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!
Dianna from Franklin, TN
“…and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.'”
Romans 11:26 TLV
Shawn in AZ
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lists, as in your ignorance;
1 Peter 1:14 NKJV
Mary Beth, St. Louis, MO
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:14 (ESV)
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18 NIV
Marsha R. Columbia SC
I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
Psalm 3:4 ESV
Mary-Katherine, from Palm Coast, FL
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:28, NIV
Matthew 5:18
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Julianne M. Grass Valley, CA
The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
Psalms 25:14 NIV
Lisa – Devils Lake, ND
“Pray continually ”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
Melissa, Vicksburg, MS “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 NLT
Romona from Rosewood Heights
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV
Romona from Rosewood Heights, IL
# 11
For which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:20 NIV
Nitsa from Eugene, OR. “The righteous who walks in his integrity–blessed are his children after him”Prov. 20:7 ESV
Joanna from Dallas, TX.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. -Prov. 4:18 NIV
Deb in Windsor, CT:
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” – Psalm 37:3
Ann, Cataula, GA
He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.
Psalm 107:7 – 9 (ESV)
Lora – Kernersville, NC – “Bless those who persecute you; Bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14 NIV
Janice Bells, Orillia, Ontario, Canada Verse 14
2Peter 1:4 NIV
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Pam Marshall from Mason, Ohio:
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23 (HCSB)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 NASB
Imelda, Toledo, Oh.
Then Jesus said to her, ” Woman,you have great faith!Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed in that moment.
Matt. 15:28 (NIV)
Nancy Dal Pian, Port Charlotte, FL
Ephesians 3:18 NIV
… may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, …
He still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth .
Psalm 46:10
Jenny Smith from Lewisville, TX
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Jackie R., Plano, TX
Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 HCSB
The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. Isaiah 42:13 KJV
Judith, Tri Cities area, Tennessee
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12. NIV
mh, Redwood City, CA
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
NASB
Sharon L., Pasadena, CA “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:15 (NIV Bible)
Brenda, Ottawa, Canada
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
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:3 (NRSV)
Autumn, Deer Park, WA
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not
give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV
Jana- Garland, Tx.
16)In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17)Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18)And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:16-18 NIV
Tami from Franklin Tennessee
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Hebrews 12:16 NIV
Eleanor from Saskatoon, SK.
‘ Blessed are you who weep now for you will laugh.’
Luke 6:21b NIV
Amy, Arlington, VA “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.” Psalm 91:14 (ESV)
Amanda from Cooper, TX
You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.
Luke 1:45 NLT
Amanda from Cooper, TX
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him.
Galatians 1:15 NLT
Nora Cardona, Lexington KY: Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NASB
Lark from Greenville, SC. “So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.” Romans 6:11-12, NLT
Whitney from Grovetown, GA: “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
Forest, VA
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
–Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB
Barb H * Willow Park, TX * Isaiah 43:19 MEV
“See. I am doing something new. Now it springs forth. Will you not be aware of it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Vicki from Arkansas I commit! “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Proverbs 16:24 NLT
Tracy Langford, Medicine Lodge, Ks
“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.”
Romans 4:18-22 NLT
Nancy Cozad from Kingwood, Texas
Philippians 2:3 NIV
[3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
Stacey, Tomball, Eph. 3:3
…..that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation as I have already written briefly
Connie, Iowa 2Timothy 1:17HCS On the contrary, when he was in Rome he diligently searched for me and found me. 2 Timothy 1:17
Delite Ritter Westpoint, IN
Titus 2:3 NASB
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good.”