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Devotions for
Encouragement
&
Hope


And So, the Story Begins
Mary, a teenager, in the town of Nazareth, was highly favored by God. She was visited by the angel Gabriel with a message, “The Lord is...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20212 min read
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My Help
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 Where does my help come from? Most days, I believe I’m doing...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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A Positive Note
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers and sisters, Rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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Filled With Wonder
Psalm 104:33-34 “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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A Work in Progress
Philippians 1:6 “…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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Whom Shall I Fear
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20212 min read
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To the Ones I Love
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Cor 16:13 Paul’s parting comments in his...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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Eternal Encouragement
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal...

alicepongracz
Dec 28, 20211 min read
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Continue On
Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built in Him,...

alicepongracz
Oct 3, 20211 min read
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Build Each Other Up
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” The perfect combo: ...

alicepongracz
Oct 3, 20212 min read
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God of Peace
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…. I Corinthians 14:33 I woke up early this morning and picked up my phone to look at...

alicepongracz
Oct 3, 20211 min read
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Guard Me
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 My family...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
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Let Us Do Good
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
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Hand It Over
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
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Press On
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
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A Kind Word
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25 Change is one of the hardest situations to handle. No one...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
11 views
0 comments


Continue On
Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built in Him,...

alicepongracz
Sep 20, 20211 min read
1 view
0 comments


I Call to You, Lord
I can't count the number of times I've stood at the ocean's edge and watched the sun set. What a powerful display of God's love and...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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In His Name
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Seek the Lord
We have many priorities on what and who we seek. Especially when we think everything is on our shoulders. How's your time with God daily?...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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God’s Unfailing Love
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Prepare A Place
Do you have a place for you and Jesus to sit alone together and chat? Most will say no. That was me several years ago. I would sit down...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Prayer
Bring to God what is in your heart when you pray. He wants you...just you...the real you. He's waiting for us to come to Him with a...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
8 views
0 comments


Filled with Joy
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us (for me). ...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
3 views
0 comments


The Door is Always Open
Do you have a home that you can go to and know the door is always open to you? Be it a friend or family. Or someone who will always...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Mutually Encouraged
I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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My Soul Thirsts for You, God
What am I thirsty for on these hot, humid days? Water...lots of water. But you see, I'm not really good at drinking water. Never have...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Refresh the Hearts
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 1:7...

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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Therefore I have Hope
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail....

alicepongracz
Aug 8, 20211 min read
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His Presence All Around Us
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
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Know His Peace
What's on your mind today? If fear is driving you or holding you back, give your fear to the Lord. Seek Him and He will answer you. ...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
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A Voice for Building Up Others
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
2 views
0 comments


Choose God
Anxiety vs Joy. We may hide away our anxiety for a moment, but on our own it never goes away. Choose God. He is the one true source of...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
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Show Up and Be an Encourager
At the sight of these people, Paul thanked God and was encouraged. Acts 28:15 Paul had finally arrived in Rome with imprisonment facing...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
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Take It All to Jesus
Take it all to Jesus! Have you heard "God doesn't want to be bothered with the little things"? So not true. He wants to hear all that...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
3 views
0 comments


Take My Hand
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 As a very young...

alicepongracz
Jun 20, 20211 min read
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A Woman of Noble Character (Ruth 3:11)
This Mother’s Day I want to honor all the women in our lives. I love the saying that it “takes a village to raise up a child”. That...

alicepongracz
May 16, 20213 min read
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Waiting for...
The waiting game. How long am I willing to wait? How long are you willing to wait? Well…that depends. Waiting on hold, for test...

alicepongracz
May 16, 20211 min read
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Christ Given Strength
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” “Put on your big girl...

alicepongracz
Apr 22, 20211 min read
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Make A Choice
After Paul and Silas came out of prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. ...

alicepongracz
Apr 22, 20211 min read
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Choose Prayer
Think about it. Start your day today in prayer. Let God be your steering wheel through your day. Let go and let God.

alicepongracz
Apr 22, 20211 min read
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Quietly I Come
Quietly I stand and take in God’s creation. So filled with beauty is the heaven and ocean. Chilling my feet in the sand and the waves...

alicepongracz
Apr 22, 20211 min read
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Because He Lives
Easter. In 1971, I celebrated my first real Easter. Oh…I had the pretty dresses and an Easter basket as all kids had then. But you...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20213 min read
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Our Ministry of Love
So many questions we have on how to live our life, on how to relate to others, on how to make decisions. I have struggled with them all....

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20211 min read
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You Call Me Teacher
As clear and detailed as if it was yesterday, I see my Granny standing at the kitchen, helping with dishes, singing one of her many...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20212 min read
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Who is This Jesus?
Crowds have surrounded Jesus for the last 3 years of His life trying to find that answer. In His last days, some are still asking, ”Who...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20212 min read
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God is Seeking You
As Jesus was teaching during this last week of His life, men came to question Him about paying taxes to Caesar. He knew their evil...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20211 min read
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EASTER
This is Easter to me. May you have a blessed week as you contemplate this Holy Week and the ultimate gift of love. Jesus gave His life...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20211 min read
1 view
0 comments


Blessed by an Encourager
Who is an encourager in your life? “They returned…strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.” Acts...

alicepongracz
Apr 5, 20211 min read
7 views
0 comments


Seek His Face
Yes, God's face. Seek His face and you will find Him. Where is the face of our Lord? Look all around you...in the face of a child or...

alicepongracz
Mar 18, 20211 min read
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