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!
Debbie Berman from Boyd, TX
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.
Psalm 25:14 ESV
Joy Thompson, Fort Worth, TX – Psalm 139:14, I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Jill , Dunedin fl
Is any one of you sick ? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5:14 NIV
Claudia, Franklin, TN
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 NIV
Moose Jaw,SK Canada
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him – God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see…..Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together………
and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God……Yet now God has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.”
Colossians 1:15-17, 20-22 NLT
Jill Clark from Mount Pleasant, SC
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 NIV
Denise Cholak from Euless, TX:
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever
Psalm 136:14 (NIV)
Rhonda Jackson of Godfrey, Illinois – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13 KJV
Kim Emmerich
Dickinson, ND
Psalm 145:13 ESV
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. (The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works.)
Kim, Gaithersburg MD
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (Romans 8:26 NLT)
Amanda, Queensland, Australia
Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
Psalm 25:12 NLT
Psalms 46: 7 NIV
The Lord Almighty is with us;
The God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 149:4 NIV
For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
Bonnie from Bellaire, TX says “Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.” 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV
Michele from Virginia
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”- Titus 2:11 (NIV)
Joan, pittsburgh, PA.
2 Timothy 1: 12-14 NIV.
“This is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you- Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
Joyce Jones, Colleyville,TX; Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 NLT
Heather from Northern Ireland
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance
Psalm33 v12 (NKJV)
Joan, Richmond, VA
A tranquil heart
gives life to the flesh,
but envy
makes the bones rot.
Proverbs 14:30 ESV
Susan Sarver, St. George, UT
“Joshua said to them,”Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all the enemies you fight.”
Linda, Buckeye, AZ
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him” Psalms 28:7 ESV
Kathy
Madison, CT
Proverbs 30:5 NIV “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
Tracy, Lake St. Louis, Missouri
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 138:14 ESV
Fawnda Dooley Denton, TX
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,”
Ephesians 6:19 NIV
Conyers, GA. 1 Peter 5:10 KJV
But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Faye from Calgary, AB, Canada
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME H IS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO H IM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:33-36 NASB
Janice, Springdale, AR
” O LORD, be gracious to us;we wait for You.
Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.”
Isaiah 33:2 ESV
Alicia Zornes from Carl Junction, Missouri: “Do not conform 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)
Linda Jewell
Tucson, AZ
John 1:10 NKJV
He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
Deborah, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – Psaml 127:2, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late’, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
(Continuing with Ps. 71) Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me. –Psalm 71:13 NASB
Connie from Eugene, OR
“He who says, ‘ I know Him’, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” NKJV I In. 2:4
Amy V from Milwaukee, SO
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1-3 NLT
Gilbert, AZ. KJV Daniel 9:3- “And I sent my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes:”
Diana Scott, Romulus, Michigan
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Beth Dyersburg TN
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. James 2:15 NKJV
“Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. “. Proverbs 11:25
Ana from Dayton, TX
“You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.” II Timothy 1:15 ESV
Emily McAnear, Houston TX
“Keep reminding God’s people about this. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen.” 2 Timothy 2:14, NIV
Bobbie Jo
San Angelo TX
“You may believe you are doing right, but the LORD judges your reasons.”
Proverbs 21:2 NCV
I commit! Julie from Lufkin , Texas
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith .
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
Rita – Alva, Florida
“Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke and encourage your people with good teaching.”
2 Timothy 4:2 – NLT
Cindy Cannon, Brighton, IL
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:1 (NIV)
Lynda Rickey from Ocala, FL: Psalm 139:14 (NIV) – “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Michelle Wynne, Spokane, WA
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Linda Wright, Sugar Land, TX — Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1 NIV
Susan Jezek, St. Petersburg, Florida
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 ESV
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 ESV
Berni, Albuquerque
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble,
and keep on praying. Romans 12:12 NLT