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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.
Romans 5:2
through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
NRSV
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Laura, Clay Center, KS
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Kim, Ashland, VA
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
Kathi
Lexington, OH
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
Revelation 4:11 (NIV)
Paula, Houston, 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)
Kalonni, Van Meter, Iowa: And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:2 (NLT)
My husband will be in Jerusalem next week, and I can’t wait to proclaim this Psalm ACTUALLY inside the gates!
Michele, Weber City, VA
Everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible- but not everything is constructive.
1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)
I LOVED the countdown! SO excited to come!!!! 🙂
Melissa, Locust Grove GA. “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”. Ephesians 1:13 ESV
Joy, Alpharetta. “Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words!” Psalm 119:57 NLT
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrew 11:1,3 NIV
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Becky, Mechanicsville, VA
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 NIV
Judith, Orillia, Canada
Romans 8:39 (cont’d from last month)
“….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”
Tonya, Searcy, AR
John 6:27 NCV
“Don’t work for the food that spoils. Work for the food that stays good always and gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give you this food, because on him God the Father has put his power.”
Karen, Springfield, MO: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Pamela, Missouri
Her ways [wisdom] are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. ~ Prov. 3: 17-18 (HCSB)
Karen, Hewitt
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you”. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
byram MS
John 15:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Rachelle-Ankeny, Iowa
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Ephesians 3:18 NLT
Barb – Chiang Mai Thailand
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Crystal- Everett, Ontario -“And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him.” Joshua 24:24 NIV
Jean, Columbus, Ohio – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV
Grace, Circleville OH: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)
Kimberly, Circleville OH: LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)
Beverly, Ironton OH: But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:5 (NKJ)
Lisa, West Des Moines, IA “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Sue C., Middletown
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
“The Lord said, ‘Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I put roads in the deserts and streams in thirsty lands.'”
Kim”CaliKim”
Los Osos,CA. I FINALLY MOVED IN AFTER. 23+months.
For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you,
“Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
Beth- I do not participate in blogs (I’m an old girl) or anything even close to sharing via the web- this blog continues to bless me beyond what I can express-thank you and Amanda! My sons are Amanda and Melissa’s ages- I appreciate your daughters’ contributions to this community.I pray my sons will be blessed to find life mates as wonderful as your precious daughters.
Every time I think I have my “verse” ready- you get a word and God knocks my socks off with a “new” word- how does God share these words with you that hit your Siestas right in their “hearts” at such a time as this???
Ps 119:57 NET “The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions”
Supplement: Ps 40:13 “Be pleased O Lord to deliver me, Oh Lord make haste to help me!” Amen to all of us
Amber Wooten, Warsaw, IN
“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
Peggy San Diego
Quicken Thou me according to Thy Word.
Ps. 119:25b
Ann, Ostrander, Ohio – “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:2 KJV
Lisa from Waycross, GA
Donna from Albany, GA
“I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord–but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.” John 5:30 (Amplified)
Selena- Albany, GA
Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes; instead, it should consist of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. – 1 Peter 3:3-4
Lisa, Enterprise, AL
~ 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.
— Isaiah 43:18-19
Beth, Mt. Holly, NC
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Cherry B., Conway, AR
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
Jennifer – Lansing, MI
“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” John 7:38 N.L.I
Becky, Vicksburg, MS
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 (NIV).
“ A new command I give you: Love one another, As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
Jeri B., Battlefield, MO
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29, NIV
Decatur, Alabama: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34, 35 ESV
Kristen, Denver: “May Jesus himself & God our Father, who reached out in love & surprised you with gifts of unending help & confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.” 2 Thess. 2:17, TM
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
Philippians 4:13 (NIV) “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Kathy S. Hudsonville MI
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Kristie
Sandia, TX
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Cindy from Yakima
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.”
Phyllis, Charlotte
1 John 2:27 (HCSB)
The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in Him.
Mary, North Richland Hills, TX:
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 54: 17
Laura, Savannah, GA
Ephesians 6:19 “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (NIV)
Nancy, Oxford, Fl
Psalm 119:133 NIV
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.