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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.
Carissa, Houston
2 Timothy 1:7 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control.”
Sarah, Massachusetts
“while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13
Laurie Gibsonville, NC
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s suffiiency). Philippians 4:13 AMP BIBLE
Moose Jaw,
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze…Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
Isaiah 43:2,5 NIV
Katie, LaGrange, GA: “But they who wait for 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, ESV~
Amanda, White Rock BC. “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.” -Proverbs 15:28 NLT
Emily, Ida Grove, IA
Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. NIV
Julie-Ozone, AR
“By this we know that we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:5b-6
Eva, Knoxville If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1
Jan, Marion IA, “They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:12 NASB
Barbara, Prospect, KY: “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV Thank you, Lord!
Heather, Hot Springs, AR, 3 John:4, Amplified,
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are living their lives in the Truth.”
God is awesome- I never thought I could memorize and I am so glad I tried because God has enabled my dingy memory to retain these verses! By the way, this verse is my prayer for my children to return to the Truth!
Amen, Amen, and Amen!
Amanda
Guernsey, WY
“When the clouds are full of water, it rains. When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls. Don’t sit there watching the wind. Do your own work. Don’t stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.”
Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 The message
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
“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.”
Psalm 143:8 NIV
Nancy Tucson, AZ
“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
Kristi, Lenoir City TN
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phillipains 1:6 NIV 1984
Elvira, Grande Prairie, Alberta
Romans18:13 NIV
“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.”
Kayla
Cleveland
The Lord is near the brokenhearted;He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Submit yourelves therefore to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NRS
Judy Littleton, NC
“The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.” Psalm 68:11 (NIV)
Romans 8:33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
NKJV
Katherine, Russell,”A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
Marilyn, Fort Pierce, FL,
6 “LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You. 12 We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” 15 This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them.
2 Chronicles 20: 6,12,15,16 NIV
Diane, Littleton, Co
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV
Marilyn, Peterborough ON Canada: 2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. NIV
Amanda, Mountain View, CA
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
Kelly ~ Hermiston, OR
“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 and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
I Peter 5:10 (NKJV)
O God, have pity, for I am trusting you! I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this storm is past.
Pslams 57:1 The Life Application Living Bible
Pamela Sue Palm Bay, Florida 🙂
“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.”
2 Samuel 22:31 NIV
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Janae – Riverside,PA Proverbs 25:27(The Message)
“It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you.”
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-8, NIV
Siesta from Virginia, “First of all, you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21, NRSV
Becky Dayton Ohio
Acts 1:3 NIV
After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.
God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2 Peter 3:9, The Message
Kathy, Houston:
I’m using yours this time. It fits me right now!
“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 Tim 1:12, The NET Bible
Stephanie, Hampton, VA: “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)
Jody, Mission Viejo, CA
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him, he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145: 18 – 19
Casi
Woodway, Texas
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
Micah 7:8 NIV
Annita, Haleyville, AL 1Tim 3: 16 (NIV)
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
Glenda, Knoxvile, TN
Colossians 3:1-4 (NASB)
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden whith Christ in God. When Christ, whois our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Stephanie
Knoxville, TN
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Kim Wylie, TX
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
Jeanette. Tualatin. Memory Verse 11. Phil. 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Lindsay, Grapevine, Tx:
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
Stephanie
Martinez, Ga
“That is why I am suffering as I am, yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV).
Michelle in Little Rock, AR
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands—
establish the work of our hands!” Psalm 90:17, HCSB
Amy, Hood River – “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.” (Psalm 119:57, The NET Bible)
Helen, Broxton, Georgia
I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your decendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
MiChal in College Station, TX
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”
1 John 2:20 (ESV)