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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.
Tara
Kyiv, Ukraine
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Hebrews 11:15 (NIV)
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return.
Kathy
Chattanooga TN
Katie, Lincoln NE, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
Shari – Ohio, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22 NIV
Elizabeth, Reston, VA. “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 ESV
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
He did right in the lord’s sight, but not with a perfect or blameless heart.
II Chronicles 25:2
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Sarah
Newburgh, IN
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Christy Crosby, Clarksville TN
Let the King be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your Lord.Psalm 45:11 NIV
Cynthia, Richmond, VA – “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV
wildlyblessed, Crawford, TX: “I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4 NET
Kim from Lovettsville
Heb. 13:5
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 ne er will I forsake you”.
NIV
Karen K. in Houston, TX — You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Ps 56:8 NASB
Kelly, Huntsville
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matt 13:44
Gotta say love the time. Huge reminder of how life slips away.
Rhonda Anderson, Indiana
Call to me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
Inez Barnes
Hamburg AR
Couldn’t find my post so am reposting
Shelley, Dallas
Isaiah 41:13 ESV
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'”
jamieb, corbin,ky
Eph. 5:18b
… be filled with the Spirit.
Atlanta, GA
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly rquipped for every good work”-2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV, 1984)
Kathy, Austin,
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
Crevolyn, Gainesville, GA “The Lord will fulfill His purpose in me. Your love O Lord endures forever. Do not abandon the works of your hands.”
Psalm 138:8 NIV
Sarah, St. Peters, MO
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:12 (NIV)
Sarah, McKinney, TX
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NIV
Anita
Austin, TX
Prov 17:1
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. (NIV)
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
NIV Psalm 126:3
Still catching up!
“The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.”
Psalm 119:57 NET
Not sure if I posted this one, behind on posting but doing okay with the memorizing. The app is great help!!!
Brigette
Morehead,KY
When tempted, no one should say
“God is tempting me,”
For God cannot be tempted by evil,
neither does He tempt anyone.
James 1:13 NIV
Mandy
China Spring, TX
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
Holly Belt, Spring Hill,TN
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Betty, Houston:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
Luke 1:46-47 NKJV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7
NIV
Susan
OKC
“Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one Spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppress you.” Phil. 1:27-28a NIV
Lauren, New Braunfels, Tx
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV
Robin from Morehead, Ky says,
“Jesus said, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” RSV John 8: 31-32
Very good site. thank you so much for your effort in writing the posts.
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Eph. 4:23 NLT
Pam, Greensboro, NC
“But blessed is the (wo)man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
Regan, Conroe. “It is for discipline you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” Hebrews 12:7 ESV
Melinda from Cheney
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
Heidi, Round ROck, TX
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
Kelli
Houston
“the righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
Proverbs 29:7
NIV
Courtney, LaPlata, MD
Colossians 2:8-15 (ESV)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Wylie, Texas
Psalm 34:18 (NET)(copied from Beth’s post week 10)
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.
“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” Ephesians 2:21-22 NIV
Christine from Raleigh, NC
Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what He promised.
~ Hebrews 10:23 [HCSB]
this is a continuation from Memory Verse #10. basically, Part 2.
Amanda, Nashville, TN
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Stacey, Houston, TX: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Kelly, The Hills, Texas
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 and praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice and the God of Peace will be with you. Phil. 4:8-9