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**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.
Michelle, Frisco, TX – “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 NIV
I’m stealing this one Michelle. I so need it right now!
Julianna (Istanbul, Turkey) Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” Proverbs 26:18-19 (NIV)
April, Hume
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30 NIV
Lori. Norwood, MA. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20/NIV
Suzanne, Birmingham: “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14;14 NLT
Janet, Lenoir, NC. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Peggy, Tucson, AZ – Ps 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” NIV
Cathy, Brighton,CO
Romans 8:26 And in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know how to pray as we should but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. NASB
Kim, Corning, NY. “But for your who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2 NIV).
Terri from Mechanicsville, VA
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves but our competence comes from God.”
2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)
Sharon, Riverside, Ca.
Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors. Psalm 27:11
Sandy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Psalm 119:140 NIV
Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them
(Also love the counter!)
The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.
Psalm 119:57 NET
Michele ~ Kenosha, WI
Starla – Parsons, KS
For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 NIV
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse
me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. Psalm 19:12-13 NLT
Brandi. Danville, IN
PSALM 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer
NIV
Betsy, Antwerp, OH
2 Timothy 1:12(NASB)
“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.”
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”, for God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself dos not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death.
James 1:13-15 NASB
Kellie norris, mobile al
Colossians 3:10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. NLT
Ola, Woodbridge
Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
Proverbs 14:33
New King James Version (NKJV)
Anna, Little Elm, TX
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3 (ESV)
Lorraine Banks, Tyler, TX
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms34:18 NIV
Shiffra, Vicksburg, MI.
“An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!” Nahum 2:1 (NIV)
Michelle, Colorado Springs, CO
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18, NIV
Trust in the LORD, and do good in the land,
And cultivated faithfulness. Psalm 37:3 NASB
Kinney, Oxford, MS
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Kristie, White Lake:
‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’
Proverbs 15:1
(NIV)
I am at the library today checking in – my laptop died and my phone is gasping it’s last breath so I haven’t been able to check in the last few times. Getting my oldest ready to go off to college next month means a new computer for me is not in the budget so my checking in will probably continue to be sporadic – am I still in this even when I’m not able to check in?
Either way – here’s my verse for today
Deanna – Nora Springs, Iowa
Colossians 2:8 NIV
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Karen, Gallatin, TN:
“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
Kris, Maine
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
I just read this verse in my devotion this morning. I’m reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and it was one of the Scriptures referenced today. I hope that you know you are not alone.
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:25 NIV
Myriam
New York
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves- it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
Psalm 34:11 (NLT)- Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Peggy, Yorktown, VA
James 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. NIV
James 1:13 was last month 🙂
1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual, milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, know that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Lea Ann – Clinton, MS
Lisa – Jackson, Missouri
Since this is the life we have chose, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. Galatians 5:24 The Message
Karina, Victoria/Vancouver, BC, CANADA
“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
Philippians 4:13 (MSG)
and in NKJV: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Rose in Dallas
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3 (NASB)
Andrea, Overland Park, KS
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Matthew 24:36
NIV
Jean,Wisconsin
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Sharon – Glennville, GA
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Chrissy, Clemmons, NC:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11,NIV(84)
Tami, Michigan: “. . . while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:13-14 NIV
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. I trust in god’s unfailing love forever and ever.
Psalm 52:8 NIV
Kristi
I live in Mobile AL as well.
Tanya, Valley Center, KS
“Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guiltless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world.”
Philippians 2:14-15, Amplified
Annabel, Valley Center, KS
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13, NASB
P.S. How big is the sanctuary of your church?
Lauren from Spartanburg, SC
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Julie – Wentzville, MO –
Phil. 3:10a AMP – “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly…”
Alexia- Champaign, IL
Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 NIV
Kathryn, Tempe AZ
When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Out mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:1-3 NIV