, especially how the prophet Habakkuk opens and closed his book. He opens the book with a prayerful plea to God, and God's reply is "...For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe..." And then Habakkuk closes the book with, though this, though this, and though this.., "yet I will rejoice in the Lord,"

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Habakkuk 1:5

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3.17-18

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