[tminus t=”20-01-2012 19:00:00″ style=”carbonite”/]
**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.
Karie, Phoenix
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NLT
Kirsten, San Francisco. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ ” John 6:35 NIV
Kristen, Houston TX
“For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”
Ephesians 1:4 HCSB
Love the Message Translation of this verse too. (Eph 1:4)
“Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His Love, to be made Whole & Holy by His Love.”
Conne, Angel Fire:
“O Sovereign Lord, You made the Heavens & Earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!” (NLT)
Tinley Park, IL
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 (NET)
Shannon, Houston
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Sharon
South Charleston, Ohio
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Kathy, Shattuck, OK
continuing Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV)
1:10 “…to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
and the Scripture is: Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)
Gloria, Aiken SC
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
~I Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Diane, Cambridge-Narrows, NB, Canada
Mark 19:35 NIV
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all.”
Leah, Indpls.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Amy – Custer, SD
“Everything is permissible for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” – but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
Cheri, Savage, MN
Acts 9:31b (NLT)
The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Ali, Pelzer, SC
“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
Kathy, Akron, Ohio
“The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only He will release my feet from the snare.”
Psalm 25:14-15 (NIV)
Shaminder
Toronto,ON
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
NIV
Washington, GA
“Without Me you can do nothing”
John 15:5 NKJV
Barb St Cloud, MN
“Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 CSB
Staci – Wichita, KS
He holds victory in store for the upright,
He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for He guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Proverbs 2:7,8 NIV
Portland, OR
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food and the body more important than clothes? NIV
Hilary from Langley, BC, Canada, says:
Continuing with Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matt. 5:9-10 (NIV)
Am I way too late to do this? I’ll post one anyway 🙂
I am in James right now & this verse jumped out at me so memorize it, I will 🙂
Annie, Placerville – “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:26-27
Becca, Toledo, OH
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7 NIV
Jenell, Springfield, MO – Psalm 40:5(NIV)
Many, LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Fiona, Brussels, Belgium
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.
Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV
Psalm 9:10 NIV
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who love you.
Lamentations 3:22 NLT
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Kim ~ Niceville, FL
The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)
Anna, Lexington, SC: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, NRSV
julie, new braunfels, tx “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Love you beth!
Kristen, Fort Worth, TX
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Patti, Phoenix AZ
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Psalm 119:10 (NIV)
Martha, Clearwater, FL
” Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
I Corinthians 3:16 KJ
Julia, Glendora, CA. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:13-14 NASB.
Amy
Snellville, GA
Psalm 9:10 (NASB)
Those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Marcie, Frisco
Proverbs 3:3 NIV- Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pam Hendersonville, NC
II Corinth. 2:14-“Now thanks be unto God,which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Richmond, VA – How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 Jon 3:1 NIV
Miss Kathleen Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Psalm 16:6 ( HCSB )
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Nicole, Stuttgart: “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10 NIV
Washington, GA
“Without Me you can do nothing”
John 15:5 NKJV
2 Chronicles 14:11 (NIV)
11 “Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”
Carol, San Antonio, TX
All things are permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. . . . I will not be controlled by anything.
I Corinthians 6:12 (NET)
Carol, Hartley, IA
John 15:1-2 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. NIV
Rochelle, Louisville, KY
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3 KJV
Vicky, Germantown, TN
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 (ESV)
Savanna, Atlanta, GA
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”