READY? AIM! FIRE!
Happy New Year, my dear sisters in Jesus! Last night I wrote a letter to the Lord Jesus right before I went to sleep and recalled His faithfulness through a tumultuous year. Right before I turned out the light, I opened up Daily Light for the last Scripture reading for the year and it offered this verse:
The Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way you went until you came to this place. Deut. 1:31
I could have cried. Yes, He surely did. And He carried you, too. Tightly in His faithful arms.
Only God knows what this particular year has in store for us. He alone sees how the path will wind, and climb, and fall, and rise again. We do not have control over the future as we glance ahead to 2011 but make no mistake. He does and we, His lavishly loved daughters, can indeed prepare to live what He thoughtfully brings our way victoriously. On this first day of the new year, we are not victims. We are called to live as victors, holding up the Shield of Faith in one hand and the Sword of the Spirit in the other.We need BOTH.
It’s finally time to post your first memory verse of 24 in 2011! If you haven’t already read the instructions thoroughly, please look at the post on December 26th titled “Siesta Scripture Memory Instructions.” It will tell you everything you need to know. Just a quick refresher: Your comments will almost entirely consist of these entries:
First name, city, verse, reference, and version.
Please keep it limited to these facts so that the verses stand out prominently for us to behold. You can occasionally say something as brief as “I’m excited!” Or “I need prayer!” but nothing longer than that please. Let’s let the Scriptures themselves rise like we’re looking at them with our 3-D glasses on.
Here’s my first Scripture entry of 24 in 2011:
Beth, Houston: All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. James 1:17 The NET Bible
Be sure and hand write your verse in your spiral to help engrave it on your sweet mind. Also consider writing your contact information on the inside cover in case you leave it somewhere and God causes someone gracious to find it.
I love to claim Psalm 65:11 on the first day of the new year:
You crown the year with Your good blessings, and You leave abundance in Your wake. The NET Bible
Lord, I want an abundance of Your Holy Spirit! (See Luke 11:13!) Abba, go before us this year and leave the fragrance of Your very presence in Your wake!
OK, Siestas! Hit it! I’ve prayed for you and can’t wait to pursue the Lord Jesus Christ with you this year. If some of you don’t know which verse to use this time around, consider Psalm 65:11. It’s a great first round.
Remember to wait 24 hours from the time you post your comment until you assume it got lost and enter it again. So many comments come in at once on these Scripture memory posts that the server bogs down, causing it to take extra time.
I love you, Sisters! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do this! Remember, KEEP IT SIMPLE AND MEANINGFUL!
Jana, Flower Mound, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in you.” 2 Tim. 1:14, NIV
Janine, Santa Cruz, Bolivia,
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13, NIV.
Yolanda
Ulysses
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Michelle, Bossier City
Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.
Carla, Lake Park, Iowa
Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you, love her and she will watch over you. Proverbs 4:6 NLT
Renita, Montgomery: In the same way faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17 NIV version
Cara, Tampa, FL
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
Terri from Mount Holly, NC: For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 NASB
Melanie, Auburndale FL: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Anne, Cedarburg, Wisconsin Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Martha from Lexington, Kentucky: “It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before its appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.” 1 Corinthians 4: 4-5, NIV
Paula, Sapulpa, OK
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 12:28-29 NIV
Nina, Chicago, IL
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17, ESV
Gretchen, Cincinnati
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s sevant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:22-26 NIV
Melanie, Sweetwater, TN: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 NIV
Cacey, Northville, MI
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18 NIV
Teri Shrader; Virginia
Job 15:31 (NASB)
“Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.”
Kristi,Bartlesville: At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26b The NIV Bible
Karen, Knoxville “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Phil. 4:13 NKJV
Cheryl
Coffeyville, KS
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 NIV
Lucy, Watsontown, PA – Philippians 3:12-14(ESV) “Not that I already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that i made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Lanita, Lake Jackson
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.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Tammy, Mechanicsville, VA
All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
James 1:17 NET
Shauna Kimball, Platte, SD
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18, NIV
Janet, Harrisburg, N.C. – “Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start; is created new. The old life is gone; a new life Burgeons!” 2 Cor. 5:17 (Msg)
Teri, Kalamazoo: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. ICorinthians 2:12 NKJV
Angela Mitchell from Olathe, Kansas
Ezekiel 36:26 New Living Translation
“and I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart”
Mary, Austin, 1 Peter 5:6&7. Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. CEV
Leigh,Montgomery: I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they have in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep. For you, God, have put my life back together. Psalm 4:7-8 The Message
Anna,Montgomery: The foundation of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. Revelation 21:19 NIV
*Posting two in one post. My 10 y.o. dtr is on the SSMT with me this go round. YAY!!
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27: 1, NIV
Elaine, Timmonsville: “give thanks is all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Molly, Macon “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness,”. Psalm 107:8,9 NKJV
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:8-9 NIV
Tammy, Greenville SC, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Elizabeth, Atlamta. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.” Phillipians 4:4 (NIV)
Shannon from Queen City – For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13 NLT
Eleanor; North Palm Beach, FL.
Isaiah 26:3 NCV
“You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you.”
Poorna, Indianapolis: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Becky
Westerville, OH
“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart
and watch to see what He will say to me;
and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Hab.2:1 NKJV
Carol, San Antonio: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21, NIV
Let us not become weay in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal. 6:9 NIV
Trudy, Alberta, Canada
Jeremiah 29:11 (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.
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
from Centennial, CO:
Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (New Living Translation)
Kelly, Nashville, TN
“What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 NIV
Crystal, Milford, IA – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (TNIV)
Susannah in Tucson, AZ.
“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)
Jessica from Rockvale, TN: Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 (Holman CSB)
Lauren, Perry: So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-16. New Living Translation.
Kerry, Jackson, TN
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 NIV