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**January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, You Scripture-Memory-Mad Women!
I hope your Memorial Day weekend was wonderful and that your appreciation of our nation’s heroes got a fresh stir. I looked around our sanctuary on Sunday at all those who had served in wars and I marveled over the few World War II veterans we have left. My Dad was one of them and, had he lived, he would be ninety. Such a powerful part of our history was written in their blood. My dad lived well over half a century with a bullet fragment lodged near his heart. He took a hit right through his cheek and, ultimately, surgeons grafted skin from his hip to cover the severe indention in his face. If you have a family with a weird sense of humor, perhaps you can imagine that it was fodder for a few jokes, most of which he told himself.
Of course, heroes come in all generations and both genders. I have two framed pictures in prominent places in my office of women soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who have done Bible studies on their tours of duty. Flabbergasting to me. May Christ hold our soldiers tight and let them lose neither their lives nor their faith and may He return them to their families as whole people, twice the wiser.
Well, Girlfriends, it’s JUNE! Our temperatures in Houston are already well into the upper nineties and we are experiencing the severest drought in decades. It seems that few areas of our country are free of something ranging from brow-raising concern all the way to destruction and devastation. What on earth?? I don’t pretend to know the details of what is happening around us but I really do feel that Kingdom history is being written in these days entrusted to us. I believe there is a bold dot on the divine time line representing this era with a label Heaven alone knows for now, but generations will talk about until Christ’s Kingdom comes. We must stand firm in our faith and love twice as much. These are days when our words must be backed by our hearts or dismissed entirely by the world. Remember Christ’s warning in Matthew 24:12 that the hearts of many will grow cold. Our love will not endure extended seasons of difficulty by accident. In our self-protectiveness, the first natural casualty will be our emotions. We will either set our hearts on things above (Col. 3:1) where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, or we’ll lose our footing here below.
We are called to live by faith and to love by faith.
Part of how we stand firm is to know Scripture, and not with swollen heads but swollen hearts. One of the verses in my quiet time this morning was Psalm 119:57 – “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.” (The NET Bible) One thing is certain: we are finding out how little security this anguishing planet can offer us. “The LORD is the source of security.” Personal. National. Global. Universal. The Lord alone. And, so, like never before, we need to know His instructions…and follow them.
One of my favorite portions of the Book of James has turned out to be the last half of 5:11 – “…you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” The Lord cannot set aside His compassion and mercy to deal with this world. Oh, I’m not saying He won’t ultimately deal with this world. His Word promises that He will. But I am saying that He cannot set aside His compassion and mercy to do it. They are elements of His immutable character and the first descriptions He used to introduce Himself to Moses by name in Exodus 34:6-7.
OK, Sisters. I better get to our purpose here on this first of June. The pages are flying off the calendar like leaves in the wind and it’s time for our 11th verse! God has had me in 2 Timothy recently for my memory work so here’s mine this time around:
Beth, Houston. “Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that He is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 The NET Bible
You can bet your life on it.
You are treasured here. May Christ continue to captivate you. He loves you so much.
PS. OK, I can’t stand it anymore. SO HOW ABOUT THAT TIMER AT THE TOP OF THIS POST???? That, my beloved Siestas, is exactly how much time we have to go until our SSMT celebration! Wooooooohoooooooo!!! Bring it, Jesus! Kudos to my wonderful coworker, Kimberly McMahon, for making that happen. I told her I thought we needed a little extra incentive for this second half of our Scripture memory commitment. I WANT EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME if you possibly can. With the numbers where they are right now on our 1st and 15th entries, we have room to fit all of you in our sanctuary. Save your money! Ask for it as a Christmas gift! Remember, the event is our gift to you but it’s not too soon to start saving for travel and accommodations. This is one of the biggest events on the calendar to us at Living Proof so please know how wanted you are and how loved you are. Celebrating a faithful work of God to a woefully dependent people was His idea in the first place. He loves festivals so, Girlfriends, let’s have one.
L.E.T.S.C.O.U.N.T.I.T.D.O.W.N.
Sharon, Los Angeles
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matt. 6:34 NIV
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
NLT Psalm 7:17
I will thank the Lord for his justice. I will sing praise to the sovereign Lord.
Amie, Glendale, AZ: 1 Corinthians 13:3, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” NIV
Rita
Midland, TX
Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, NLT
Rachel; Willis, Texas
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Rebekah – Fulton, MS
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:37-39, NIV
Proverbs 28:13 NIV “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Sue St. Louis,MO
Proverbs 31:10-11
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will lack no gain.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair…; 2 Corinthians 4:8 NIV
Sally, Grants, NM
Michah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ESV
Sandy, Galveston
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:19
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Gayle, Jeanne’, Sharon
Barbara, Julia, Carrie
“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have;for He himself has said,”I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
Heb 13:5 NAS
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Tammy,Delray Beach,FL
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3
My beautiful son created a piece of art with this verse. A colorful heart with a green center radiating into yellow, then purple, a spot of blue and a red border rim including this verse written in cursive.
I Love His Heart! Thank You My Dear God for helping me bring it to this earth. Please sustain it’s precious life of your Love!
Michelle ESV 2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.
Melanie and Kara Miller, Nampa, Idaho
K: Psalm 103:10–He doesn’t punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn’t pay us back in keeping with the evil things we’ve done.
M: Eph 1:12–God’s purpose was that we who were first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God.
Sharon McLaughlin
Panama City Beach, FL
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Colossians 1:13
Jeremiah 22:16 (NIV)
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.
Georgine East
Austin, TX
Hannah, La Grange, Texas “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42, NIV
Nan, Coppell, Tx
Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’
Matthew 22:37, NIV
Jill Sayles, Puyallup, WA
Psalm 123:1 HCSB
“I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven”
Loganville, GA
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 NIV
Carrie, Princeton, MN:
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:47 NIV
Josie (9 yrs) Princeton, MN:
“For the Lord gives wisdom;from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 HCSB
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Proverbs 3:1-2
Tina, Cynthiana, KY
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24
NIV
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:22
NIV
Laurie T.
Richmond, ME
Kristy, Houston:
Psalm 103:3 ESV
Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Jami
Shelby, NC
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted, He delivers those who are discouraged. ‘
Psalm 34:18
Rebecca, College Station, TX
He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go. They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.
Psalm 91:11-12 (NCV)
Kitty, Melbourne Beach, FL NAS
since the creation of the world, His invinsible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Lynchburg, VA
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
from Houston
“I cling to your testimonies, O Lord, do not put me to shame!”
-Psalm 119:31 [NAS]
Tammy Elrod, Mechanicsville, VA
No! We believe it is thru the grace if our Lord Jesus that wevare saved, just as they are.
Acts15:11
Amy from Lakeland, Florida, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NIV
Shelly, Portland Oregon: Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children. Lamentations 2:19
Better late than never!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28, NIV.
“You hem me in- behind me and before; you have laid your hand upon me.”
Psalm 139:5 NIV
Cindy Henrietta, TX
“You hem me in- behind me and before; you have laid your hand upon me.”
Psalm 139:5 NIV
McKenna
Henrietta, TX
John 1:1-2 ESV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or set in the seat of mockers.
Sara – Orange, CA
“Now to Him who is able to do imeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Karen, Amarillo. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12.13 ESV
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
~ Ephesians 1:17a (NIV)
YES LORD, I ask this for myself… I want to know you better through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation!!!
Hollie R. – Granbury, TX
Karen Lipford, Farmington, AR
Psalm 1:2 “but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.