Hey Siestas,
My name is Mary, and I do all things accounting at Living Proof Ministries. I haven’t had an opportunity to meet many of you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you through Facebook and the blog.
But the verse in Colossians I keep camping on is a verse of encouragement. Encouragement in the tough times. Who can’t use some of that?
Colossians 1:11 in the Message says,
“We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.”
God promises to help us through the hard times. Too often I exhaust myself trying to push through in my own strength. In those times when I make it through the storm on my own – it’s without joy and often without thanksgiving! This verse reminds me to catch myself in the act of gritting my teeth – to stop and instead draw from the “glory-strength God gives.” It is here in this posture I can rest in His promises. It is here where He is truly glorified, and it here where I give Him all the thanks He deserves – right in the midst of the storm!
Marilyn F Davis– Kearney, NE. Psalm 91:14 NIV “Because he loved me”, says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” “I commit!”
Linda Hammett from Wake Forest, NC says:
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be Honour and glory
forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17, KJV)
Paula, Russell, KY
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see God.” Hebrews 12:14 NIV
Lou Ann Smith, McAllen, TX
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing. Psalm 100:1-2 ESV
John 8:32 (NIV) Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Sandy Hartley, Clatskanie OR
Jacqueline, Calhoun LA
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Megan Masterson, Mount Pleasant, SC
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Cathy, Chester UK
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
NIV
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup, you make my lot secure. The boundary lines for me have fallen in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Psalm 16:5-6
Grace Kunde, Sandy, IT
His soul shall abide in well-being and his offspring shall inherit the land.
Psalm 25:13 ESV
If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains and have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
Joy Thompson, Towson, MD
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” Psalms 90:14 NIV
I also loved the message version. “Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we will skip and dance all the day long.”
Gretchen, Prosper, TX Ps 23:2 NET “He takes me to lush pastures, He leads me to refreshing water.”
I Thess. 5:4-5 (NASB) “But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.”
Heather, Tallahassee When you ask, you do not receiv, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures. James 4:3 NIV
Jeannine Hale
Eagan,MN
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 NKJV
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good spirit lead me on level ground! Psalm 143:10 NKJV Dawn Lucy Steele Al
Anna S from Auburn, AL “They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Ps 145:5 NIV
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in HOPE.
Acts 2:26 NIV
Becky Bell Westerville, Ohio
The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places. And give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Phil. 14-15
Vicki Cluxton, Westfield, IN
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:4 ESV
Toni Sidler, Argyle, TX
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
James 1:17 NASB
Gwen from Coweta, OK
“Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour, Remembering that there will also be many dark days And that most of what comes your way is smoke.”
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 MSG
Cathy, Houston, Texas. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. Psalm 41:3 (NIV).
Whitney from Russellville, TN
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:8. ESV
Beau Ratliff, Midland, TX. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11
Janice, Magnolia, TX
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm. Ps 40:2 NASB
Debi C, Wills Point, TX
The Lord confides in those who fear Him;
He makes His covenant known to them.
Psalm 25:14, NIV
Marilyn, Alton, IA “The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” Psalm 35:14 NIV
Rene’ Pingel, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
Lindsay ~ Dedham, Maine
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Ingrid from Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
“Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GNB
Deb from Aledo, IL
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 KJV
SKay Fires, Possum Kingdom Lake, near Graford, Tx
Daniel 9:6 (NLTSE)
We have refused to listen to Your servants the prophets, who spoke on Your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
Psalm 78:4 “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power and the wonders He has done”
Jamie, Dallas, TX. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 NIV
Catherine Lisle, Edmond OK, Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” ESV
Rita Harrison from Cantonment, Fl
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NASB
Emily, Porter, TX
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Carmella Culp from Elgin,TX: “Cease from your striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NAS
Teri in Houston
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Luke 2:14 NIV
“… ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.'”
Charlotte from Saugus CA
Jesus said to them, ” My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17 NIV
Becky Douglas, Houston, TX
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV
Kim Curtis from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Psalm 103:14 NLT
“For He knows how weak we are, He remembers we are only dust.”
Vicki Knott, Greenwood, SC
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 (NIV)
Deer Park,TX
and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. – 1 John 3:22 ESV
Kimberly Bignon- Orlando, Florida
“Be silent before the LORD, for the day of the
LORD is near.” Zephaniah 1:7 NIV