Strength

I have been pondering a lot about strength and what it means to be strong. Thinking about what is true strength, what does it mean to be strong - is it a good thing or not so good ! And I’ve come to the realization that I have had some things backwards and inside out. I am seeing more and more clearly what real strength is...

• true strength lies in surrender - being able to let go and let God

• being vulnerable - letting others in, dropping the brave face and reaching out

• being humble - it is the strong who admit their failure, who get on their knees and seek wisdom.

When the storms of life hit God gives us the ultimate gift of unconditional love and his strength... from this stems the hope we need to weather those storms.

His power is made perfect in our weakness...

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

He never intended for me to navigate life on my own strength. His power rests on me when I say, “God, I am worn out. I am a mess. Please give me the strength I lack.”

And remember to immerse yourself in His word…

POL (Proclaim out loud) | Bible Verses about Strength in the Lord

1 Chronicles 16:11

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you: he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Psalm 18:32

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.

2 Timothy 4:7

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

1 Peter 4:11

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Don't worry about what the future holds...

"Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today," Max Lucado

Take hold of what God has for you, step out - have faith in the Lord’s strength - your strength comes from Him and Him alone.

Treena Salthouse ❤️

Orama Community Garden

Orama's community garden is taking shape under the watchful eye of local gardening legend. Caity Endt from Okiwi Passion - Great Barrier Island Thanks Caity for your help and advice!

Be Strong and Do Not Give Up

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (2 Chronicles 15:7, NIV)

Standing under a tree enjoying the cool shade and light breeze, I noticed just in front of me, a flying insect. It was about 2 cm’s long, facing away from me with its tiny wings a blur. But it was not going anywhere. Despite its efforts, the light breeze was enough to prevent it making any forward progress.

When the breeze increased, the insect was pushed backwards and would then struggle to regain its former spot. No matter what it did though it could not seem to make any progress past the initial position where I first noticed it. I watched this pattern of backwards and forwards being repeated for several minutes until suddenly the wind eased a fraction. The insect shot forward and was gone.

As I walked away, I thought how much like life that is. Sometimes no matter what we do, how hard we work, or how much we try to change or accomplish something, we seem to get nowhere. And sometimes we find ourselves a step or two backwards.

At those times when we are mentally or physically drained and not seeing the results we want, it’s easy to give up. It's frustrating to work day in and day out and not see any progress.

But those things holding you back will not remain forever. Whatever is blocking your progress will pass. The wind will ease, often when least expected, and you will spring forward.

And what you often find, is that the effort and tenacity you exerted to keep at it, to persevere day in and day out, will supply the strength you need for the next part of the journey. The effort will not be wasted. It can all be redeemed.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

P.S. And if things did get too hard and you gave up somewhere along the way, nothing says you can't get back up and try again.

(David Hollis)

What Are You, O Great Mountain?

Zerubbabel had his hands full. Not only had he a name that's hard to pronounce, but also an overwhelming building project. He was the new Governor of Judea, fresh from the exile in Babylon, with a commission to rebuild the temple.

Early excitement fueled a great beginning, but like on many a building site since, work soon ground to a halt. Early enthusiasm dwindled as opposition, from the people and nations round about, increased. Discouragement had struck. It became too hard. Work on God's house stopped for many years and the people instead turned to building their own houses.

So, God sent the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage the people,

"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" (Zechariah 4: 6-7, NRSV)

God wanted Zerubbabel and the people to understand that building the temple didn't depend on their strength or ability alone. His Spirit was the power that would see it through. And when it was completed, they would recognise it was not done by their strength and power, but by the grace of God.

God's words encouraged the people and they got back to work and completed the temple with great rejoicing.

What strikes me about this story is how God's will and purpose is often greater than our ability to do it. Many times, I’ve come to the realisation that I don’t have the talent, ability or power to do what God has put on my heart to do. We are often slow and reluctant to realise this, but when we do, two roads stand before us: the road of discouragement and turning away, or the road of faith and trusting God to help us do what we can't do ourselves.

The road of discouragement is the easy and well-trodden path. If you do walk this way (and which of us hasn’t?), all is not lost for you will find, like Zerubbabel, that God will come, time and again, to encourage and draw you back. He is the God of the second chance. And the third and the forth….

Very often the walk of faith comes after the walk of discouragement. So never give up hope.

There will always be opposition. There will always be mountains in the way. There will always be giants confronting you. There will always be times when you can’t do what must be done. Or have the strength to carry on.

But neither the problems nor your inabilities need stop you. Every obstacle is an opportunity for the Spirit of God. By His Spirit mountains are flattened, obstacles are removed, lives are transformed, the impossible made possible, the broken mended and His plans and purposes fulfilled.

Understanding this can be a process though and there will be days when you need to remind yourself of it often.

Has God put something on your heart - a work, a calling, a ministry, vocation or dream? But you don't have the skills, the strength or the resources to do it and you’re either struggling with discouragement or trying to bring it about by sheer willpower and effort.

God wants to encourage you that it's not about your strength and ability alone. It's His Spirit that provides the power and help you need. When you see this, really see it, then like Zerubbabel you'll be encouraged to carry on. Your work and your life will take on a simplicity and a calm, relaxed pace which are characteristic of walking in faith.

You still work, you still do what you can, but you do so knowing that the underlying power is God's and that you’ll get to the end with cries of, "Grace, grace to it."

(David Hollis)