HOUSTON AREA TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY GIRLS: If by chance we end up needing to cancel tonight over the storms, I will put a cancellation notice right here on the blog so keep an eye on this spot off and on all day. Certainly check it before you set out for HFBC tonight. We love you and want to be wise!
NOON UPDATE FOR TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: As of right now, Bible study is ON for tonight. It will really be cold for us south Texans but it’s supposed to be dry. We are planning on starting the lesson a little earlier and ending it at 8:15. See you there with our coats on!
Now, for SSMT:
Hey, Siestas!
Happy February 1st! Did January fly past us or what?? We’re at least two Scriptures the richer for it, though. I’ve been using my time on my exercise bike in the mornings to practice my memory verses so I’ve mostly only heard myself repeat them gasping for breath. (If you like picturing things, it’s in my garage sandwiched between boxes and stacks of 26 years of Moore paraphernalia and everything else besides an actual car…which is in my driveway. You also might enjoy picturing my Border Collie Star sitting right beside me, fixating on the bicycle pedal as it goes round and round. Bless her poor sweet obsessive-compulsive self.) I might have to haul the bike up there with me to the Siesta celebration next January so I can say them to my partner the same way I’ve practiced them. Or I guess I can just sit on the floor and pump my feet in the air and play like. My partner might have to sit back from me just a tad. And if none of that works, I’ll get my man to haul Star up there to watch me and see if the right conditions are responsible for the recollections. And, of course, they’re not. In John 14:26, Christ says it is the Holy Spirit who reminds us of everything He has taught us so press on! With Him, we can do all things.
Tuesday is Bible study day for us at LPM this time of year so I don’t get to talk long on here today. So, let’s get to it! It’s already time for Verse 3!
As I told you two weeks ago, I’ll primarily be working through verses out of the Book of James for much of this year. I’ll give you mine each time but I’ll also give you an alternative that I really love outside of James in case you need some ideas. Here’s the portion I’m memorizing this time around with my information:
Beth, Houston. “Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13 The NET Bible
I love that last statement. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Aren’t you thankful we have a Savior that feels that way?
The alternative I’ll suggest to you today is on my mind because someone I care deeply about struggles terribly with fear of death. This person isn’t chronically ill. Just oppressed and tormented by possibilities. Maybe some part of this segment might minister to you today.
Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15 The Message)
Anybody “scared to death of death”? These passages are also really rich out of the NIV if you prefer it:
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV)
Oh, there’s nothing like the power of God’s Word. And that’s because there’s nothing like the power of God.
You sure are loved around here. OK, let’s have it, 2011 SSMT! Verse 3! (Your first name, city, reference and translation please.)
I’ll talk to you soon!
Amy, Fort Payne, AL
“I love the Lord for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his eart to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2 NIV
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV
“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 8:38-39 NIV
Jill- Plano, TX
Psalm 62:5-6 (New International Version, ©2011)
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Carol, Hartley, Iowa
Psalm 121:1-4,HCSB
I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
Erin – Houston
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vein conceit.
Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”
II Timothy 1:7 Amplified Version
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
Michelle, Little Rock, AR
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV
Kim, Louisville, KY
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Isaiah 44:9, NIV.
Sherry, Hillsboro, OR ~ Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18 NIV
Mary O, Carlisle, England (UK)..via Atlanta, GA! 🙂
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Jesus has made me his own. Phil: 3:12 ESV
Nancy, West Virginia
Psalm 62: 1 and 2 NIV “My soul fines rest in God along; my salvation comes from him. 2He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62: 1-2 NIV
Habakuk 3:17-18
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Gina;Houston;NKJ
Briten, North Providence, RI
Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn (NASB)
Tiffany, Houston, Texas
The LORD will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life. Psalm 121:7 NIV
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)
Natalie, Olive Branch
“For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.” Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it leads only to evil.
Psalm 37:7-8 NIV
Jess, Auburn
Dori
Spring Hill, TN
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT
Amanda in Dover, TN
Psalms 147:5 (NIV)
Great is out Lord, and mighty in power;His understanding has no limit.
But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength.They will fly high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.
Isaiah 40:31 NIRV
Ann; Austin “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.” NIV,Isaiah 43:18-19 Praise God, Thankyou, Lord!
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
“My thoughts are not like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
Erin, New York
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.”
Job 22:21-22 NIV
Amy
Houston
Phil 3:7-8 (NASB)
But whatever things were gain to me – those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. And I count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ & be found in Him.
Keli, Talihina, Oklahoma
“The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord.” Psalm 45:11 NIV
Helen from Broxton, GA
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV
Lisa, Scottdale Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Sandy, Deming, NM
Search me oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139:23, 24
Leah; Perkins, OK
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Hannah, Knoxville, TN. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 NRSV
Diane, Indialantic, FL For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
Nancy, Tucson, AZ
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” PS. 84:11 NIV
Rebekah, Fulton, MS
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
– Hebrews 12:1-3, NLT
(Past few weeks my focus has been crappy! I keep thinking ‘look to Jesus, look to Jesus’.) Committing this to memory should help!
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6 NIV
Cheryl, Tylertown, Nahum 1:7, (NAS), The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
> Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Melody, Colorado Springs, CO
Amy, Tyler, TX
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.
John 15:7 NIV
Linda, Bend, OR
Psalm 27:13-14 NET
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD.
Joy, Peachtree City. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 The NAS Bible
Michelle, Fallston, MD
“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.”
Psalm 91:3 NKJV
Betty, Florida
Joshua 1:9 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.
Jennifer from Chantilly, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8, NIV
Connie Windham
Trout, LA
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
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.
Karen, Kelso, TN
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
Jeri, Stillwater, ok. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
Hos2:19-20
I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD. NASB
Kim Tuscaloosa, AL
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 perseverance. James 1:2-3 TNIV
Joni, Animas, NM
And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossian 3:14 NIV
Teresa Callan, Mobile, AL
Psalm 107:9
For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.