Chasing Blue Skies

encouragement for every season of life

  • Home
  • Kristen
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Back Roads to Belonging
    • Girl Meets Change
    • Serving You (for military wives)
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Archives
  • Free
    • for everyone
    • for military spouses
  • Contact

Because There’s Nothing Wimpy About Being an Encourager :: at (in)courage

in (In)Courage· Confidence· Encouragement· Writing

I’ve heard it whispered and seen it written in more than one place:

Some encouragers are soft cliché whipper-outers with faith deep as a kiddie pool. Sure, they’re nice and all, but they lack thoughtful opinions, creative ideas, and savvy smarts. Their words aren’t all that courageous or brave.

I can’t deny this has been a fear of mine {says the girl whose blog is named Chasing Blue Skies }. But when push comes to shove, I always revisit the same word to describe this line of thinking:

Hogwash.

Yes ma’am.

As an encourager, there is nothing namby-pamby about you. Ready why over here? And if you like the above graphic, you can download a free printable of it here. Other color options available here and here.

And speaking of encouragement, I wanted to encourage you to link up an old or new post for Out of the Blue Thursdays. Around here on Thursdays, we open our eyes to amazing surprises God tailor-designs just for you and me. Tomorrow’s prompt: share about a mistake you made – even a crazy ‘oops’ moment – and how your lesson learned or God’s grace in the mistake surprised you. I’m super excited about this one because I cannot tell a lie: I have a whole lotta material to choose from.

Your post can lean towards poignant or funny~whatever the Lord puts on your heart. I look forward to laughing and crying with you.

 

Have a wonderful Wednesday, dearies, and thank you for being the gloriously breathtaking, ever encouraging community you are. I couldn’t love you more.

Sharing is caring!

0shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Related

Share
Tweet
Pin13
13 Shares

Filed Under: (In)Courage, Confidence, Encouragement, Writing

« One Thing that Happens Every Time You’re Brave
When a Mistake Is the Best Thing that Can Happen »

Comments

  1. Jamie says

    March 13, 2013 at 8:50 am

    I love the encouragement you lavish on others, Kristen!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      March 13, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      xoxoxoxo

      Reply
  2. Maureen says

    March 13, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Wow and wow! this is powerful stuff – encouraging with a capital “E” I will print this and hang it on the wall by my desk. Even love your titles for the colors – beach, forest, colorful – made me smile. And your list (not here, but in the email and on (in)courage)…helpful and powerful. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      March 13, 2013 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks so much, Maureen. One of my sweet boys actually made them for me. Isn’t he talented?

      Reply
  3. Beth says

    March 13, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Kristen, you always brighten my day! Printing and posting your beautiful graphic in my office! Thank you for being the encourager that you are!

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    March 13, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Great words and thoughts. What a nice reminder!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

On Instagram

$1.99 ebook deal-extraordinaire!🎉💃🏻🎉 R $1.99 ebook deal-extraordinaire!🎉💃🏻🎉 Right now, get the digital version of Back Roads to Belonging for $1.99! ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
This book can be a gift for anyone feeling lost or lonely no matter her life season, but I believe it's an especially timely gift to yourself or a loved one who may be missing her place and people during the lingering pandemic. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Tap the link in my profile for links to both Kindle & Nook.☑️☑️⁠⁠
⁠⁠
And if you read this book and found it personally helpful, perhaps consider sharing it 'round your circles, too? ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
#backroadstobelonging⁠⁠
photo credit: @jenlintsphotography
An accomplishment for this week: Taking daily walk An accomplishment for this week: Taking daily walks outside, because outside is where the pretty lives even if it's also where the cold lives, too. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Another accomplishment this week included introducing my daughter to an '80's staple of pop culture: Dirty Dancing.💃🏻🕺🏻 My inner 8th grader still knows all the songs, and my daughter was able to understand the origins of "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." and that it *doesn't* refer to an actual baby. What can I say? I've found one homeschooling subject I feel qualified to teach. ⁠⁠✅
⁠⁠
Happy Friday, dear hearts!⁠⁠💛
⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Trusting God with the ones you love ~ I found this Trusting God with the ones you love ~ I found this easier to do when the ones I love lived in my house full time. It turns out that having them move out from under my roof is a real lesson in seeing the holes of my trust.⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠
You might say learning this has been A WHOLE THING. ⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠
I first saw this book on @annvoskamp's instagram feed, and since Ann never steers me wrong, I promptly bought it and am now halfway through it. ⁠I skip some chapters as they don't (yet if ever) apply, but those that *do* apply have been a real help and comfort. ⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠
In short, author @jodie_berndt's prayer prompts and stories reflecting an array of circumstances and outcomes has been a real gift to my mama heart. ⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠
⁠Being a parent is hard no matter the age of our kids, but I'm so thankful for books like this that ease our trials and deepen our trust along the way.⁠⁠⁠
#fromthebookstack
This verse came alongside me like a friend not onc This verse came alongside me like a friend not once but twice in two days:⁠⁠
⁠⁠
"The angel of the Lord encamps⁠⁠
 around those who fear him, and delivers them.” ~Psalm 34:7⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I don’t know what hardship you're encountering today, but I hope you also encounter this message:⁠⁠
⁠⁠
As God surrounds you, may He deliver you *to* a better place, yes. But may He deliver you *from* anxiety, loneliness, fears, and wrongdoing.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
And along the way, may He give you a friend who prays for you and walks with you from where you are to where you will be. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
#whereIbelongWednesday⁠⁠
#backroadstobelonging
Follow on Instagram
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 Kristen Strong · Site by Design by Insight · Chasing Blue Skies Logo by Aliza Latta