**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
Julie, new braunfels, “therefore, as God’s chosen people holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and paitience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV
memorizing scripture has helped me to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christs love.
Julie, Goodyear. “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
Margo,Burlington, Ontario: ” And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:3,4 NIV
Betty, Austin, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has helped to calm my mind and has been a beautiful way to awake in the morning by saying these scriptures when I wake up.
Fenton, Ashburn, VA: “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.” John 5:19 RSV
Memorizing scripture this year has strengthened my friendship with the Lord.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1 NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has helped me to direct my thoughts more on Him and to recall His word in time of need.
Cari, Huntington, WV
Lord, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say. Psalm 141:3 (NCV)
Hannah; Dayton,OH; Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Memorizing scripture this year has lead me to a life of victory!
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Psalm 37:4-5(a)
Sahar, Gainesville, VA
“He is your praise, He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” Deut. 10:21, NIV
Memorizing God’s Word has made His Word all the more precious to me, it shows me who God is, and I love who He is!!!!
April, Lake Charles, LA
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. ~Heb. 4:16 (NIV)
Memorizing Scripture has reinforced what God is doing in my life.
Jana, Tampa. “He must become greater, I must become less.” John 3:30 NIV Memorizing scripture this year has helped me get through adjusting to life with 2 kiddos.
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has refreshed my soul and armed me with God’s Word.
Sharon, Barrington
“Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” Psalm 90:14 NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has brought me into a more intimate relationship with Him. Several times I have encountered my verses 3 or 4 different times in the week that I have been memorizing. That is how close He is.
Tatia, Elkridge, MD:
“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 has been a challenge timewise for me thus far – I’m focusing on verses that remind me of how Worthy He is of my reverence and I’m not giving Him the time He deserves!
Dawn, Dubuque, IA
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has brought me closer to God in ways I never knew were possible.
Cara – Fridley, MN
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2a (NIV)
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me guard my thoughts and give me hope.
Laura,Perth,Australia
Matthew 28:20 NIV
‘…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
This year is my first time memorizing God’s word, and I’m 11!(Though my mother IS helping me…)
Toni, Benton: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29 ESV: Memorizing God’s Word this year has been my lifeline in a turbulent year.
“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Memorizing scripture is at times challenging, however His WORD continues to bless me as I endeavor to “write” it upon my heart.
Judy, Spokane, WA
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NASV
Memorizing scripture this year has sooo helped me to stay focused on God’s word daily!
Amy, Columbus, OH: “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 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me hear God’s voice.
1 Peter 2:9 TNIV “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Memorizing scripture this year has helped me to remain content in my present circumstances when I started longing for more.
James 4:7
New International Version (NIV)
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Memorizing God’s word has been HARD for me. My estrogen is fading fast and with it my mind. Lord, restore my mind!!!
Heather from Florence, SC: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect…” 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
Meg, Columbus, OH: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 56:22 (NIV)
Memorizing scripture this year has given me focus and encouragement.
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.”
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Lois, Abilene, KS
“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
2 Cor. 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
NIV
Traci from Lakewood, WA: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” – Psalm 118:8
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweights them all 2 Cor 4:17 NIV
Katie
Duluth
Memorizing Gods word this year has cause me to remember that it is living and active and fresh and for me!!!
Diane, Commerce Twp., MI “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Memorizing scripture has helped me focus on God’s message to me every day.
Kathy Cooper – Aurora, CO
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isiah 26:3 NASB
Memorizing God’s Word this year has enabled me to keep focused on His faithful promises to me while my husband continues to look for a job after being laid off 606 days ago.
Shanelle Phoenix, AZ
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God ” NKJV
Memorizing God’s Word has made my long drive home more exciting.
Wendy, Mesilla Park NM
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated, at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth.” Col. 3:1-2 NASB
Heather, Austin, TX, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV
Dayna~Ontario,Calif.
Trust in the Lord and do good;Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3,4 NKJ
Memorizing scripture this year has given me more opportunities to share the word with others!
Kaycee, Cabot: “O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1 NIV.
Memorizing scripture this year has been a very special gift from my very loving, very faithful God. Thank you Jesus!
Elizabeth, Charlottesville
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me. Psalm 40:11, ESV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me control my thought life and battle the enemy.
Carrie Hunter Hindman, KY
Psalms 27:14 KJV
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Memorizing scripture has strengthened my faith, helped me in difficult situations, and affirmed that God loves me with an everlasting love.
Sharon, LP, MI
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands
Psalm 63: 3-4
Yolanda, Queen City, TX
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3: 23-24 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has helped my mind draw on the Word for both conviction and encouragement.
Cassie; Fulshear, TX:
“Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has kept me grounded, held me accountable, challenged me, and brought me closer to the Lord! (among SO many other things)
Rebekah, Perth, Australia “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:6 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year with all you lovely siestas has provided me with the accountability I need to get into the Word more regularly with my daughter. 🙂
Elizabeth, Chesterfield, VA:
“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36 (NLT)
Jennifer, Frederick, CO
NIV Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Jean, Columbus, Ohio “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJV
Judy Littleton, NC
FOr the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NKJV)
Memorizing scripture this year has sent me back to the word to dig deeper for the hidden treasure verses I had loved but not memorized where they were located.
Lori, 108 degree Odessa, TX
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (NIV)
Memorizing scripture this year has given me peaceful patience as I wait on the Lord for the salvation of my husband. It has also given me strength, comfort and guidance as I learn to be a mother to my sweet baby son.