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A Prayer for the Broken-Hearted

7/28/2023

2 Comments

 
The pain, the void, and the uncertainty -- as there are questions for those left behind that remain unanswered. I’ve cried countless tears, not only to have lost a friend but for his family, who are as dear to me as my own. ​When #tragedy strikes and the unimaginable happens, it feels impossible to think, to #pray. The words just cannot come, and if they do, they don’t do justice to what we're feeling and experiencing. Praise the Lord that He understands us even when don’t understand ourselves.
This past week my husband and I received some soul-crushing news. A dear friend of ours had ended his own life. While we knew that he had wrestled over the years with seasons of depression, most people would never have guessed that he had any such struggle.

He was one of the kindest, most effervescent, and most selfless people I’ve known. He loved the Lord and his family. He faithfully served the Church. But away from watchful eyes and in the private spaces of his heart and mind, he struggled. He fought until the very end to try to overcome the darkness and depression, clinging to His faith and Scriptures such as
 Psalm 143.

​To say that his family and friends are gutted, not only to have lost him but in such a way as this, is an understatement. There are no words. For the past days, even now, it is all I can think about. 

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Finding Stability in an Unstable World

5/20/2022

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The world is rife with instability and struggles that seem to have no answers. #Jesus told us in John 16:33 that there would be times like this. “In the world ye shall have #tribulation…” The #goodnews is that we don’t have to be overcome with instability and trouble. The rest of that verse gives words of comfort. “…but be of good cheer; I have #overcome the world.” The question isn't IF there is darkness and trouble to deal with in this world. The question is HOW do we deal with this darkness?
The world today is rife with instability and struggles that seem to have no answers. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that there would be times like this.
“In the world ye shall have tribulation…” 
The good news is that as believers we don’t have to be overcome with the instability, tribulation, and trouble in the world. The rest of that verse gives Jesus’ words of comfort.
“…but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” 
The question for us as believers is not IF there is darkness and trouble to deal with in this sin-cursed world. The question is HOW do we deal with this darkness?

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What To Do When God is Rewriting Your Story

12/17/2021

8 Comments

 
What to Do When God is Rewriting Your Story
Sometimes it’s hard to write about what’s going on in your heart and life while it’s happening. A testimony is easier to share when you can give it an ending that makes everyone say, “Amen!” Recently, though, God has been teaching me that life isn’t always about resolutions. Sometimes He teaches us the most when it seems like every detail of our lives is “in-process.”
​

Early in October, my husband and I learned that we are expecting our first baby. I think I experienced a mild shock. It took four tests and a doctor’s appointment to convince me that I was, in fact, pregnant.

Over the past few years, I’ve gone from terrified at the very idea of having kids to a great desire to have children. On October 1, my 29th birthday, I even wished that this year would be the year. 

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8 Comments

Trusting God with the Unknown

9/17/2021

6 Comments

 
Trusting God with the Unknown
We don’t know a lot more than we do know. For this reason, we spend a large portion of our lives preparing for things that may never happen.
  •  We have car insurance in case we crash.
  • We have life insurance in case we die before our loved ones.
  • We have smoke alarms in case there is a fire.
  • We wear a life jacket in case we fall into the water.
 
We make these kinds of plans because it is responsible to prepare for the future the best way we know how. 

We don’t always just plan for the unknown, though. Often, we worry about it too. “The Big Unknown” becomes more worrisome to us than death and taxes because we don’t know what it is. 

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6 Comments

4 Things I Learned From My Cancer Journey

4/20/2021

20 Comments

 
4 Things I Learned From My Cancer Journey
Our guest blogger, Debbie, has been missing in action around here for almost a year now. 

Like many of us in 2020, she's been on an unexpected journey. But Debbie's journey was different than the journey most of us have been on over the past several months. Her journey included not only all that COVID brought to our world, her journey also included that dreaded "C" word--cancer.

We all know someone who has been on the cancer journey. Maybe, you've even traveled that road yourself. The greatest thing to know is that as Christian women, as women of God, we know that we do not travel that road alone! Not only do we not travel the road alone, but God also gives us unique opportunities to share the road with those who come behind us. Today, Debbie shares that road with us in the third of a 3-part series--4 Things I Learned From My Cancer Journey.

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20 Comments

The Unexpected Journey

4/6/2021

16 Comments

 
The Unexpected Journey
Our guest blogger, Debbie, has been missing in action around here for almost a year now. 

Like many of us in 2020, she's been on an unexpected journey. But Debbie's journey was different than the journey most of us have been on over the past several months. Her journey included not only all that COVID brought to our world, her journey also included that dreaded "C" word--cancer.

We all know someone who has been on the cancer journey. Maybe, you've even traveled that road yourself. The greatest thing to know is that as Christian women, as women of God, we know that we do not travel that road alone! Not only do we not travel the road alone, but God also gives us unique opportunities to share the road with those who come behind us. Today, Debbie shares that road with us in the first of a 3-part series--The Unexpected Journey.

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16 Comments
    Patsy
    Hi friend, welcome to InstaEncouragements. I am so glad you are here. You’re among friends. You belong here. 

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  • Home
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    • Library >
      • Bible Emergency Numbers
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      • The ABCS Bible Study
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      • Come and Gather
      • She Loves Truth Guide
      • She Loves Truth Study
      • The Red Sea Rules
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      • Christmas Songbook
      • LOVE Coupons
    • Christianity
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • Choosing Gratitude
    • Aging With Grace
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  • Bible Study
    • A Journey of Worship
    • 52 Days in Psalms
    • 10 Weeks in the New Testament
    • 2 Months in The Pentateuch
    • 12 Minor Prophets
    • 3 Biblical Statements
    • 7 Books of Faith
    • 4 Major Prophets
    • She Loves Truth
    • Hey Mama! PRAY
    • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
  • The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God
    • 16 Names of God Media Package