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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, Clanton, AL
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Leslie,
Wisner, La.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Kim
Springfield, IL
NIV James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
*Note… I began this journey and fell behind, however my sister and I started this journey together and I want to finish it with her and all of you. Wanted you to know because I will be going back and posting all my verses for the last several months today. I may end up double posting so I don’t miss any… Thanks, and I am back in the game…
Job 19:25
I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
Donna, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI: “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 Cor. 4: 7-9 NIV)
Delta Dawn
Dallas, GA
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:12-13
Nancy, West Virginia
Matthew 6:1 MSG
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.”
Sherri, Topeka,KS: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
May verses: Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
Melanie – Decatur, AL
Our VBS is next week, and very much a part of my prayer and study time this week. The verse I’ve chosen is the Day 5 verse, on which the song “Live It Out” is based:
“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong.
Your every action must be done with love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Melanie, Houston, TX: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15 NIV)
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 NKJV
“. . . for You, Lord have Never forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalms 9:10b
NIV
Love the count down!
Nancy, Sioux City, Iowa
(please pray for all the people in the area who live along the Missouri River that will be several feet above flood stage in the next few days.)
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Sacha, Midland, TX
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 (ESV)
Denise, Madison Al.
… but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
I Cor 13:10
Jeanene – Newnan, GA
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28 NIV
Misty, Marco Island, Fl Phl 2:3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. NLT
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For YOU are my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 NKJ
Donita – Tucson, AZ (guess what I’m dealing with)
Philippians 2:14 (Amp)
Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questionaing and doubting [among yourselves]…
This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and tembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2 NIV
Jennifer, Avon Park, FL
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
James 1:2 NIV
Paula – Albertville, AL
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Yolanda
Ulysses, KS
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 HCSB
**This is the theme verse for our VBS which started last night, so I’m memorizing along side the children in my class room.
Joy – Asheboro, NC
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9, NIV
Kelsi, Pewaukee, WI:
Today marks the first day that I have committed to reading the book of Galatians every day for the next 90 days…in honor of this challenge, I selected:
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Please pray for me to stay focused and for Jesus to be glorified through this. Thanks Siestas! 🙂
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 Emmy Rome, GA
Kit, Central Islip, NY
Psalm 119:37 – NIV
“Turn my eyes away from worthless things, preserven my life according to Your word.”
Lala in Ruston, Louisiana, says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 KJV
Nancy -Versailles, Ky
For this week, it is M week
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. Psalm 20:1 (NIV -84)
Hill, Los Angeles
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
Hosea 11:3 NIV
Teresa Naples, FL
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Shirleen, Greenville, SC…..Philippians 2:5 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Karessa, Peoria, IL: Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV
Marita – Maricopa, AZ
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
Search me,God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 NIV
Jill
Vandalia, MO
Maria from North Dakota
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:7-8 (NIV)
shelley, creswell
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Cor 4:7 NKJV
Sherrylu, Powder Springs,GA
“Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NASB
Karen, Lynnwood, WA – “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)
Gretchen, Gahanna, OH- “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord. I wait for my Savior; my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
Kim,Richmond, TX Ps 19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
(NIV)
Peggy C, Houston TX
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18 NIV ~
PSALM 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
NIV
Becky, St. Augustine. “I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome
the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Judy, East Chain, MN
“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.” 2nd Timothy 1:12 (The NET Bible)
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. Philippians 4:8 NIV
Kelly
Avon Park, FL
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossains 3:16 HCSB
robin, scottsdale, az
proverbs 3:3 (NIV)
“let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Karen, Dover, NH “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” Isaiah 3:10 (NIV)
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1:19 NKJV
Kristie
Queen City, TX