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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.
Jess R, Katy, Tx
‘He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly adn to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8 NIV
Nicole
Blue Springs, MO
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”
Kristine, La Crescent, MN:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 NIV
Lori — Magnolia, AR
“But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.”
–Matthew 5:44, CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Meg, Ohio: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
Jamye L., Greenbrier, AR
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filledj with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.
Colossians 1:9-13 KJV
Cheryl – Concord, NC
“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hands.
REMEMBER MY CHAINS.
Grace be with you.”
Colossians 4.18 ESV
Kari, Three Rivers, MI
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
Karen, Clarksville “Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me.” Psalm 119:133 NIV
Mary Arnold, Durham NC: Psalm 119:57″ The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions.”
Helen
Crystal City, Manitoba, Canada
Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Kelly, Erwin, TN
“Those who know your name trust in you,for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV
Dee, Zeeland, MI from the NIV:
“I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:24-26
Cathy, Dallas
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Dianne – Mount Pleasante, NC
“to sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, bortherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit, not returning evil for eveil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1Peter3.8-9 NAS
Penney
Caribou, ME
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”
Romans 5:3-4 ESV
Joni, Princeton WV
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.
-Isaiah 46:9
Jennifer, Kodak, TN
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.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Colossians 3.2 set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Becky, Groesbeck, Tx.: “Forget what happened long ago. Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in the deserts, streams in thirsty lands.” Isaiah 43:18-19 CEV
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” (Joel 2:25, NIV)
Sylvia V. Jersey Village, TX
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Yanna, Bryan, Texas “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.” Psalm 119:57 NET
Stephanie; Ogden, Utah; Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.; NIV
Nanette R., Nashville, TN
“God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
Psalm 18:30, New Living Translation
Michelle, Spokane, WA
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may recieve what was promised.
Hebrews 10:36. NASB
Tilley in Franklin, TN
“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
Psalm 18:30 (NLT)
South Bend
“Rely on the Lord!
Be strong and confident!
“Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 The Net
Beth from Emmalena, KY
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Huntsville
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
Alta, Indiana
“The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.”
Psalm 119:57 (The NET Bible)
Kati, winston-salem
Ecclesiastes 11:5 nkjv
As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Kristi, Pocahontas, AR “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”
Job 22:21 (NIV)
Bonnie, Alexandria, LA
Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Nkjv
Susan – Maynard, MA
Psalm 119:57 – “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.”
The NET Bible
” for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self discipline!” 2 Timothy 1:7 GNT
Marilyn, Albuquerque
And pray in the Spirit on all occassions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
EPH. 6:18 NIV
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3
Cheri
Louisville, KY
(24)Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
(25)To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24, 25 KJV
Lisa, Brazoria, TX “A generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.” Isaiah 32:8, NKJV
Suzanne; Pasadena, Texas
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. Ps 57:1 NASB
Betty from Austin says “For you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10b NIV.
Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
Barbara, Avon Park: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 28:13 NIV
Lisa Auten; Rogers, AR: “..just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function,…” Romans 12:4 NIV
Emily
Fuquay-Varina, NC
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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. Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Stacy, Indianapolis Isaiah 65:17b ESV …..and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
Julie, Broken Arrow, OK
Ps. 109:27 (NIV)
Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it.
Call to ME and I will answer you and
tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Just Call!!!
Bonnie, Seattle
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)