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!
Melissa in Sacramento, CA “Do your best to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” 2 Timothy 4:21-22, ESV
Tera Lewis Colorado Springs, CO:
Exodus 14:14 NKJV
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
Sarah Schoolcraft from Kingwood, TX: “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.”
2 Timothy 2:14 NIV
Tammy Causey
Humboldt, TN
accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
Colossians 3:13 HCSB
Kristie, Montgomery, TX: “In peace I will lay down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV
michelle v
Woodstock, VT
but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13b-14 NASB
Natalia Dryer, Longview, Texas
“Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?”
Psalms 77:8 ESV
Sue Middeldorf – Troy, Michigan – “The Lord confides in those who fear him. He makes his covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:14
Gail Peacock, Longview, Texas
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Deanna Columbia, SC
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
tricia Christenson, Campbell CA
2 John 1:5 (NIV)
And now dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
Carol King; Ft Worth, TX
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Col 3:17 NASB
Lisa from Wellington, KS – Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 1 Peter 5:2 NLT
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
“”Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.”
Ps 91:14 ESV
Lynnet Asselta from Flower Mound, TX: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
John 17:14 NIV
Julie Snyder from Franklin, TN: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 NIV
Proverbs 21:2 NIV
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Kathy from Gahanna, OH
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
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 my life.
Carolyn, The Woodlands, TX
Continuing James 3: “Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.” – James 3:12 (NASB)
Patrice, Midland, TX
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Theresa Huck-Cheyenne,WY
Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:27 NIV
Ginger from Wetumpka, AL
The LORD has done great things for us (me), and we are (I am) filled with joy.
Psalms 126:3 NIV
Cher Goeder, Toledo, OH II Timothy 3:6-9 HCSB
For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.
Kay Tucker, Elyria, OH
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it. Genesis 4:7
Deborah Harney, Columbia City, IN, “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
Theresa Huck – Cheyenne, WY
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:27 NIV
The verses I have chosen to memorize are working at attacking strongholds in my life.
Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; Wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14. ESV
Jackie from Rockwall, TX: Mary and Martha: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. (Luke 10:38, NIV)
Lisa from Mesquite, TX: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Kathy from Denver
Psalm 51:10-12 NIV
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”
Dee Dee Fernandina Beach, Florida
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NET
Lori smith Little Rock Arkansas
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13 NIV
Joy French – Georgetown, TX “I thank you, High God – you’re’ breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration-what a creation! Psalm 139:14 The Message
Angie from Bixby:
‘May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high.’ Ps 20:1 (NAS)
Sandie Powell
Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 34:14
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” KJV
Connie Walker from Houston, Texas
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Psalms 19:13 (ESV)
Sandra Arnold, Paris, Tennessee
“The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.”
Psalm 25:14 (NASB)
Michelle in Lehigh Acres,FL “Through the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives within us,carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.” 2TIM1:14 NLT
Jennifer M mommiejennm from Greensburg, Louisiana
For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (Holman)
Nancy Maddox, acrowley, TX 1 Thessalonians 5:14
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Lori of Bushnell, Florida:
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4 HCSB
Suzanne Bailey, Harrisville, RI
“He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62:2 CSB
Karen Sanders, Burleson, TX. “And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV
Stephanie, El Cajon, CA, Romans 12:18(NIV): “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
First…Mary I thank you! What a Word in due Season. I too have felt the Holy Spirit reminding me (yesterday!) that I need to praise Him anyway. I had picked this Scripture a few days ago, wrote it in my little spiral and had just left it there. Some changing things occurred yesterday with a long time ongoing struggle. I submitted and presented all my efforts right back to Jesus. Then as a cold drink of water on the hottest (Texas for y’all or New Orleans my hometown humid day or a very dry Colorado) day your post and mine wash through my veins and relief! So I am so grateful for your encouraging post. Thank you Jesus-you simply are everything! Ok. Enough rambling . On to my post.
Psalm 150:6 -NIV
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord”
Karlys Fortner, La Place, LA
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9: 6 ESV
LeAnn, Spring, TX
1 Peter 1:22, ESV
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart”
Arla – Benton, AR
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the LORD has promised to those who love HIM.’ James 1:12 NIV
Shelley Edwards, Fairfax, Virginia
Estén siempre alegres, oren sin cesar, den gracias a Dios en toda situación, porque esta es su voluntad para ustedes en Cristo Jesús. 1 Tesalonicenses 5:16 (NVI)
Yvonne Gearing – Kingman, AZ
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NLT