Hey, Everybody! Welcome to Verse 3! One month down, only eleven more to go! I say that with a grin because I don’t want it to fly by. There are stressful aspects to what we’re doing here on our team because victory is labor intensive and demands focus and discipline. You can’t really cheat at your memory work. I mean, either we take the time for the constant repetition until it’s embedded underneath that skull of ours or we don’t. But, at the same time, it’s also rejuvenating, don’t you think? And fun? And, admit it, the team aspect of it is glorious.
In fact, I hope God is using this whole process to bring some of you back to life. I’m picturing all of us women like that valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Scattered in that broad dell of ours are skeletons of dead-tired, depleted girls from all over the United States and in at least a half dozen other countries. Thousands of us. The breath of God’s words falling on us, rattling our bones, wrapping us with new wine skins, filling our lungs, and beginning to raise us to our feet: a mighty army brandishing Swords. (Eph. 6:17) We use these swords to battle darkness and not one another. We are not Peter who, in an impulsive fury, left poor Malchus with one less ear in John 18:10. There they were, in the most critical moment in human history thus far and Jesus had to stop what He was doing and stick the man’s ear back on the side of his head. (Luke 22:51) Enough of this! Jesus commanded. The people around us who we are called to reach and serve in Christ’s name are not drawn to weapons and shredders but they are indeed drawn to courage and valiance and gracious strength. A well-trained soldier knows who his enemy is and who his enemy is not.
I’m looking forward to your verses! I am starting some memory work out of the one-chapter book of Jude today. I find this verse fascinating because the inspired penman really meant to write his audience about one thing when God sidetracked him to another. These dimensions of divine inspiration make my mind spin. I love thinking about it. Here goes mine:
Beth, Houston. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 (ESV)
Contend for the faith. Lord, show us, teach us, equip us, fill us, and anoint us with holy affection, sound minds and doctrine to contend for the faith. Show us how to fight for our faith without wounding and scarring the people we were called to influence in the process. This can get tricky. Show us how it’s done.
I’m honored to serve you, Sisters, and to draw swords with you in this battle against the blackest darkness. Built up in Christ by the breath of the Spirit, focused and deliberate, we can be a mighty army.
OK, let’s have it. Your names, cities, verses, references, and translations.
Live and love well out there today, you hear?
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Heidi
Midland, Texas
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV)
Carrie
Pullman, WA
Galatians 5:22-23(RSV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.”
Trudi from Columbus, Texas
Isaiah 40: 28-31 NIV
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will walk and not faint.
Gina, Houston, Tx
Romans 8:38
For I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not evn the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. NLT
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Monica Randolph from Johns Creek, Ga:
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 NIV
Chrissy Clayton, Russellville, AR
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11 NIV
Sherry from Montgomery, Texas
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 NAS
” Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Sarah, Webb City, MO
Psalm 103:8 NIV
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me”
Like 9:23. NLT
Chelsey, Murfreesboro, TN
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” -Acts 4:13 ESV
G. in Houston says:
Withstand him; be firm in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood throughout the world.
1Peter 5:9 (AB)
Suzette from Fredericksburg, Texas: Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Psalm 105:4
Janey from Naples FL. “Be holy because I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2 NIV
Autumn from Pullman, WA
We love because He first loved us.
1 john 4:19 (NIV)
Brooke Mielke
Fontana, CA
“I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” NKJV
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be judged, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:36-37 NASB
Anne, Cupertino, CA
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…'” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Jennifer
Charleston, SC
Tonya Searcy, AR
Isaiah 65: 24
“Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers.”
GNT
Susan, Atlanta, GA
Hebrews 2:2 ESV
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution…
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Deborah, Katy, TX
“I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5, NIV 84
Amanda, Katy, TX
“I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5, NIV 84
Kara, Houston, TX
“I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5, NIV 84
Tiffany, Katy, TX
“I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5, NIV 84
Cyndi, Katy, TX
“I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5, NIV 84
Michelle Petrey
Joppa, Maryland
~ Psalm 42:5 (NIV) ~
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
For I will praise Him,
My Savior and my God.
“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord”
Luke 1:45 NKJV
Victoria W. (Bryant, AR)
“Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.
Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.
Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the dessert.”
-Isaiah 43:18-19 (HCSB)
Julie
Holland, Michigan
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 TNIV
Cindi, Houston, TX
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Thessalonians 5:23 NIV
Trisha from Honolulu, HI
Jesus replied: “Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
Lauren, Dallas. James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ESV
Eryn, Anthony, KS
“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
John 15:8 NLT
Diane, Corbin, And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27 ESV)
Heather, Sedalia, Alberta, Canada
“Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”
Romans 1:5,6
Allison from Lubbock, TX
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Mound City, KS
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 1:12 NIV
Autumn from Lubbock, Texas
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:1-5 NIV
Pam Waite, Bradenton, FL: Verse 3: James 1:2-3: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverence. NIV
Elaine K., Hazelwood, MO, I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Psalm 32:8 NKJV
Wendy – Modesto, CA
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, becasue when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 (NIV)
1 Chronicles 16:11-12 NIV
Phoebe from Concord
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…
Allison from Midland, TX
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12 NIV
Cece, Orlando, fl
Philippians 1:9, 10 NIV
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,”
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
Liz S. – Philadelphia, PA
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
– Matthew 6:23 (KJV)
Paige, Atlanta, GA NIV
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband–the Lord Almighty is His name–the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.
Terri~Tulsa, OK
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 NIV