[tminus t=”20-01-2012 19:00:00″ style=”carbonite”/]
**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.
Lee Ann, Brentwood TN: For you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10b
Tammy, Rowlett, TX
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Kathryn – Atmore, AL – “Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.” Colossians 3:15 (The Message)
Charlotte Carty
Lexington, Ky
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be Holy; without Holiness no one will see the Lord.
Rhonda, Fresno,CA-
Look! I stand at the door and knock. if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
Annmarie, CA: “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.” Colossians 3:1-2 The Message
Melody, Ocean Springs, John 20:23 (NIV)
“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do. Psalm 139:3
“If I say surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me”
Psalm 139:11
NIV
Heather
Cleveland GA
Proverbs 12:18 “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Psalm 3:3
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head”
ESV
Hannah, 12yrs. Princeton, MN
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30
Ephesians 4 :1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then,
I urge you to live a life worthy
of the calling you have received.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Allison, Annapolis, MD “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outsstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jer. 32:17, NIV
…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NIV
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children Hallelujah Psalm 113:9 NIV
Katie
Duluth
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Andrea, Houston, “Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends”. Psalm 15:3
Dawn, Clinton PA
Gal.5:22-23, NJKV
For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,self-control. Against such there is no law.
Katie B. from Oxford, MS “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Brooke, Clinton PA
Luke 12:12, NIV
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
Philippians 1:6 (New American Standard version)
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Stephanie, Idaho. Proverbs 8:33-34~
Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. NKJV
Ruth, Odin, IL
“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.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.”
-Psalm 18:30-32 (NIV)
Col 3:1-2 NIV
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
As for me, I will always have hope. I will praise You more and more. -Psalm 71:14
Alisa, Clinton, MS
A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4 NASB
Jennifer, Fairfax VA
2 Corinthians 9:8 (HCSV)
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work
Oh Beth you were sure speaking to Me! Thanks for the encouragment and being continually used of the Lord. I am going through some difficult times with my husband and I sure needed to hear this…oh that my heart would be set on things above and that the Lord,my daddy, would be my source of everything!
Becky, Pasco
The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions. PSA 119:57 NET
Marla Lame Deer, MT
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love. NIV
Kara, Ephrata PA “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Col 3:2 NASB
WOW! Can’t believe we are already in June. Keep pressing on!
Jeanne, Honolulu, HI
Rev 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
NIV
Dana
Boerne, TX
Tracy, Tyler, TX
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33: 18-19 NIV
Erica G, Denver. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted ine very way–just as we are–yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15, NIV
Isaiah 26:12 NIV
Lord, you have established peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Colossians 3:2
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
Diane, Rockford MI
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be Holy; without Holiness no one will see the LORD.
Hebrews 12:14 NIV
Stephanie, Canton, “Why do you cry out because of your hurt[the naturalresult of your sins]? Your pain is deadly (incurable)….”For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord,” Jeremiah 30:15a,17a (AMP).
Lindsey, Lincoln, NE
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. ~Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Judie,south bend,In wasn’t able to post 5-15-11 here go’s:For Who is God beside the Lord? And who is the rock besides our God? NIV Ps18:31
Here is 6-1-11: It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. NIV Ps18:32
Pooler, GA
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
Lea Ann, Norman, OK
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
Susan from Vilonia, AR
“Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” I Peter 4:16 KJV
Stephanie, Wise
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 NKJV
Sarah, Greensboro, NC
Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. Proverbs 1:19 NLT
Marta
Southlake, TX
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10b NIV
Naomi, Olympia, WA. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 American Standard