Browsing Tag

Perseverance

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Little Bumps in a Narrow Road

Posted on October 16, 2025

Ten days ago, while in South Carolina, my computer crashed. I know this happens all the time and it’s not important in the scheme of things, but how the details can get in the way of all the other details. Immediately following the crash and subsequent purchase of another laptop, I left on the long awaited birthday “cabin-in-the-woods” trip with my granddaughter, Maggie. I love this trip that has come to be a respite that neither one of us wants to miss. But, in that beautiful place, the internet service was next to none. On top of that, the server that hosts The Colley House is also ailing and badly in need of an overhaul. It’s coming, but it’s not immediate. 

If you are one of the people waiting for an answer to a tracking question, a clarification of a Digging Deep question, a response to a text or a message on Facebook, let me say thanks for patience right  up-front, and then let me beg a little more of it to follow that thanks. 

Overwhelming is what DD is sometimes getting to be in my little world (and in the world of some other dedicated diggers who are invaluable to the study), but it is definitely overwhelming in a good way. I cannot even start to shout to you the amazing encouragement that comes my way upon realizing the numbers, the groups, the fervor and the faith of women who are in the Word; not because of anything I do or ever could do, but because of the movement of the Spirit through the Word of God, Digging Deep is changing lives in a good way. I may be overstating it, but I like to think about DD as a gentle revolution within the kingdom—a revolution that has and will end at the throne for many Word-focused women. I even like to think about what it will be like when we, as fellow diggers in the Word, recognize each other there. Will we remember certain red-letter studies that brought us collectively closer to that one eternal day in the place where we can look into the face of the One who was lifted up to draw us to Him? I can’t even imagine. 

There will not be any computer crashes there, but the permanent annihilation of anything that causes angst will have already occurred. 

So, till then, we’ll sometimes have to settle for a dig-a bit made in the car with lots and lots of background noise, or a podcast glitch or several typos in a Word-focused explanation. Little bumps in a narrow road. But we’ll get there! 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Blessing Trail Again…Tenacious Women!

Posted on September 23, 2025

This past weekend I spent 14 hours in airports. That’s about 12 more hours than I spent sleeping.  Someone cut a couple of fiber-optic cables and the Dallas area airports were without radar and communication signals, for a long period of time. I don’t know what a fiber optic cable would even be, but I know that it was a very sad eventuality for thousands when one was clipped. 

Somehow, unbelievably, my little 1/100,000th of the problem scenarios was remedied and I walked in there, at the last minute, and spoke for the sweet ladies of the Howe church in Howe, Texas. I was sleepy, but I was really glad to be with those sisters, after fully believing, at several different points that my presence would not be happening. After all, when, after many hours of hearing delay after delay, and cancellation after cancellation, you finally get almost to your destination and  you hear a pilot say, “I have bad news and good news….The good news is, we picked up a lot of fuel in Huntsville…”, you kind of know what the bad news is going to be. 

I want to thank the sisters at Howe for being patient and persistent as we tried to figure a way to make the plan work. (I wish I’d taken some pictures of the women of Howe!…This is how you roll when you are this sleepy!) They were a tenacious group of women. I also know that, if I had not been there, one of those ladies would have stepped up there and done a better job than I could even approach. But more thank all this, I see His MORE in all the workings of the weekend. Here are just ten examples.

  1. The first six-hour delay, that ended up in total cancellation, brought good news to me, as I waited. Someone dear to me responded that she’d been unexpectedly granted, by God, what she’s been praying for, and that she had decided to do our Digging Deep study with us. She needs this. I praise Him!
  2. Someone sitting beside me on the very last flight put my phone number in her phone for contacting about the church. She has a five-year-old who needs to be in a Bible class, and she said she would definitely be checking out the West Huntsville church. She lives just a few minutes/miles from our building. 
  3. I had to get my daughter to come and get me from the airport on Friday night, so I could try to sleep a couple of hours before getting up again to try for the Saturday red-eye flight. I asked her to let me run in a fast food place on the way home, because I was starving. I was sad that my husband was not available to shuttle me. In a coincidence I could not have dreamed up, a man opened the door for me as I was exiting the McDonald’s. It WAS my husband. He did not know I was there when he stopped. I surely did not expect him to be there. It was a fun moment. 
  4. Just as I was about to abandon all hope, for the third or fourth time, of making it to the ladies day, I was pretty tired, discouraged and grumpy. Then I had a conversation with a lady beside me who was trying to get to her niece’s funeral. Her niece was young; a victim of cancer. Sometimes the attitude adjustment reminders are unavoidable and potent. 
  5. The lady who picked me up at the airport in Dallas was wonderfully encouraging. She had been at the ready to drive from Dallas to Shreveport or Oklahoma City to pick me up—just wherever I could make it. I’m humbled at the tenacity and hospitality of so many on this trip. This particular sister was very good at making me feel like she actually enjoyed traveling a long distance to spend time with me on Dallas freeways. 
  6. A sweet sister took me into a private part of the building when I arrived, where she showed me my personal prayer quarters. I loved having that little space in which to collect my thoughts. After arriving at the building, I had just a short moment before speaking. This sister took my hands and prayed with me. That was the exact thing I needed in that moment. God is so very good!
  7. While there, I met some people from my past—people I love very much—and I met a new sister, just born-again in baptism a few days ago. She wanted the Digging Deep book and she’s already texted me her address since I have been home. This is the best!
  8. I also met victims—victims of rape, of adult children who have left their moorings, and of the devil working in their own personal lives. I was reminded, once again, of the power of the devil in our lives and of the Victor over His death and darkness. 
  9. I spoke with a lady who is trying hard to get a congregation back into full hospitality/fellowship mode following the exhausting and divisive national experience of Covid. She’s planning game nights and meals for elderly and outings and devotionals; and she and her husband are doing all of this without much encouragement from the rest of the family there. Those who are still recovering, in spiritual ways, from Covid are one more testimony to the power of darkness. It was a blessing to me to see her perseverance in making this recovery, for this church, her personal goal and business. 
  10. I got up on Sunday morning and sang “No other name but the name of Jesus,” with people who sang it with fervor and who are living their lives to the glory of that holy name. 
Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

This I Know, that God is for Me.

Posted on January 17, 2022

Sometimes there are days when I’m all out of sorts

When enemies emerge from former cohorts. 

When I am so weary at setting of sun

I can’t process knowing my work’s just begun.

Sometimes my heart’s breaking over somebody’s sin,

But each time I turn, there’s a crisis again. 

No time to grieve over today’s mournful losses 

Just picking up pieces and heavy new crosses. 

But one thing is certain, and really that thing

Is the one thing that matters and makes my heart sing.

God’s still on the throne, and around every bend

There may be His answer, for He knows the end.

He knows the reason for burdens I bear.

He knows inequities, when life seems unfair. 

He knows the consequence for all of my steps

He knows, He cares. He pities and helps. 

He is the refuge. I am the hidden.

He’s the commander. I am the bidden.

He is the rest-giver. I am the weary.

He has the tear-bottle. My eyes are teary. 

He is the strength. I am the weak.

He offers comfort. It’s comfort I seek.

He is the Prophet. I need to know.

He is the way. In Him I can go.

He is the truth. I was lost till I knew it.

He is the life. I am just walking though it.

He is my portion. I am the filled.

He is the Spirit. I am the sealed.

He is the Father. I am the child. 

He is the Christ. I’m reconciled.

He is the hope. I am the clinging.

He’s the Redeemer about which I’m singing. 

He is my only. I am just one.

He is the end. I’ve just begun.

He is the buckler. My arm is weak.

He’s the revealer. I’m but to seek. 

He is the door. I am the guest.

He is the answer to every request.

He is the treasure. I’m on the search.

He is the Founder. I’m in the church.

He is the succorer. I am the babe.

He’s the Provider, come to my aid.

He is the beauty from ashes to make.

My all-in-all. I will never forsake!

 

You have kept count of my tossings;

put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your book?

Then my enemies will turn back

in the day when I call.

This I know, that God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

from David in Psalm 56

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Shipping “The Ten” (Important things to know)…

Posted on August 27, 2020
...my dining room

…my dining room

As you might imagine, without the PTP convention that annually brings hundreds of us together at Digging Deep kick-off time, the shipping this year is a mammoth operation. Lots of hours are going into sorting, boxing, enveloping, loading and mailing. Here are a few things you need to know, if you’ve ordered DD materials this year:

  1. Although we are working just about every spare minute to get them to you and shipping large quantities each day, we hope you will be patient with any errors and delays. You’re some of the meekest women on the planet, for which we are very grateful. (You must have been in the Word!)
  2. You may get a box of books that does not include the shirts/hoodies that you ordered. Hoodies were extremely popular and we’re already having to reorder. Shirts are now in short supply, as well, so be especially patient with the shirt orders. They are coming. We did not want to hold up the study materials you are needing to wait on your shirts. We will send them separately.
  3. The ONLY hoodie/shirt reorder will happen on September 4th; so if you want a t-shirt or hoodie, your final orders must be placed by midnight on September 3rd. The turn around is quick, so you should then have them in your hands by around the middle of September.
  4. I’m sending out the free tote bags today, Lord willing, to those who claimed them from the August podcast/video. I’ll post a list on the DD wall to those who claimed them first and are receiving them, so you can watch for them in your mail. I’m sorry that there are not enough for everyone to have one this year.  If you claimed one, try to remember to send the actual shipping cost on the box to the return address on your package. OR you can PayPal the shipping cost to colley@westhuntsville.org. Thanks.

    …the kitchen floor…they’re everywhere!

  5. Several have asked about the differences between the free download and the study books this year. They are basically the same, but without limited design graphics (artwork) and spaces for writing answers and notes. You do not miss any real content; just convenience and writing room.

So, there you go. I could not be more excited about this journey together. I think we’ll grow and I have to believe, at the end of this study, we are going to look back and reminisce about the pandemic and chaos during which this study was born. I think we are going to REMEMBER it (yes, like a thing of the distant past) as a somewhat dark and defining time for us. Those of us who are searching His Will and His commandments this year are going to feel like we persevered and became stronger in spite of the distance between us at times, the sadness of not getting together in large numbers, the wretched cultural and  political scene that is unfolding daily, and the abnormality of many of our routines. I believe, when you have finished this dig, you will be spiritually enabled to better fight the devil and his troops here on earth. I believe you will find great motivation in the law that is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12) Seven teen girls have already told me that they are determined to complete the study this year. That little team alone is a powerhouse prospect for the future of the church.  Praise God!

May I somewhat parenthetically say here that making huge decisions for your futures during this uncertain time is, in my judgment, not a good idea. I know I cannot speak in accuracy about every situation and I know my judgment doesn’t matter at all in the grand scheme of things. But ending marriages, switching congregations, moving across the country, and switching careers unnecessarily are all things I’m witnessing some doing.  I believe when the masks are off and the hugs are happening, many life-changing decisions will leave us with regrets. Love your family in Him. Support and respect your local elderships. (They are probably in earnest about your souls and making decisions to the very best of their mortal abilities) Strive for the unity for which our Lord prayed. Persevere. Look for ways to serve and let’s all be bold before His throne.

Thank you. Thank you for being stellar examples of patience and perseverance. Thank you for encouraging me. But most of all, thank you for caring about the Word of our God enough to spend the time to ingest it–in big groups in classrooms and pavilions, and singularly from your kitchen tables and porches.

You will begin with “having no other gods before Him.” Study that one with all your might. If we embrace this first one for our lives, shutting out all worldly competition for our hearts’ first allegiance, we cannot help but to keep every other commandment He’s given for our ultimate benefit.

Remember: When He says “Thou shalt,” He is really saying “Help yourself to happiness!” When He says “Thou shalt not,” He is really saying “Prevent disaster!”

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Obedience: Finishing the Climb

Posted on October 12, 2017

 

When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. Mt. 27:59-61

The progression to the foot of the cross had been a grueling and sorrow-filled climb. Mary had followed the Lord from the halls of Pilate to the hill of Golgotha. She watched the agony of the cross from a distance. She felt the earth move under her and witnessed the tearing of the rocks (Matthew 27:50-56). She was present when the centurion at the foot of the cross made the good confession: “Truly this was the Son of God.” She and the other Mary followed the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, as he laid the body of the Lord, wrapped in clean linen in his freshly hewn tomb. She watched as Joseph rolled the stone over the opening of the sepulcher (Matthew 27:56-61).

I once had a study with a woman who was contemplating becoming a member of the body of Christ. She was unashamed in asking me just what would be required of her family. “Would we need to be there at every service? My kids have a lot of practices and games and our youngest really has a strict bedtime. The older two have loads of homework. Wednesday nights would be really difficult for us. I just need to know what kind of commitment we would be needing to make.”

I recall an elder in the church in one of the places we lived. Through every sermon, he constantly looked at his watch. He became visibly upset if the service exceeded the hour. I have observed, in some congregations, an exodus of a large number of people after the communion is served, but before the final song and/or prayer.

Somehow, I don’t think Mary was looking at the sundial. I don’t think she was wondering if the commitment from here on out would require more time and money. I don’t think she was thinking about how nice it would be to get home and wash her tired and dirty feet that had climbed the hill to Golgotha. I don’t imagine her thinking about what was for supper or whether there would be time before the Sabbath to go shopping at the market. In short, this woman, who had originally been demon-possessed, was now committed to the Conqueror of demons, of the grave…of sin.  She was the kind of disciple that willingly stayed till the end. Are you?