**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
Melody from Crystal Springs
Song of Solomon 2.4 (b) His banner over me is love!
meditating on Scripture has given me time to really let Him open my eyes to see wonderful things in His Word!!! Yes, He speaks to this recovering sinner! how amazing is that.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut. 6:5 NIV
Michelle, Bossier City, LA
Nehemiah 8:10b
“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Memorizing God’s word this year has reminded me that there is supernatural, transforming, life-changing power in the Word of God. What a mighty God is He!
Lorraine Banks, Tyler, TX
“When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’
O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, i was dismayed”
(Psalm 30:6-7). NIV
Heather, Hot Springs, AR, Luke 21:28, AMP,
” Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me see I can actually memorize and has been helpful to recite when I get stressed and need His peace. It is fun just to pick the verse each time and to see how those verses each have a purpose.
Kim, Ashland, VA “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3, NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has deepened and strengthened my relationship with the Lord.
Lindsey from Dubach, LA is memorizing “be[ing] 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)
Sharen, Geelong, Australia
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 NIV
Memorising scripture this year has made me feel much closer to God!
Diane in MN,
Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing, You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 16:5 & 6 Holman Christian Bible
Judy, Norfolk, Va.
Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accuratley. 2Timothy 2:15 NET
the memory verses have helped me to stay focused on God.
“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)
Carrie, Piqua, OH “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has kept me in His word!
Nicole, Portland OR: But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. – 2 Timothy 4:17a (NIV)
Joy – Asheboro, NC
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23, NIV
Lisa, West Des Moines, IA “God arms me with strength; he has made my way safe.” Psalm 18:32 NLT
Memorizing God’s Word this year has kept me from being pulled in so many directions, but rather centered on his Truth.
Cheryl – Concord, NC
“But thanks be to God,
who in Christ
always leads us
in triumphal procession,
and through us
spreads the fragrance
of the knowledge of Him everywhere.
2Corinthians 2.14 ESV
Isaiah 44:22 NIV
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Joyce, Lebanon, Tennessee
As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9 NIV
April Lopez, BonneyLake, Wa
Isaiah 33:22 NIV
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; it is he who will save us.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Psalm 119:18 NASB Memorizing God’s Word this year has made me aware of the frequency of the situations where these verses can be recited to help me through a tough circumstance.
Jana, San Angelo, TX
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:21 New American Standard
Memorizing God’s Word this year has given me TRUTH to draw upon in my everyday situations.
Susan from Beverly
Proverbs 11:2 (NLT)
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility come wisdom.
Memorizing scripture this year has renewed my mind and my attitude!
Huntsville, AL:
“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
Memorizing scripture this year has made me very aware of the Sovereignty of the Lord.
Loretta, Murrayville
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 AKJV
Memorizing scripture this year has provided discipline and focus for me.
Cindy, Apex, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power: His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5 NIV
Kathleen, Ashland
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has been an awesome resource for bringing up scripture in conversations with friends (both believers and not) and in my small group Bible study that I lead.
Dean- Barbourville, Ky- “For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish.” (American Standard)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been something I want my 3 daughters to be influenced by and to grow me closer to Jesus. 🙂
Leslie, Beijing: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”
Memorizing Scripture this year has given me peace that sets me apart in a land where few have true Peace.
I’m catching up from 6/1 so I have two this time:
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written the righteous man shall live by faith. NASB
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.NASB
Memorizing scripture this year has given me a “scriptural diary” of how God has worked in my life since January.
Jenny, Des Moines, Iowa
You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Memorizing God’s Word this year has brought me a new and deeper commitment to Him and fresh insight into Him. It’s also purified my mind and given me good words to ponder.
Ephesians 1:5-6 ESV
(in love) He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.
Toni, Sugar Hill, GA “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has given me an anchor outside myself, and that anchor holds!
My verses are from Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
Allison, Tampa. Is 44:22 (NASB)
“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Memorizing scripture this year has brought me comfort and strength when I felt I had none.
Sue, Texarkana, Psalm 90:15-17 “Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” NIV
Memorizing Scripture this year has enabled me to keep steadfast in hope. (I wish I could share with all of you how the verses I have memorized have tracked right along with my life. Amazing, simply amazing… Praise You, Mighty God!)
Wendy Raleigh NC
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has shown me that I CAN commit to being in God’s word daily and that His word NEVER returns void-just the right memorized verse pops in my head when I need it!
Linda Annville, KY
For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice Psalm 63:7 CJB
Rebekah, age 10, St. Paul, Minnesota
and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11.6 NIV
Jennifer, Kodak, TN
The King is enthralled by your beauty, honor him, for He is your Lord. Psalm 45:11 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has supported the Lord’s work of bringing healing and freedom in new areas of my heart. Yea!
Sarah, Burlington, ON: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4, TNIV)
Memorizing scripture this year has enabled me to find victory over strongholds of fear and anxiety that Satan tried to overwhelm me with during a time of change and uncertainty.
Maria – New York, NY
Psalm 143:8
Amplified Bible (AMP)
8Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.
Memorizing Gods word this year has caused me to keep my mind on things above.
Shana, St. Paul, Minnesota
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11.6
Memorizing scripture this year has drawn me closer to my daughter (Rebekah, who is 10) as we choose and work on our verses together.
Deborah – Cheyenne, WY \ “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things weill be given to you as well.” Matt. 6:33 NIV Memorizing scripture this year has encouraged me to trust God for everything, esp. the “hard stuff.”
Susan – Maynard, MA
“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.”
Isaiah 50:7 – NLT
Marilyn from Taylor Mill, KY
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colassians 3:12. NIV
Memorizing God’s word is hard but he has kept me to this task to be filled and this has shown me His immense love for me!
Shannon in Kissimmee, Florida
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13
Memorizing God’s word this year has been an inspiring commitment. I have never been so excited for the 1st and 15th of the month!!
Love ya siestas.
Shannon
Shelly Bliss, San Dimas, Ca: “My command is this; Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:16 NIV
Sarah Millers Creek NC
I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”
Psalms 91:2 NIV
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 20:7 NIV
Evie, Cedar Creek, TX “LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! Psalm 16: 5-6 NLT
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me redirect my thinking. It helps me really take notice of how I am living and helps me grow in areas that need healing. Memorizing scripture has served not only my memory bank but is my “life mirror”.