**January 20-21, 2012**
Hear bells and whistles and lots of music, maybe even a few beginning bars of the Hallelujah chorus: YOU MADE IT EXACTLY HALFWAY!!!! You are officially over the hump after you get this entry behind you.
Way to go, Sisters. Way to go! It’s a pretty good feeling, isn’t it? Don’t think for a second that the enemy didn’t try to steal away your focus and commitment. If you made it this far, you fought with him and won. This is a big victory. Celebrate it with your very faithful God.
I want to brag on you for being so fastidious about limiting your comments to the memory verses. Even when I’ve taunted you with extra conversation, you’ve held steadfastly to the rule. You are the best group ever. To look down the comment stream and see nothing but verses is immensely powerful. My faith explodes in my chest every single time. The sight of it and the effect it was having on my own personal life led me to invite anybody on Twitter who could use a fresh brainwashing to come and peruse it. I pray that numbers were blessed and that some took the challenge and decided to start memorizing Scripture.
All that said, this time, since we’re at the halfway point, I’m going to open your comments up to one extra line for the sake of personal testimony. After you’ve documented all your usual information (First name, city, verse, and translation), finish this sentence: Memorizing God’s Word this year has…
Get as specific as you can!
So you’ll have an example to go by, here’s my entry this time around with the completion of the added sentence:
Beth, Houston. “Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (The NET Bible) Memorizing God’s Word this year has caused me to have a redirected mind in a situation that could have bred fear and discontentment.
Get the idea? OK, now it’s your turn.
P.S. Here’s some really great news! Android and Blackberry SSMT apps are up, running and available. AND, plans toward our January celebration are already in full swing! We can hardly wait to host you here, Sisters.
I love you like crazy.
Beth
Valerie, Louisville KY
Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Chris is the SAME yesterday and today and forever.
Memorizing God’s Word this year has revealed afresh and new God’s love and hope in my life to fill the voids only HE can fill.
Lala Ball Cooper from Ruston, Louisiana, says:
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but John 1:29also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 KJV
Pam, Dallas, TX. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has taken my favorite verses I have marked in my Bible and written them on my heart, soul and mind.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22 NIV
Chris P. N Ft. Myers, FL
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Joy, Whitehouse, TX
2 Cor 4:8 NIV
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair.
Memorizing God’s word this year has helped me deal with day to day annoyances….keeping my mind focused on God (so powerful),
Bonnie Huntington, WV
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Jeri Stillwater, ok.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Roman 1:16 (NIV)
Cindy, Rock Hill, SC
On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ (Exodus 13:8 NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has reminded me that it is as fresh today as when He first spoke it and that it is still powerful to lead me, comfort me, instruct me and draw me unto Himself.
Debbie – Fort Thomas, KY
“and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like noonday.”
Isaiah 58:10 NIV
Vicki, Colleyville, TX Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more. Hebrews 10:17 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been challenging.
Joy, Monroe, GA: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ -Philippians 3:20, NIV
Heather, Woodstock, GA
“But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands.”
Psalm 31:14-15a (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has changed the way I appraoch and even look at His Word: these verses have gone from text on a page to a living part of my mind and heart.
Jane, Houston, TX
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has given me something to hold onto when the floor beneath me disappears.
Just wanted to add my memory verse last week was out of week 3 of “Duty or Delight” JS! lol! 🙂
Phyllis, Irving
KJV Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in they sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Kimberly Orr–Zionsville, Indiana
Psalm 37:7 ESV
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Isaiah 55:3 ESV
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
His word is LIFE to me! Praise You, Jesus for how You have spoken to me through Your word!
Cindy
Flemingsburg, KY
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Heather, Spokane WA
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV
Pamela Sue Palm Bay, Florida 🙂
“The name of the LORD
is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it
and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has both blessed
and challenged me many times!
Lori; Magnolia, AR.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] shortcomings and let them drop.” –Mark 11:25 (Amplified Bible)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been reminding me so much of what a fogiving Christlike spirit means, in the midst of a situation which is extremely difficult to forgive; (I do not think I am where He wants me yet with this, but my mind is stopped in it’s tracks more now).
Natalie
Nashville, TN
29 years old
Even when you are old, I will take care of you,
Even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.
I made you and I will support you,
I will carry you and rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4 NET
Memorizing Gods Word has helped to put an end to anxiety and depression in my life. I have also used other resources but Gods Word is the foundation of all my treatment.
Caitlin, McKinney, TX
1 Corinthians 2:16, NIV “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Memorizing God’s Word this year has freed me and equipped me to fight my flesh and the evil one!
Oshkosh WI
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1:6 NASB
Memorizing these Scriptures has shown me again and again and again that God can make all things possible.
Cassandra, Aldergrove, BC, Canada – She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me conquer one of my fears. I’ve always wanted to memorize large passages of scripture but talked myself out of it because they’re so long and now I’m memorizing Proverbs 31 one verse at a time.
Christa, Greeneville, TN. “Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:10 NIV
Memorizing Scripture this year has given me extra ammunition for my arsenal for those days when I feel the war I am fighting.
Romans 12:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Karen, Dover NH “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father” Col 1:10-12a (NIV)
Amber, Lincolnton, NC
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31, NLT
Memorizing God’s Word this year has drawn me closer to Him than I’ve ever been before!
Rhonda, Searcy, AR “And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be the orders, you’re really serving God.” Ephesians 6:7 Msg.
Verse 11: Whitney, Nashville. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV). “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
Verse 12: Whitney, Birmingham. Psalm 62:5 (NIV). “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Memorizing God’s Word this year has caused me to have a steady peace in the midst of a bittersweet transition that my husband and I have recently made from Nashville to Birmingham.
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area, CA:
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.”
Colossians 2:13 (NLT)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has enabled me to combat condemning/discouraging thoughts successfully at key times + put my mind on Him.
Pam
Rome, GA
“At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting– it will happen!” Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been the sustaining breath of truth I’ve needed to survive my husband’s unemployment, health difficulties, and the letting go of “things” in order to hang on to what is intangible.
Jessica, Greensboro NC
I stopped this at like the 2nd week, but I’m starting back up with renewed faith. I need this!!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Keller, TX
Isaiah 33:2 NIV
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
Memorizing God’s Word this year has drawn me to my knees before Him. His Word is so powerful. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” James 4:8
Alison P.
McComb, MS
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:14&15 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been FUN because most of the verses I’ve chosen go along with some good memories and come from a passage that I’ve been wanting to memorize but kept wimping out on! 😉
Debbie, Marion, IN: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has gotten me back on track and reminds me of His strength and ecouragement daily. I am not alone, He is with me all the time. “)
Sarah, West Monroe
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” Psalm 103:11 (ESV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me go right instead of left when I come upon difficult situations that tripped me up in the past.
Julie, Wentzville, MO ~
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” ~ 1 Thes. 3:12
Memorizing scripture has given me a focused direction for what God is teaching me in my life at the moment for what I need to “plant” rather than just eat. 🙂
Becky
Brentwood TN
Ps 139:17
KJV
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them.
Jennifer, Highlands Ranch, CO
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has cleansed my mind and given me a “default” setting of truth.
Traci – Corona, California
John 14:27 (NKJV) – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
April, Vermilion.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s word has enable me to believe God over a situation with my child and my health.
**Thanks so much for the Android app.!
Jill, League City, TX
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 ESV
We lost our three-year-old nephew to cancer in April and memorizing God’s word has definitely given me strength and peace in the middle of some very tough times.
Sandy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa
II Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been especially rewarding because of the gals that are doing it with me here in Cedar Rapids.
Jamie, Bixby
Prov 13:7 (NIV)One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Memorizing God’s word this year has helped me find a place to go when I am hurting!
Charlotte Philadelphia, 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
Memorizing God’s Word this year has kept me from going ‘nuts’ with all 2011 has brought my way. ‘Now to God my Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through JESUS CHRIST — to the glory and praise of GOD. Phil 1:9-11
Suzann Benson
Kingwood, WV
Pursue righteousness and loving kindness and you will find life, righteousness and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NLT
Memorizing God’s TRUTH this year has changed my life in ways that I couldn’t imagine. It keeps me focused, brings me back to Him and offers encouragement through out the circumstances in my day and life.
Linda Bend, OR Psalm 34:18 NIV
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.