Hi, Siestas! What a fun privilege it is to share this blog space with y’all today. My name is Bethany Scott. I’m twenty-six, and I live in Magnolia, TX (just north of Houston) with my husband of five years and our baby girl. My husband is a high school chemistry teacher and football coach, and I am blessed with my dream job of being a stay-at-home mom.
A little about me…
– My reading list (both fiction and non-fiction) is unending, and I’m always in the middle of two or three books.
– I believe life is better when faced with a Starbucks grande vanilla latte. Or a white chocolate mocha.
– I will almost always choose trees, birds, and good walking shoes over a shopping mall and stilettos.
– My church—Bayou City Fellowship—is my family, and is filled with the most generous, Jesus-loving, faith-FULL people I know.
– I love learning new things and began learning Greek this past year with a small group of women.
My verse is 2 Corinthians 1:10, in the New International Version: “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”
Some of the wording in this verse is pretty intense, but sometimes life is intense, isn’t it? To deliver, according to dictionary.com, means “to save, rescue, or set free from.” If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ you have been saved from certain spiritual death, rescued from darkness, and set free from condemnation. But this verse tells us that deliverance is not limited to a one-time event. Just days before I came across this passage, my family and I were in a very traumatic car accident. Our lives had been spared, and we were rejoicing in that fact. But my mind and my emotions had suffered a blow far worse than my bodily injuries. I had been “delivered from such a deadly peril,” but I needed to be delivered AGAIN.
From my fear
My memories
My doubt
My guilt
My nightmares
My anger
My sadness
My pain.
We often speak of deliverance as a thing of the past, and rightfully so. “He has delivered me from ____” is a testimony in a nutshell. What I love about 2 Corinthians 1:10 is that it’s facing forward. The things I need to be delivered from are usually connected with the past. But hope looks ahead with confidence. Because He has, we can know that He will. What hope. He has never left me sitting in a pit once I’ve asked Him to pull me out. When nothing else is certain, He is certain. He is my solid foundation and the only One who can save me from my sin, myself, my situation. Maybe you need deliverance from fear. From abuse. From chronic worry. From illness. From your thoughts. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you have already been delivered once. And, Sister, he WILL deliver you again.
Christy Jones, Summit, MS; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 NIV
Carolyn T. Orofino, Idaho
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:14-15 NIV
Phoebe Cunningham, Tucson, AZ
“to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 ESV
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 (RSV)
Diane in Lenexa, Kansas
Matthew 6:9New International Version (NIV)
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Callie, Nashville, TN: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13 ESV
Nathalie Van Hoorebeke, Birmingham, UK
Isaiah 54:10 NIV
‘Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you
will not be shaken nor
my covenant of peace be removed’ says the Lord,
who has compassion on you.
Jennifer Lane, Grand Rapids, MI
Zechariah 1:3 NIV
“Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Beth Lewis, Story City, Iowa
“to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19, NKJ
Diane LeJeune, Fairview, TN
“. . . with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b NIV
Carla, Pierre, SD
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
12-1-15 Jekyll Island, GA
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
Philippians 2:5 NLT
I am sending verses 23 and 24 at the same time, since it is all one sentence.
NIV – Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. Psalm 147:7
Michelle C. Chesapeake, VA
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Jenny Fridge
Richmond, TX
Martie Carter, Belton, TX
1 Peter 4:7-8 NIV
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Please forgive this next part, I know this is supposed to verse only. I have been praying over my 20 and 27 year old children with tears and great fear, at times, because of things that I can’t go into here. I longed for a word from our King that He was moving even as I thanked Him for what I could not see. When I read this blog it was powerful, but even more amazing is that my children’s names are Bethany and Scott. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Thank you for sharing, Martie! That is a powerful witness! God bless you, Dear Sister in Christ!
Instruct those that are rich in this world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good words, to be generous and ready to share, laying up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. II Tim. 6:17-19 NASB
New Braunfels, TX
Anne Stinnette, Koror, Palau. “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Eph. 2:12 NASB
Jeanette Dahm. Lake Oswego, OR. Isaiah 41-10. So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you . I will uphold you with my righteous right hand . NIV
Sarah, Kingwood, TX
“Everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. It is our faith that wins the victory against the world.”
John 5:4 ICB
Holly Tabor, Nixa, Missouri
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, ” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8. NIV
Libby from Eutawville, SC
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 ESV
Wow, what beautiful, and promising words of wisdom! Thank you, Bethany!
Also, how did it get to be DECEMBER already ???
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Jennifer Olmstead
Janesville, Wisconsin
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him; so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[I am taking Him at His Word; yet, it is still a “one moment; one hour, and one day at a time” thing for me to do!]
Jamie – Paramount, Ca
“13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 NLT
Melissa Brandt,Little Rock Air Force Base; “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 ESV
Sandy Fry from Bowie, MD
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Psalms 28:7 KJV
Jennifer, Tomball, TX “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9 (NIV)
Eva, Knoxville, TN – And I saw something else under the sun: Ecclesiastes 3:16 NLT
Alva FL
Jesus answered, “It is written : ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”
Mathew 4:4 NIV
Cyndi Patterson, Bloomdale, OH
“I desire to do your will, O my GOD; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:8 NIV
Nancy Denver
“By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Psalm 19: 11,12 NIV
Laura Stiehl in Bedford, TX
“Removing action from faith is like removing breath from a body. All you have left is a corpse.” – James 2:26 (VOICE)
La Plata, MD.
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
Traci McNally, Evansdale, Iowa
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:16-17 NIV
Lindsay Loper, Chattanooga, TN
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6, NIV
Linda Johnson, High Point, N.C.
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 NIV
Ps. 27:13
I would have despaired if I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
NASB
Vicki, from Grapevine, TX
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts. ~ Psalm 139:23 NIV
Jerrie – Longview, TX
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
Debra in Baraboo, Wisconsin
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2 ESV
John 1:14 ESV
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
martha loyd
houston, tx
Onda Jenks, Morgantown, WV-“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:8,9 (ESV)
Amy, Miamisburg, OH
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”
Romans 11:34-35 NIV
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV
Glenda Jensen
Belgrade, MT
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: Daniel 9:3 KJV
Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:2 NKJV
Psalm 16:2 NIV
I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Palm Harbor, FL
Teach me your way Lord that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 86:11-12 (NIV)