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!
Leah from Lacey, WA
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Carol, Naperville Il. This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. 2Timothy 1:1. NLT
Carol B., Conyers, GA
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1 NIV
Rachel Miller from Judsonia, AR. “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Psalm 19:12 NAS
Terri Tripp from Winchester, VA:
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings and with Him will be His called chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 17:14
Michelle V, Hewitt, TX
But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:25 NLT
Sally from Sturgis, MI
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,
but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
– Luke 21:14-15 (NIV)
Jenks, OK
Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa 40:31
Avis, Ore City, Texas
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
2 Corinthians 8:12 NIV
Caroline from Spring, TX
“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:2 NLT
Cassia from Spring, TX
“My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.”
Philippians 1:20 NET
Nancy Casper WY
“I appeal to you for my son, Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.”
Philemon 10 NIV
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
For all the animals of the forest are mine,
and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psalms 24:1 and Psalms 50:10 NLT
Kayla Lane; Bloomington, IL
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
Ephesians 1:11NLT
Misty from Aubrey, TX
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV
Sturgis, MI
I love the Lord because He hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because He bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!
Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)
Suzy Adams, Wheelersburg, OH – I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 104:33 NIV
Ginny from Kenosha, WI
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”
Romans 8:20-22 (ESV)
Joanne Lim from Houston, Texas…Colossians 3:6…Because of these, the wrath of God is coming….NIV
Jeanni, Westland, MI
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14 KJV
Susan from OP, Kansas
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Psalm 103:5 NLT
Edmond, OK
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6
Leisa from Sheridan, Indiana
John 14:26 NKJV
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Allison in Fort Worth, TX
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
Kathryn Luedtke, Sherwood Park, Alberta
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Phil 2: 3 (NIV)
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Cindy C., Wilton, United Kingdom
Hebrews 10:21-22 NLT
“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
Susan Knowles, Bradenton, FL
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 NIV
Karen Todd, Beech Island, SC
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be compulsion but of your own accord
Philemon 14 ESV
Guinevere, South Bend, IN
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Lamentations 3:25 NIV
Jackie, Parker, CO
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NIV
Nancy Coffey
Barboursville WV
” A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.”
Proverbs 21:2 NIV
“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”
Psalm 147: 10-11. NIV
Vicki Bolton, Lubbock, TX
With God all things are possible.
Matt. 19:26 b
HCSB
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:3-6 NIV
Stacy, Greenfield, IN
“The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”
The Song of Solomon 2:13. ESV
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville TX
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
Sheila Johnson, Beckley, WV Colossians 1:11 NLT
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
Kelly, Kansas City, MO “Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1-2 NIV
2 Peter 1:8 (NAS)
“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Carolyn
Wheaton, IL
Jane Preas, Cooper, Texas: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4 ESV
Ally
Houston, TX
“For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.”
Romans 6:6-7 HCSB
Psalm 23:4-6 NIV
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely[b] goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Pam Schott; Fargo, ND Luke 11:9 (NIV) “And I tell you. ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Gayle, Salinas, CA July 15 verse
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love.
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Sherie
The Woodlands, TX
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 NIV
Is. 26:3. “Those with sound thoughts you will keep in peace, in peace because they trust in you.”
Linda, Holts Summit, MO
Philemon 1:14 NIV
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.