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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.
“Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage.”
Psalm 119:54 NLT, ’96 edition
Heather G
Charlotte NC
RIchmond, Va
God is able to make all grace abound toward you,that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
II Cor. 9:8
Poorna, Indianapolis: “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. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” ~Hebrews 12:11 – 13 (NIV)
Janice, Topeka, KS
Psalm 119:57 NET
The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions.
Psalm 131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
nor do I involve myself in great matters or in things too difficult for me. NASB
Linda, Wichita, KS
1 Cor 3:9, NIV
“….No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Martha, Lexington: ” I have given you authority to trample on sankes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19 NIV
Deuteronomy 30:20- that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob..NIV
For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whos hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:31-33 (NIV) (better late than never!)
Annette, Toronto ON
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
Psalm 9:1 NKJV
Alison, Norman, OK
How blessed you are, O Israel!
Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord?
He is your protecting shield
and your triumphant sword!
Your enemies will cringe before you,
and you will stomp on their backs!” Deut 33:29 NLT
Cottage Grove, MN
You will keep him in perfect peace
Whose mind is stayed on You
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Erin in Euless –
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18
Karen Tucson
“The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1-2 NIV
Matther 6:9
“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
Martha, Haddonfield, NJ
Romans 12:3 (NASB) For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Robyn Lake Wylie, SC
Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2
Carrie Hays, Houston TX
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
Psalm 9:1 NKJV
Charlene, Santa Fe, TX; The Lord shall guide the continually and satisfy thy soul. Isaiah 58:11
Linda says,
Finally brothers, 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.
Phil 4:8 NIV
Christy H, Sherman, TX
“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;”
Psalm 91:11 NIV
Sharon in Florien: That’s why I am suffering the way I am. But I am not ashamed. I know the One I have believed in. I am sure He is able to take care of what I have given Him. I can trust Him with it until the day He returns as judge. 2 Timothy 1:12 NIRV
Kim, Nashville, TN:
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:3-4 (ESV)
(Sorry I’m late; was on vacation :))
Yvonne
Louisville, KY
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Mom’s verse:
Sadie
Nicholasville, KY
Phil. 4:13 (HCSB)
I have the strenght to face all conditions by the power Christ gives me.
Cacy-Evans, GA
Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
NIV
Connie G Midland, MI
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Becky from Wixom, MI
Psalm 73:28 NIV
“But for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.”
Sorry this is late…had major internet issues!!
“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
Beth, Houston
For no matter how many promises God has made they are YES in Christ!
2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
“Each of you should use whatever gift you received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Danay’e
Spencer, Indiana
Delores
Columbia, TN
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
Shanelle Phoenix,AZ
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
1Chronicles 29:17a
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple.”~ Psalm 27:4 NIV
Natalie; Trussville, AL: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdsom.” Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
Eva ~ Colfax, NC
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and carful instruction.” 2Timothy 4:2
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged…”
Proverbs 17:6a
NIV
Dawn, Dubuque, IA
“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.” NIV Isaiah 41:13
Lisa, Washington NJ “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalm 141:3 ESV
Sorry, I am late. I am a BUSY teacher, finishing up a rough school year.
I think that I also missed posting my May 15th verse. It was the week I was giving standardized tests, having my son’s fourth birthday party, and away celebrating my ten year wedding anniversary. I will post this. It may be that I already did, but I can’t recall doing it. So, here it is just in case.
May 15, 2011
Luke 10:41b and 42
You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her.
Kristi, OKC
“It’s the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I’ll show you my salvation.” Psalm 50:23
Kristi, Cedartown, GA- “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 NIV
Christy, Talking Rock, Georgia
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Leah from Athens, Georgia
Proverbs 24:12(NKJV)
If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
Yvonne, Riverside/Fairfield, CA
You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. ~Deuteronomy 13:4 (NASB)~
Aimmi, Red Oak, Missouri
Psalm 62:5-8 NIV
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
Kate from Cheney, WA
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,…
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Ashley, Huntsville, AL: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9, NIV
Loyce, Deer Park “…for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you…” I Chron 28:9 (NIV)
Angie – Aberdeen, SD: Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”