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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.
Natalie, Indialantic, FL
I had a different one, but Beth’s scripture for this week fit perfectly for this time in my life:
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
Ann, Murrells Inlet, SC
The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.
Psalm 119:57 NET
Christy, Pennsylvania.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:3
New Living Translation
Molly, Wilmington, DE
“For He chose us in Him, before the foundations of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
Tammie, Columbia,SC:
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” Proverbs 15:28 NIV
Charlotte, Seymour, TX – “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
Romans 8:1. Amplified
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Beverly, Glasgow
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the spendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. 1 Chron. 29:11a NIV
Edna
O’Fallon, MO
Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11, ESV
Becky
Westerville, OH
“You, O Lord keep my light burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”
Psalm 18:28-29 NIV
Krista, Birmingham
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Liz, Lexington KY
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1st Peter 1:8
Deborah, Markham, VA
“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)
Dannel
Holtwood PA
Romans 8:12 NIV
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
Cindy, Summerville, SC
Luke 12:31 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and he will give you everything you need.
[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Carrie, Boston
“I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15a ESV)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV
Sue, Earlysville, Va
McDonough, Ga
Ephesians 1 :18-19 NIV
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,…
Briten North Providence, RI
Lam 3:22-23 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Carol Webb City, MO
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Julie Eden Texas
1 Samuel 2:1
New Living Translation (NLT)
Hannah’s Prayer of Praise
1 Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong.
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I rejoice because you rescued me.
Susie, Fort Worth, TX, But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (ESV)
Because of a recent death, I never commented and left my verse for May 15th, but did write it in my spiral and memorized it. So, I thought I would post that one as well.
May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! Psalm 29:11 (ESV)
Fran Thomas, Jackson, TN “You can make many plans,but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” Proverbs 19:21 NLT
John 6v33
I have told you these things that you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Rebecca, Greenwood, IN
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 NIV
Suzanne T. from LaGrange, GA: “For You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalms9:10b NIV
Melissa Stauffer, Centreville, Michigan
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,“In just a little while,he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And,“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV)
Matt 20:28b KJV
Jesus came to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.
Rebekah (age 10) st. paul, minnesota
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9.10 (NIV)
Shana, St. Paul Minnesota
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9.10
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)
Jamey, Pocahontas
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’.” Matthew 15:10-11 NIV
Sheila, Beckley, WV praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
Take control of what I say,O Lord, and guard my lips.
Ps. 141:3 NLT
Megan–Kansas City, KS
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you, he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. I Peter 5:6-7 MSG
Praying for VBS:
I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.
Ex 4:12
Michele
North Oaks, MN
Sarah, Elgin, IL
Psalm 67:1-2 NLT
May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.
Psalm 67:1-2, NLT
Darcy, Houston TX Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
JoJo Sutis, Doyline, LA
“For the which cause i also suffer these things nevertheless i am not ashamed for i know Whom i have believed & am persuaded that He is able to keep that which i have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 KJV
Laura, Englewood. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Annette, Minneapolis
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10 NIV
Wendy; Dalton
I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your ways. Psalm 119:125
Lita, Blairsville, GA. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12, NIV
Jamie, Holly Springs, NC
Words kill, words give life; they ate either fruit or poison – you choose.
Proverbs 18:21 the Message
Lovettsville VA
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” NIV
Sabrina, Morristown, Tennessee
God- the one and only- I’ll wait as long as He says. Everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not? He’s solid Rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life!
Psalm 62:5-6 The Message
Tracy, East Petersburg. “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27: 13-14 NIV
Susan,Silverhill,AL: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)