My Top Ten Scripture Verses of 2012

Last year I wrote My Top Ten Scripture Verses of 2011. Some were favorite verses I cling to and some took on new meaning throughout 2011. That list is my most viewed post, with weekly views almost a year later.

So, I decided to pull together my top ten verses from this year. These are verses I rely on, and ones I felt drawn to during my time with God—verses I may have read in the past, but God showed them to me in a new and powerful way. 

(All verses are from the New Living Translation,
unless otherwise noted, and listed in Biblical order.)

My Top Ten Scripture Verses of 2012…

1) Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

2) Job 11:18

Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.

3) Psalm 31:24 (NLT)

So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Psalm 31:24 (The Message)

Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon.

4) Psalm 138:3

As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.

5) Isaiah 43:18-19

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

6) Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

7) Romans 8:38

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

8) 1 Corinthians 10:13

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

9) Philippians 2:13

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

10) Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

May you see God’s blessings as 2012 comes to a close and we enter into 2013!

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Grace is For Giving, Too Darn Happy, On Your Heart Tuesdays, Soli Deo Gloria, Just Write, Into The Beautiful, Winsome Wednesday Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.

When There Are No Words

When there are no words…God knows.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking with Fresh Brewed Sunday, Jumping Tandem - The Sunday Community, and Spiritual Sundays.

Trust—My One Word 2012

Trust.

To place confidence or depend; to commit or place in one’s care or keeping; to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of. (Tyndale NLT Study Bible)

Trust. My One Word for 2012.

As the days of December fly by, I feel like I should write a recap of my year focused on trusting God. But a recap might imply that my year of learning to trust Him is complete, or that I’ve learned all there is to know. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Learning to trust God with everything, all the time, is an ongoing process because it’s so easy to fall back into depending on myself.

It takes a conscious effort every day to give it all to Him—and then leave it with Him. Not taking it back to worry a little more about it. Not snatching it away when He doesn’t act as quickly as I’d like.

Trusting God means waiting on Him, knowing that His Way is best.

It means seeking His Will for my life, asking Him for guidance and wisdom in every decision and situation.

It means spending time in God’s Word, growing closer to Him and learning all that He wants to show me.

Some days are easier than others. And some days feel like a test.

I’ve learned that when I depend on myself, I find myself confused, stressed, worried, distraught, and far from God.

But when I depend on God, He walks with me every day. He comforts and gives me peace.

Trusting myself leads me to act on emotions and feelings that are so often mixed up and out of control.

But trusting God leads me to wait on Him and act with His guidance and in His Truth.

Trust in God doesn’t mean everyday will be happy or a good day. But trust brings joy found only in the Lord.

I’ll have a new One Word for 2013, but my focus on trusting God first; instead of after I’ve exhausted myself will continue. Indefinitely.

You will keep in perfect peace

all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT

Did you have a One Word for 2012? How did focusing on one word impact your daily life?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, Grace is For Giving, Soli Deo Gloria, Just Write, Into the Beautiful, God-Bumps & God-Incidences, Winsome Wednesday, WholeHearted Home Wednesday, Word Filled Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.

Life Changes…God Does Not

I’m excited to be at 5 Minutes for Faith today kicking off a December series of Christmas traditions, as shared by our team of writers.

However, before we get started with the traditions, I feel it’s important to address the fact that for so many, the Christmas season is not filled with joy and happiness, but instead heartache and loneliness. If this describes you, I want you to know that you are not alone.

There is One who understands our heartache and promises to never leave us. He is the One who brings hope to our hurting world.

Below is the beginning of my message. I hope you will follow me over to 5 Minutes for Faith to read more.

Life changes…God does not. 

Christmas family traditions bring smiles and warm memories of time spent together. For some, it’s hot chocolate by the fireplace and smiles as their children open gifts. For others, it’s the singing of familiar Christmas carols.

But for some, the Christmas season not only brings sadness, but also imagines of the joy and happiness everyone else is experiencing. Behind warm smiles are empty hearts and aching souls. Maybe that someone is you.

Life changes. 

Children grow older. They lose interest in family traditions or move away.

Hardships come and take over all we wish we could do. 

Loved ones are gone. 

Many times, traditions evolve over the years, adapting to family changes. 

But for many, the traditions are no more. Instead of warm memories, there are “remember whens” and “if onlys.”

Life changes whether we want it to or not. I don’t want to be depressing, but instead would like to go beyond the facade to tell you this… 

Life changes, but God does not.

Continued…

Please join me at 5 Minutes for Faith to read more of my post. And if you know someone struggling this Christmas season, would you pass this message on to them? God works in so many wonderful ways to reach the hurting.

Thank you and God bless!

In Christ,

Laura

Photo: Matthew 12:19-21 NLT

Linking up with Jumping Tandem - The Sunday Community, Fresh Brewed Sundays, Sharing His Beauty, Grace is For Giving, Soli Deo Gloria, On Your Heart Tuesdays, Into The Beautiful, Just Write, Winsome Wednesday, WholeHearted Home Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday, and Faith Filled Friday.