hope this encourages you

Sorry - this is all I've got for ya this morning...

Don't get tired of doing what is good.

Don't get discouraged & give up,

for we will reap a harvest of blessing

at the appropriate time.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT, 1st ed.)

all translations on BibleGateway.com

1 Thessalonians 5:18


No matter what happens,

always be thankful,

for this is God's will

for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (NLT, 1st ed.)

KJ21

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

ASV

in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.

AMP

in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

AMPC

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

BRG

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

CSB

give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

CEB

Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

CJB

In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.

CEV

Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

DARBY

in everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;

DLNT

be giving-thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

DRA

In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.

ERV

Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

EHV

In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

ESVUK

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

EXB

and give thanks ·whatever happens [in all circumstances; in everything]. That is ·what God wants [God’s will] for you in Christ Jesus.

GNV

In all things, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

GW

Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.

GNT

be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

HCSB

Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

ICB

Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

ISV

In everything be thankful, because this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus.

PHILLIPS

Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ.

JUB

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

KJV

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

AKJV

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

LEB

give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

TLB

No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

MSG

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

MEV

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

MOUNCE

give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NOG

Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Yeshua that you do this.

NABRE

In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

NASB

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NCV

and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

NET

in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NIRV

Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.

NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NIVUK

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NKJV

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NLV

In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.

NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

NMB

In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NRSV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NRSVA

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NRSVACE

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NRSVCE

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

NTE

in everything be thankful (this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus);

OJB

In everything offer hodayah, for this is the ratzon Hashem in Moshiach Yehoshua for you.

TPT

And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.

RGT

Give thanks in all things. For this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus.

RSV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

RSVCE

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

TLV

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.

VOICE

give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.)

WEB

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

WE

But test everything that is said. Keep what is good.

WYC

in all things do ye thankings. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, in all you.

YLT

in every thing give thanks, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.

hold on to this

Maybe, in view of the incredible chaos in which we find ourselves these days, maybe I should share 3 of the passages from the scriptures I believe God has given me to hold on to during 2019?



Don't be afraid

or discouraged,

for the Lord is the One who goes before you.

He will be with you.

He will neither fail you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:8



Don't throw away this confident trust in the Lord,

no matter what happens.

Remember the great reward it brings you.

Patient endurance is what you need now,

so you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Hebrews 10:35-36



So take a new grip with your tired hands

& stand firm on your shaky legs.

Mark out a straight path for you feet

so that those who are weak & lame will not fall but become strong.

Hebrews 12:12-13

who we are & who we should be

Colossians 4

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, 

and make the most of every opportunity. 

6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive 

so that you will have the right response for everyone.



I don't think these days we "live wisely" as we walk through life surrounded by people who are not followers of Jesus. 

We're too busy with our own lives & ambitions.


I doubt if we "make the most" of any kind of contact we have with non-believers.

We're too distracted with so much of the things that make up our self-absorbed lives.


"Gracious & attractive" are not 2 words the world would associate with Christians.

"Judgemental" or "exclusive" or "intolerant" or "hypocritical" or "rigid" would probably the words that would probably quickly come to their minds.


And I so seldom the "right response" happening.

I spend a lot of time cringing at the things Christians say & do these days.


I often wonder if I would have decided to follow Jesus if I had experienced much of what non-Christians have told me they have endured with Christians these days.

I just don't think I would have.

All the things I was looking for don't seem to exist within the personalities & personas of who Christians seem to be these days.


When did we lose our way? 

When did we quit being people identified as persons who love?

When did our street cred go down the tubes?

good advice

Paul is always a strong source of good advice... 

Colossians 3

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, 

you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, 

kindness, 

humility, 

gentleness, 

and patience. 

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, 

and forgive anyone who offends you. 

Remember, 

the Lord forgave you, 

so you must forgive others. 

14 Above all, 

clothe yourselves with love, 

which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. 

And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, 

in all its richness, 

fill your lives. 

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. 

Sing psalms 

and hymns 

and spiritual songs 

to God 

with thankful hearts. 

17 And whatever you do or say, 

do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks through him to God the Father.

eternal sense

Matthew 16

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

“If any of you wants to be my follower, 

you must give up your selfish ambition, 

take up your cross, 

and follow me. 

25 If you try to hang on to your life, 

you will lose it. 

But if you give up your life for my sake, 

you will save it. 

26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Is anything worth more than your soul?



I get the feeling a lot of us are still hanging on to a lot of "selfish ambition".

And even more of us are hanging on to our lives, keeping control in our hands, not God's.

And it really feels like no one gives a flyin' flip about losing our souls for whatever stuff we think we gotta have.

Sometimes it feels like we're all just dancing along through life, doing & being whatever we dang well please.

Life is short.

This ain't a rehearsal.

We've all got just one shot.

I've lived too long & seen too much - it's only those who let go of control of their lives that seem to have a life that makes any eternal sense.