For a long time now, I’ve seen and shared countless pictures and postings on my blog and on Facebook that are meant to encourage others.  The majority of those postings have been Scripture verses.  It is obvious by the way that these images and verses have been shared so prolifically  that there are people who are hungry for the Word, and are in deep need of daily encouragement.

The other day one of my blog articles “25 Encouraging Verses for those facing Struggle” was shared on a VERY popular Facebook page: “Christian Quotes“.  Over 600 people have left comments so far; the article has been “liked” by over 24,000 people and shared over 9,000 times in just 48 hours on FB!  Interestingly this particular article, since it was first posted in January 2014, gets nearly 10,000 hits a day on Journey Thoughts and is one of the most popular posts on my site.  To me it confirms how much people are hurting and struggling in this world and how they so desperately crave encouragement from God’s Word.

Here are a few of the comments from the other day when that article was shared on FB:

“this is the scripture God gave me close to 30 years now it has kept me going when I did not want to any more. Joshua 1:9”

“Yes Lord am one of those facing difficulties, I need you Lord, pls Lord help me.”

“The word of God is my whole armor that keep me strong everyday in facing struggles and trials in my life. thanks to the word of God mostly thanks to my living God”

“Just went through one of the worst weeks of my life. I found out who I can trust and who I can not. Surprisingly it was the opposite then I thought was the truth. Praise God He alone can be trusted 100% of ALL the time and in every situation!”

“Thank you Jesus for your love, mercy and strength. You are my shepherd when the wolves are circling.”

“Some thoughts as we enter the holiday season…It is important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and some of us are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. And many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring, loving thoughts right now…”

“gives me strength to carry on though at times at the verge of despair”

“Thank you for this today. Heading out for another round of MRIs. My God walks with me and I shall trust Him.”

I too left a comment: Lynn Dove “I have read all of the comments and am humbled by the response this article has generated. It is obvious that so many people are struggling and need encouragement from His Word. God never promised that believers would be without hurt or struggle, in fact the opposite is true. He said we would have trials, we would be persecuted, we would face hardship and heartache. But He did promise that He would ALWAYS be with us in every circumstance good or bad. (Matthew 28:20) I am thankful that His Word has encouraged so many of you!”

At our church we have been immersed in Missions Month.  Our Pastor has spoken for the last several weeks on the topic of discovering our mission field based on the teachings from Matthew 9:35-38.  “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

For quite a while now I have been wondering and praying how God would have me expand this ministry of encouraging others.  I have determined much of my “harvest field” is online so….

Yesterday I launched a new Facebook page: “Encouraging Bible Verses and Quotes” to partner with Journey Thoughts, to bring encouragement to others and to draw more and more people closer to the Lord.  The Scripture I am clinging to in this new endeavor is: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Would you join me on this new “mission field”?  I am asking readers of Journey Thoughts to help by “sharing” and “liking” the new page.  https://www.facebook.com/encouragingverses/?fref=nf

Blessings to you all!