Is Faithfulness Good or Bad Carbs?

Trust in Adonai, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. Tehillim (Psalms 37.3 (CJB).

Hanging by Love

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 22.37-40

Born Of Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4.7-8, NKJV)

An Update

As I was just reviewing the overall blog, it has come to my attention that I need to make some updates as it pertains to the full extent of VOE and it's source.

In the first blog entry I had shared that VOE has multiple versions located throughout the internet. While this is still true, I have trimmed this down to one primary source, here on Blogger, and three other social sites, plus email. VOE is currently sharing updates via the following social sites:

Verses Of Encouragement (Blogger)
Google+
Facebook
Twitter (@VOEncouragement)
Email (send an email w a subject "ADD ME", to be added to the email version.)

And lastly, I had been doing this under the moniker, Aktively Inhisimage. This still exists but for other purposes at this time. I am continuing this, VOE, as myself, Matthew C. Ruffner.

I hope this clears some things up and you are able to get the most out of VOE as much as possible. As usual, simply get in touch w me for questions, concerns, comments and testimonies!

Brother Matthew C. Ruffner

Not Feeling Accepted?

If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. John 15.18 (CJB)


The above was spoken by Jesus.

Reflecting Upon The Importance And Power Of Love

As I look to get VOE up and running again (to keep us focused and encouraged during 2012), I want to see how long I can work with the theme of love. It is deep and wide and therefore exhaustive. The only concern is my attention span. So if you like the theme and it's ministering to you and I seem to be getting lazy add a comment or email me. Here's to a fresh start!

"Love does not do harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fullness of Torah." (Romans 13.10, still working with the Complete Jewish Bible, CJB)

A Year Of Verses Of Encouragement

Yes! Verses of Encouragement has been around for a year this next month. While this blog version of VOE is new, it came to life in Email and on Facebook and has grown to several other social sites. To celebrate I've collected and compiled the years worth of verses into one "document." I hope and pray that the following proves to be a resource to encourage you whenever you find yourself referring to it.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 1.7

The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 2.1-5

My son, if you will receive my words and store my commands inside you, paying attention to wisdom inclining your mind toward understanding - yes, if you will call for insight and raise your voice for discernment, if you seek it as you would silver and search for it as for hidden treasure - then you will understand the fear of ADONAI and find knowledge of God.

Ya 'akov (James) 1.2-4

Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. But let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 3.5-8

Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths. Don't be conceited about your own wisdom; but fear ADONAI, and turn from evil. This will bring health to your body and give strength to your bones.

Tehillim (Psalms) 1.1-3

How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don't stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! Their delight is in ADONAI'S Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams - they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.

Philippians 4.11-13

...as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough - in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 4.13

Hold fast to discipline, don't let it go; guard it, for it is your life.

Philippians 4.6-8

Don't worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God's shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and mind safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 4.23

Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life's consequences.

1 Thessalonians 5.11

Therefore, encourage each other, and build each other up - just as you are doing.

Ya'akov (James) 1.12

How blessed is the man who perseveres through temptation! For after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him.

1 Corinthians 10.13

No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary along with the temptation he will provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.

Job 10.1

I am just worn out.

Tehillim (Psalm) 37.1(0)-2

Don't be upset by evildoers or envious of those who do wrong, for soon they will wither like grass and fade like the green in the fields.

Tehillim (Psalms) 37.3-4

Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. Then you will delight yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire.

Tehillim (Psalms) 37.5-11

Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans. Stop being angry, put aside rage, and don't be upset - it leads to evil. For evildoers will be cut off, but those hoping in ADONAI will inherit the land. Soon the wicked will be no more; you will look for his place, and he won't be there. But the meek will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Tehillim (Psalms) 37.16-17

Better the little that the righteous has than the wealth of all the wicked. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but ADONAI upholds the righteous.

B'resheet (Genesis) 3.14-15

ADONAI, God, said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."

Tehillim (Psalms) 97.10-12

You who love ADONAI, hate evil! He keeps his faithful servants safe. He rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in ADONAI, you righteous; and give thanks on recalling his holiness.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 27.18

Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who is attentive to his master will be honored.

Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 13.1

Let brotherly friendship continue.

Iyov (Job) 36.15

God, with his affliction, delivers the afflicted; and he gets their attention by pressing on them.

The above verses are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translation of the Bible!