Encouraging.com

Encouragement, God's Word

If you are not really current in pop culture (or have a teenage girl nearby), you might not even realize that "fleek" is a word. It's slang, but it means, perfect, flawlessly styled, and looking great. Teenage girls commonly describe perfectly styled eyebrows as "on fleek."

Feb 13

Feb 13 Wait . . . What?

Challenge, Encouragement

My daughter cracks me up with all the things she says. One of those phrases is, wait . . . what? This is what she says every time she misses something or wants something repeated.

Feb 12

Feb 12 In the Feels

Encouragement, Holy Spirit

When teenagers want to convey that something touches your heart, they might say that thing "gets you in the feels." Another example is if someone is emotional, or she wants to talk about her feelings, she would be, "in her feels."

Feb 11

Feb 11 No Shortcuts

Encouragement, God's Word

So I have a teenage daughter. I am learning new things by the minute. She is filling my life with laughter and terror all at the same time! It's a roller coaster, and I love it. This week I'm going to catch you up to speed with communication in the style of a teenager.

Feb 8

Feb 8 Leave Some

Giving, God's Word, Serving

The incorporation of frugality into one’s life has its place. Greediness does not. Many of us make sure we get everything we have earned because we believe we deserve it. God’s Word surprises me, at times, because his instructions are very practical and specific. His divine approach is refreshing, especially when I see the subjects that are important to God through detail and repetition throughout the Bible. While reading Deuteronomy 24, I was reminded of the intricacies of Old Testament Law. God instructed the Israelites not to go over the branches a second time!

Feb 7

Feb 7 I’m Stuck!

Adversity, Encouragement

The nuisance of being stuck in the mud on a country dirt road is frightening if a tow truck is not around the corner. Wheels spinning, dirt and smoke billowing contribute to frustration. Cell phone in hand—whew! Help is on the way.

Feb 6

Feb 6 Watchman

Obedience, Spiritual Growth

Words are powerful. Words can ignite or extinguish relationships. Words generate global outcomes of war and peace. Words bring tears of emotion. But words can also make us laugh until our sides ache. Teachers’ words can establish everlasting motivation to live in the souls of students. Mighty prayers uttered in every language bring revival. Beautiful lyrics sung bring healing and joy. The precious gift of salvation resonates through sweet and simple word stories of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. (John 3:16; John 14:6, Romans 10:9)

Feb 5

Feb 5 Stand Firm

Adversity, Obedience, Spiritual Growth

Last year was one of the most difficult years of my life while enduring ongoing and worsening health issues surrounding my beloved husband and brother. Several months before the medical journeys began, God led me to a Bible study on spiritual warfare. I tried to wiggle my way out of it, but my Savior knew I was on the threshold of experiencing new types of brokenness and vulnerability—new enemy territory.

Feb 4

Feb 4 Mercy Gifts

Serving, Mercy, Giving

The dollar bills I keep in the console of my car are sweet reminders of my youngest grandson. While in my car one day he said, “My Dad has thousands of dollars in his car so that he can give to homeless people.” Wow! Out of the mouths of babes. I sense caution sometimes about when and why I should give a handout to a person regardless of their disheveled appearance. Obviously, personal safety is an important issue because our world is a dangerous place—just as it was when Jesus walked on this earth.

Feb 1

Feb 1 The Simple Things: Fruitfulness

Jesus, Spiritual Growth

A stroll through the familiar vineyard of John 15 today, ladies, should refresh our sense of the simplicity of life in Jesus.

Jan 31

Jan 31 The Simple Things: Ask

God's Will, Prayer

Ladies, there’s that word remain again; only this time it’s coupled with an invitation to ask. Not just to ask though—to ask whatever you wish. Seems simple. I’m more than willing to ask for what I wish; but not so fast—lots of hidden innuendo in Jesus’ words.

Jan 30

Jan 30 The Simple Things: Remain

Joy, Hope, Jesus, Peace

Perhaps you have heard of the My One Word experiment, designed by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen to encourage you to live—really live—by the word you pick for the year. Well, look no further. In the first ten verses of John 15 Jesus uses the word remain eleven times, in multiple combinations of: remain in me and I will remain in you; remain in my love; let my words remain in you. Seems to me ladies, we need to take the hint from Jesus and remain in Him.

Jan 29

Jan 29 The Simple Things: Love

Love, Salvation, Obedience

In 1961 the Broadway show Carnival opened, its theme song, Love Makes the World go ’Round by Bob Merrill, an immediate hit. Such legends of my day as Paul Anka, the Everly Brothers, Bing Crosby, and Johnny Mathis included it in their repertoires. Of course it was about romantic love: “a silver song, making the earth whirl softly”.

Jan 28

Jan 28 The Simple Things: Grace

Grace, Jesus, Salvation

In 1948 A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote in his classic, The Pursuit of God: “Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us.” Imagine how Tozer would feel if he were alive today. Nothing is simple--our schedules are loaded, our deadlines frantic, and the world distracts, not to mention the complexities of the “religious”.

Jan 25

Jan 25 When our Hearts Shine

Holy Spirit

I have a treasure, and so does every other person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul addresses this treasure in 2 Corinthians. He calls it God’s light! He further explains that it’s the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Jan 24

Jan 24 The God of Comfort

Comfort, Encouragement, Adversity

How does God comfort His children? How does God comfort you? I imagine the answers to those questions are as varied as the life situations that bring the need for comforting! I experienced a very serious illness this past year and discovered that I consistently needed God’s comfort during the quiet of the night. I experienced few distractions to my physical and emotional suffering during those hours. It was just God and me—alone with my need for comfort. So, how did God ease my distress as I actively sought Him?

Jan 23

Jan 23 Marana tha, Lord Come

Hope, Prayer

Marana tha. I love this word and want to add it to my everyday vocabulary. It’s only used once in Scripture, even though early believers used it often in their everyday speech. It’s a two word Aramaic phrase with multiple possible meanings, but the most common translation is “our Lord, come.” Paul used it as he closed his letter to the believers in Corinth.

Jan 22

Jan 22 One Day We’ll Understand

Comfort, Grief, Hope

It’s painful to hear, especially when your heart is numb from loss and your eyes red with tears—Death, where is your sting? You want to shout, “It’s right here in the pit of my stomach and the ache in my heart!”

Jan 21

Jan 21 The Superior Way