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!
Kelly Snodgrass
Rogersville, TN
1 Samuel 9:27 CSB
As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the servant went on.
Rachel from Adams,TN
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Ps. 103:13 NIV
ADa from Rochester, MI
Jeremiah 29:14 NIV
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Cheryl from Austin
We will never turn our backs on you; breathe life into our lungs so we can shout Your name.
Psalm 80:18 (MSG)
Tanna from Edmond, OK
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ” Colossians 1:21
Beverly, Jackson, TN
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves
also with the same resolve – because the One who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin – in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.”
-1 Peter 4:1-2 HCSB
Cheryl in Fairhope, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.” (Romans 8:12 NIV)
Kelei Liggett. Iowa Park, Texas
Psalms 25:10 TLB and when we obey him every path he guides us on it’s fragrant with his loving-kindness and his truth.
Eva, Knoxville, TN– “Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:20b NIV
Proverbs 25:27 KJV
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Brenda Loyd from Talala,Ok says
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my savior; my God will hear me. MICAH 7:7 NIV
Nelletta Haag Spokane Valley, WA
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,”
Colossians 1:13 NIV
Ruth, Providence
Thou dost show me the path of life;
in Thy presence is fullness of joy,
in Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11 RSV
Lauren Gross, Pineville, LA
“who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous fot good deeds.” Titus 2:14 NASB
Linda from Justin, Texas
2 Timothy 2: 11-12 HCSB
This saying is trustworthy; For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trust in the Lord is safe.
Proverbs 29:25 ESV
1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB
Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Psalm 59:17 (NIV)
You are my strength, I sing praise to you.
You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I trust.
Ashley Vales, Richmond Hill, GA
But as for me Lord, my prayer to You is for a time of favor. In your abundant faithful love,God, answer me with Your sure salvation.
Psalm 69:13 HCSB
Laura Blackman Moose Jaw Saskatchewan
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
ESV
Diane, Williamston, SC – Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.ESV
Tara from Greensboro, NC
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:19
NIV
Heidi~Lindale, Texas
Psalm 34:14 NIV
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Lorri Sapp, Waco, TX, “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name,”. Psalm 86:11 NIV
Shonda Vielbig, Ventura, CA
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
2 Cor 8:11 (NIV)
Nedra Gordon Hoover, Blue Springs, MO “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Romans 10:1 NASB
Laura, Littleton CO
I watch over my word to accomplish it. Jeremiah 1:12 (HCSB)
“The secret [of the wise counsel] of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.”
PSALM 25:14 AMP
Cathy Smiley – Westminster, CO
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in His commands.
Psalm 112:1(NIV)
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or turn to the left.” -Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)
Heather, Pickering, Ontario
“Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;”
Psalm 25:4,5 (NIV)
Tracee McFarland, Morristown, TN
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
Psalm 27:5 NASB
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Pat S., Lago Vista, TX
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:18 NIV
Tammy from Sugar Land, TX
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who me poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:4-7 (NIV)
Kathy, Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 139:7-8 HCSB
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
Sharon from TX
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Deborah Starkey – Proctorville, Ohio
Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 ESV
Carol from Kitchener, ON
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”
Psalm 91:14 NIV
Carol W from Virginia Beach, VA – 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. Philemon 14-NIV
Debra Ellsworth, Florence Arizona
Psalms 107:2 NKJV
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
who he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
Joan Portage,MI
“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.” Psalm 85:8 NIV
Heather Miller, Greensburg, Louisiana:
Colossians 1:15-16 HCSB
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
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.
Patty Pierce
Searcy AR
1 John 5:15 ESV
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the request that we have asked of Him
Heather Wilkinson
springfield, VA
Eph 1:11-12 (NIV)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory
Maureen, St. Clair Shores, MI. “Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word.” Psalm 138:2 The Message.
Debbie W, Prattville, AL:
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3
NLT
Gail-Tyler, TX
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
Psalm 130:5 NKJV
Sandy Bowers, Bryan, Ohio
Romans 5:13 NIV
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.
PS. 139: vs. 14 NAS
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works and my soul knows it very well.