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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.
Lori, Syracuse “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I Cor 10:11-13
Deborah, Nashville, TN
“The LORD is near the brokenhearted,he delivers those who are discouraged.”
Psalm 34:18 (NET)
John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jennifer
Charleston, SC
Hollie, Mount Vernon
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5, NIV
“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)
Rachel, Nashville TN
Gretchen, Cincinnati Romans 8:26-27 NIV
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Lisa, Mauldin SC, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Diane from MN
Micah 6:8
He has told you men what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you:
Only to act justly,
to love faithfulness,
and to walk humbly with you God.
Micah 6:8 Holman Christian Bible
Susan, Canton, Mi
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 4:7-9 NIV
Marilyn-Amarillo, TX- “Those who know your name, will trust in you, for you LORD have never forsaken those who seek you” Psalm 9:10 NIV
Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 NLT
Hannah; Dayton,OH; “Yell a loud ‘no’ to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet ‘yes’ to God and he’ll be there in no time.” James 4:7(The Message)
Vicki, Burton, Michigan
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Lisa, Cumming, GA – “But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgement you shall show to be in the wrong. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord…
Amy; Middletown, DE
I Corinthians 15:58 NIV
therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Psalm 27:8 (NKJV)
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face Lord, I will seek.”
Traci
Knoxville, TN
Andrea, Louisville,KY
“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
Beth from Lititz PA
Ps 68:11
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng”.
NIV
“Why do you look at the speck of saw dush in some else’s eye and pay not attention to the plank in your own eye?” Like 6:41 NIV
Crystal, Livonia, Michigan
KJV – Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
**Beth – any great way to keep references straight? All my proverbs and psalms and verses and chapters are getting mixed up! I know my verses but where they are is all jumbled together:-) First time working on continuous scripture memory. Thanks for leading this – it is a HUGE blessing!**
Sarah, Dallas:
“I was right on the cliff edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed me and held me. God’s my strength, He’s also my song, and now He’s my salvation.”–Ps 118:13-14
“It is good for me to draw near to God.”
Psalm 73:28 NIV
Laura, Lexington, KY
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 (NIV)
Nancy, St. Petersburg FL
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalm 125:2 NIV
Connie, Greene, IA
And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul).
Acts 20:32 AMP
Becky, Jacksonville, FL
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. By them your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:8,11
Kim in Springfield, MO – Psalm 71:11 (KJV)
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Recently, Maryland
“The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” – Malachi 4:2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:2 NLT
Heidi – Lancaster, PA
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patiences
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Carrie – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Pat S.
Lago Vista, TX
“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:7-8 NIV
Janifer, Glen Burnie, MD
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.’
9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. II Peter 1:9
Casey, Ooltewah “He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.” Song of Songs 2:4 NIV
Katherine Lilburn, GA
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV
Judy Anniston, Al
As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5 NIV
Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:133
from Clover, SC Acts 3:19-20 NET Bible
Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you that is Jesus.
P.S. Doing “Esther” at my local church — and so benefitted from the session regarding fear! Thank you.
Beth and Tori, Waco, Texas
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
Psalm 119:32. NIV
Debra, Gentry Arkansas. James 1:26, NIV
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (I memorized verse 17 last time. NIV)
Pam, Wilmington
Psalm 34:7 NLT
For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear Him.
Debi, Alva,FL
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
Tina, Chesapeake, VA – Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deut 4:9(NIV)
Mary, NH
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (NKJV)
Alicia, Gulfport
“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 HCSB
Anna Elkhart IN
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Vickie, Baytown, TX
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the very most of the time (buying up each opportunity), because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 Amplified