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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.
Kaye from Arkansas says: “Commit to the lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Â Proverbs 16:3
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,that your ways may be known on earth,your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:1-2. NIV
Siesta Stephanie. Danville. Ky
Ashley, Tampa, FL
“All your children will be taught by the LORD,and great will be their peace.” Isaiah 54:13 NIV
Kristin
Clearwater, FL
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:10 NIV
Cheryl, Midlothian , Va
Let us not become weary doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore ,as we have the opportunity let us do good to all people especially those who belong to the family of believers
Gal 6:9-10 NIV
Brenda – Jordan, MN
“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
Pam, Greensboro, NC
“But blessed is the (wo)man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7
Jenny, Frankfort Ky “Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Col.: 3:2-3 NIV
Cheryl, Austin: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 NASB
Parker, CO
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET
Kimberly, el paso, tx
And my God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:19, esv
This was my verse from last time around, but I feel like I should camp on it for awhile longer. Is that allowed?
I won’t be able to make it to the gathering in January because I just found out my due date for my second baby is Jan 16. A great reason to miss, but I confess, I’m a little disappointed to not be there!
Chrissy – Lawrence, KS
“For he chose us, in him, before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
P.S. Sorry a little late, why is life so hectic?! God bless!
Yours, Oh Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, Oh Lord, and You are exalted as head above all. I Chronicles 29:11
Christy – Justin, TX – 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
Emily
Greensburg
“Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God.And trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house….I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.” John 14:1-3 (ICB)
Heather
Greensburg, La
“I lift my eyes up to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV)
Jennifer
Greensburg, La
Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”
2 Corn. 2:14 NLT
But thank God! He has made us His captives & continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses
us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like sweet perfume.
Ann from Indiana
Paige, Atlanta, Psalm 68:5 NIV
A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.
Jane, Gulfport – “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” Philippians 2:15 (NASB)
Tami, Arcadia ~
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV
Some boast in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
Psalm 20 NAS
For everyne who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 14:11
Katie, NYC If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. NIV
Merredith; Champaign…..The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions. Ps 119:57 net bible
Laura, Houston:
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:4
Trust in the LORD forever,
because in Yah, the LORD, is an everlasting rock!
Is. 26:4 (HCSB)
Pam Nelson
Arvada, CO
Lori, Pelham, NH
“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.” PS 139:11 KJV
Beth S. Coon Rapids, MN
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8 NIV
Recita siempre el libro de la ley y medita en Ă©l de dĂa y de noche; cumple con cuidado todo lo que en Ă©l está escrito. AsĂ prosperarás y tendrás Ă©xito.
Josué 1:8 NVI
Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33: 18-19 NASB
Wendy, San Bruno, CA
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30, TNIV
Nicole, Florissant, MO: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Chesney, Knoxville. “therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 (the NET Bible).
Patti, Northville, MI: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” ~ Matthew 4:16 NIV
Karon, Kingsland, GA
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19 NASB
Laura Beth, Frisco
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1:22-25, NIV
Pamela Bishop, Ca.
Jeremiah 4:2 and if you swear, “As the Lord lives, in truth, in justice and in righteousness,then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.” ESV
Sarah, Chocowinity, NC
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
Renee; Austin
You are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 NIV
Allison A. Johnson City, TN; “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3 NIV
“There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
nor is there any Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:2 (NASB)
Bunny from Fithian, IL:
You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in you.
Isaiah 26:3 HCSB
I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints. Psalms 85:8
Atlanta, GA
‘You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.’
Summer C.
Fuquay Varina, NC
Jeremiah 31:25 NIV
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeannette, NJ
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2: 24-25
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)
Amber – Vienna, WV
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
Nancy-Canyon, TX
Ephesians 4:8-16 (ESV)
Therefore it says,”When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,and he gave gifts to men.”In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children,tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” Prov. 4:11 (NIV)
Psalm 34:13 (NKJV)
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
PS logged this on June 1 around 8:30 from my phone, while out of town. Just checked & can’t find verse. I’ve re-entered.
Hi Ashley, it posted at 8:10.
Rhonda ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan
But the LORD is FAITHFUL, and he will STRENGTHEN and PROTECT YOU from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)