InstaEncouragements Building a worldwide online community of encouragers encouraging others in the faith of Jesus Christ. Join the movement!
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Christianity
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • 52 Days in Psalms
    • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
    • She Loves Truth
    • Hey Mama! PRAY
    • Seeking Him
    • Aging With Grace
    • Choosing Gratitude
  • Library
    • 16 Names of God
    • Bible Reading Plan
    • The ABCs Study Guide
    • The ABCS Bible Study
    • Disciple Me Program
    • Come and Gather
    • She Loves Truth Guide
    • She Loves Truth Study
    • The Red Sea Rules
    • Praying Proverbs
    • 12 Letters I Wrote
    • Christmas Songbook
    • LOVE Coupons
  • The Heart That Heals
    • Read Chapter 1 of The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
    • The Heart That Heals printable package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God
Gospel Collection banner

Are You Loyal to God?

3/17/2023

4 Comments

 
I wish I could say #church me, work me, #mom me, and neighbor me are all the same. We like to think of ourselves as genuine, but sometimes I feel two different versions of me are necessary. Society likes to make #God inappropriate outside of the church, and sometimes, I inadvertently let that lie seep into my life. I don’t intentionally switch mindsets from #Sunday to #Monday, and God isn't less present on Monday than He is on Sunday. He's always there. He sees us. He hears us. And He cares.
I wish I could say that church me, work me, mom me, and neighbor me are all the same. We all like to think of ourselves as genuine, but sometimes I feel like two different versions of me are necessary.

Society likes to make God inappropriate outside of the church, and sometimes, I inadvertently let that lie seep into my life.

 
I don’t intentionally switch mindsets from Sunday to Monday.
  • When I learn about gratitude in my Sunday school class, I don’t leave thinking “I’ll only be thankful until midnight, and then I’ll complain again tomorrow.”
  • When God uses the preacher to convict my heart, I don’t tell God “I’m sorry for this sin today, so I won’t do it again until tomorrow.”​

Read More
4 Comments

3 Ways Minimalism Helps Us Live Like Jesus

2/17/2023

12 Comments

 
A few months ago, it would have been hypocritical of me to try convincing anyone that a simpler #lifestyle could benefit their walk with #God. Being an #introvert, I’ve learned to regulate the number of events and people #cluttering my #schedule, but as a lover of #books, nick-knacks, and every birthday card anyone ever sent me, I didn’t have a natural understanding of how #simplifying our #home could give me a sense of #spiritual #rest. #minimalism #minimal #minimalistic #clutter #simple #faith
A few months ago, it would have been hypocritical of me to try convincing anyone that a simpler lifestyle could benefit their walk with God. Being an introvert, I’ve learned to regulate the number of events and people cluttering my schedule, but as a lover of books, nick-knacks, and every birthday card anyone ever sent me, I didn’t have a natural understanding of how simplifying our home could give me a sense of spiritual rest.
 
As 21st-century Americans, we’re used to having more than just the bare necessities. We know the Bible says we didn’t bring anything into this world and we can’t take anything out (1 Timothy 6:7), but we still cling to a garage full of stuff we don’t use. We might know that we are supposed to build up treasure in Heaven instead of on earth (Matthew 6:19–20​), but we still spend a lot of time boxing away earthly items that we might use “someday.”

Read More
12 Comments

How Parenthood Changed My View of the Gospel

1/13/2023

0 Comments

 
The #Gospel message is beautiful in its simplicity. It is straightforward and never changes. #God is behind the Gospel. He can make a Gospel simple enough for a #child to understand but complex enough for scholars to discuss for centuries. He can make a Gospel simple enough to distill into one sentence and complex enough to fill an entire #book. He can make a Gospel simple enough to understand at the time of #salvation and complex enough to still be learning about it twenty years later.
The message of the Gospel is beautiful in its simplicity. It is straightforward, it never changes, and it holds equal power for every individual who believes. Behind that simple message, though, is an infinite and incomprehensible divine power.

God is behind the Gospel, and He is capable of anything.​
  • He can make a Gospel simple enough for a child to understand but complex enough for scholars to discuss for centuries.
  • He can make a Gospel simple enough to distill into one sentence and complex enough to fill an entire book.
  • He can make a Gospel simple enough to understand at the time of salvation and complex enough to still be learning about it twenty years later.

Read More
0 Comments

Choosing Motherhood

5/13/2022

0 Comments

 
We celebrate #mothers on Mother's Day because of the #relationship we have with them. For those of us #blessed enough to have had good, godly mothers, this relationship is one that imitates God’s relationship with His #children because it is a relationship built upon often unrequited sacrifice, selflessness, and #love. ​Just like we love #God because He first loved us, we love our mothers because they have shown so much love for us before we even knew how to reciprocate. #motherhood #mothering
This Mother’s Day was my first time being included in the “mother club.” It felt good—if strange—to have people wishing me a “Happy Mother’s Day.” So many people assured me this past Sunday that I was indeed a mother, and it got me thinking about what truly makes a mother and why we actually celebrate mothers.
 
We celebrate mothers because of the relationship we have with them. For those of us blessed enough to have had good, godly mothers, this relationship is one that imitates God’s relationship with His children because it is a relationship built upon often unrequited sacrifice, selflessness, and love.

​Just like we love God because He first loved us, we love our mothers because they have shown so much love for us before we even knew how to reciprocate. 

Read More
0 Comments

Remembering to Count Your Blessings

4/15/2022

0 Comments

 
How can my foolish heart turn a month of #blessings into a #complaining spirit? The answer is quite simple. Dissatisfaction comes naturally. #Gratitude is learned. #Scripture is filled with calls to #praise #God with a #thankful heart, probably because God knows our propensity to selfishly cling to our #complaints like they’re a good thing. We like to have a few good things to #complain about. However, #praising God for His blessings makes us and others focus on His goodness. #blessed #bless
The sound of “Count Your Blessings” instantly transports me back in time. I grew up singing this beloved hymn, but sometimes, in the nostalgia of the melody, I forget the powerful truth of the words. This past month has been so full and packed with good things:
  • My Mom received clear pet scans and biopsies and was told, to the disbelief and astonishment of her doctors, that she is in remission after taking only half of the prescribed chemo treatments.
  • My husband and I escaped for a weekend babymoon, a time for just the two of us.
  • My church friends and family gave baby Lucy and me the most beautiful shower, supplying many needed baby items.
  • My parents were able to visit for nearly a week. We enjoyed time together and celebrated Mom’s improving health and our upcoming addition to the family.

Read More
0 Comments

​A Prayer for Expecting Mothers

3/18/2022

6 Comments

 
As I approach my 3rd trimester #God has been pricking my heart constantly. Everything in life seems somehow heavier. Not harder, necessarily, just more important. My daily habits--the working out of my #faith--will soon affect a brand-new little life that God has entrusted to me. This realization opened my eyes to the reality of my faith in a world that will try to teach my #child so many things that oppose that faith. God has pushed my heart toward #prayer more in these recent months than ever.
As I approach the beginning of my third trimester, God has been pricking my heart constantly. Everything in my life seems somehow heavier. Not harder, necessarily, just more important.

My daily habits—the working out of my faith in my life—will soon affect a brand-new little life that God has entrusted to me and my husband. 

This realization has opened my eyes to the reality of my faith in a world that will try to teach my child so many things that oppose that faith.

Who can I turn to in order to find what I need to become a good and faithful mother? The answer is simple: my heavenly Father.

​God has pushed my heart toward prayer more in these recent months than ever before.

Read More
6 Comments

4 Things to Remember When Ministry Hurts

2/18/2022

4 Comments

 
Growing up as a #pastor’s kid sometimes made me feel at a disadvantage--ostracized in some way from other #children. Expectations were different. Our lifestyle was different. Anything I did or said could come back to damage my parents’ #ministry and reputation. And sometimes, this all seemed unfair. As a child and teenager, I tended to see only the negative aspects of my #family’s ministry. I loved my parents, but sometimes I wished I could feel just a bit more “normal.” #Church #God #Jesus #Lord
​Growing up as a pastor’s kid sometimes made me feel at a disadvantage—ostracized in some way from other children. Expectations were different. Our lifestyle was different. Anything I did or said could come back to damage my parents’ ministry and reputation. And sometimes, this all seemed unfair.
​

As a child and teenager, I tended to see only the negative aspects of my family’s ministry. I loved my parents, but sometimes I wished I could feel just a bit more “normal.”

​As an adult, ministry has become a choice I make for myself instead of my parents making it for me. I decide how I minister and where, and sometimes I feel my own fears getting in the way.

At this point in my life, I know that ministry is worth it. I know that it is important. 


Read More
4 Comments
<<Previous
    HSRC Free Preview
    Patsy
    Hi friend, welcome to InstaEncouragements. I am so glad you are here. You’re among friends. You belong here. 

    How would you like access to our online library of helpful eBooks, devotionals, printables, lock screens, and more? You’re going to love this library, there is all kinds of exclusive content, just for you!

    Join the movement by signing up below and I'll send you the link today. And no worries, We don’t spam. Promise! We don’t like spam either.

    After you've joined the movement, hop on over to our about page to learn more about us and then to our contact form and introduce yourself so we can be on a first-name basis. I'd like that!
    Patsy signature

    Join the movement!

    * indicates required
    ARTZA banner
    Use our exclusive code INSTA25 for 25% OFF your subscription box!

    Top Posts

    16 Names of God & What They Mean
    12 Things the Bible Says God Knows About Us
    6 Things We Can Learn From Habakkuk 
    From a Proverbs 31 Woman to a Titus 2 Woman
    18 Characteristics of True Christianity
    10 Favorite Bible Verses on Adoption
    12 Letters I Wrote to a Friend With Cancer
    A Lesson From King Jehoshaphat

    Featured

    Welcome Heart
    LaurenSparks.net
    beLydia.org
    Brave Women Series
    Grace & Truth
    Messy Marriage
    Money Wise Steward
    Wield The Word
    Woman of Noble Character
    The Best Bible Study Books For Women

    Categories

    All
    7 Things God Is Not
    ABCs Of The Bible
    Amanda
    Bible Emergency Numbers
    Bible Study
    Books We Love
    Cami
    Cancer
    Christine
    Come And Gather
    Debbie
    Elisabeth
    Family Life
    Guest Post
    Journey To The Cross
    Julie
    Kathy
    Link Ups
    Our Words Matter
    Printables
    Stephanie
    Summer Book Club
    Sweeter Than Honey
    The Bible

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018

InstaEncouragements participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program 
designed to provide a means for this site to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 
This site also contains affiliate links for The Daily Grace Company, Faithbox, Minted.com,
​
Canvas Vows, Digital Grab Bag, Grove Collaborative, Faithful Life Planner, and Tailwind.
InstaEncouragements will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links or a link from one of our posts.
​​Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms & Conditions
InstaEncouragements logo
© InstaEncouragements |2023|  all rights reserved
IE blog footer image
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Christianity
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • 52 Days in Psalms
    • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
    • She Loves Truth
    • Hey Mama! PRAY
    • Seeking Him
    • Aging With Grace
    • Choosing Gratitude
  • Library
    • 16 Names of God
    • Bible Reading Plan
    • The ABCs Study Guide
    • The ABCS Bible Study
    • Disciple Me Program
    • Come and Gather
    • She Loves Truth Guide
    • She Loves Truth Study
    • The Red Sea Rules
    • Praying Proverbs
    • 12 Letters I Wrote
    • Christmas Songbook
    • LOVE Coupons
  • The Heart That Heals
    • Read Chapter 1 of The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
    • The Heart That Heals printable package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God