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!
Amy, DeFuniak Springs, Florida
“The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
NIV
SJ, South Mississippi, “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NKJV)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4, NIV
Taylor, Dallas, TX: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Stacie, Gallatin, TN “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
Beth, Ashville: And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” Revelation 21:5-6 NASB
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone:
my hope come from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6
Sarah, Mission, Ks- “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” – Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Sally…Middlefield
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” Romans 8:18 ESV
Christina Luther
Roseburg, OR
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
NIV
Wendy,Broken Arrow,OK:”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.” Rom.15:13 NIV
Diane, Littleton CO
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Jerri.Rock Hill.SC
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NASB
Vicki Knott, Greenwood, SC: “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care–then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2: 1-4 (The Message)
Cessie, Bakersfield: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 NIV
Heather, Auburn, AL – “He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” II Cor. 5:15 (NLT)
Heather, Avon Park FL
“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 TNIV
Melissa, Fresno, CA “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV)
Tiffany, ATL, GA!
“And let steadfastness have its full effect that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” ~ James 1:4 ESV
Emily, Washington, DC: “You crown the year with Your good blessings, and You leave abundance in Your wake.” Psalm 65:11, The NET Bible.
Jeni, Prescott, AZ
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
Shonda, Tacoma, WA:”So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV
Stacey from Boulder, Colorado’s verse #1:
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness”.
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
Olivia, Thousand Oaks, CA: “I will never leave you nor forsake you…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5,9 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22&23 NIV
I want this in 2011!
Mouse, Janesville WI
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6-7 New American Bible.
Donna, Albuquerque, “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
Kristy, Moore, OK: “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 Hope is my theme for this year!
dd, santa monica california,
James 1:17, NIV
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Cathy, Houston. Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest IF we do NOT GIVE UP. Gal. 6:9 NIV (emphasis mine)
Ginger,Albuquerque: “The mind of man plans his way. But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NAS
Tamara, San Antonio – “We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy,” Colossians 1:11, The Message
Rebekah, Wheatland, CA- “May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.”
Psalm 119:74 NIV
Courtney, Lakewood, CO – “… Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 8-9, NLT
Kristi, Edmond, OK “The one thing I ask of the Lord- the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple” Psalm 27:4 NLT
Colleen, Lyndonville NY John 1: 1-5 NLT
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,and the Word was God.He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created,and his life brought light to everyone.The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Tina, Cincinnati, OH: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:3-5 NIV
Crystal,Everett-Ontario – My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)
Jen, Spokane, You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA
“But forget all that — it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” NLT
Isaiah 43:18-19
Susan, Canton, Mi-“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'” NIV
Jer 31:3
Linda, Collinsville, OK. My scripture to start the year is John 15:7 NKJV “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Brandy; Aurora, CO:
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. . .
and to comfort all who mourn, . . .
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
-Isaiah 61:2-3 NIV
Michelle, Columbus, OH, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24, NIV
Kathy, Pierre: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard me cry for help.” Psalm 40:1, HCSB
Amy- GA He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30 NIV
Margaret, Kingsport, TN: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you.” Psalm 9:10 NLT
Natalie, Kiowa, CO: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philipians 4:8 NIV
Lindsey, San Francisco, CA: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. Lamentations 3:22 The Message
Amanda from Chelsea, AL: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms139:23-24, NLT