**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
Cathy-Lebanon, OH
“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalm 122:3 KJV
Katie, LaGrange, GA: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places.” ~Habakkuk 3:18-19, ESV~
Melody , Perry MO
Lamentations3:22-23
Because of the LOrd’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness HCSB
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O’ Lord, my rock & my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Memorizing scripture this year has allowed my spirit to be more centered on Christ during many frustrting, sometimes debilitating crises with my children.
Andrea, Louisville, Ky
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
Lisa, Fredericktown
He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
Deuteronomy 8:16, NIV
Memorizing God’s Word here has increased my awareness of His awareness of me.
Tracey, Raleigh NC
“You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”- Psalm 66:12
Memorizing the scriptures the Lord has put on my heart is cleaning out a spirit of fear that I didn’t know I had.
Misti, Belleville, MI: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has enabled me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to begin dethroning an idol in my life. God is so faithful. I fall many times, but He always picks me right back up to keep fighting the good fight of faith. I love you Lord Jesus.
SusanD, Southern Illinois, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NKJV)
Amarillo , TX
See that great 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
Kara C, Aurora, Il
Proverbs 31:10-12 (NIV)
10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
Edie, Mobile,AL
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray. (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me keep my focus on His ways and not my own.
Denise, Orange City
Romans 8:38-39 ESV For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, not anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Memorizing scripture this year helps me focus less on myself and more on the Everlasting God.
Selena – Albany, GA
I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4, HCSB
James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Mandy, Idabel,
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Cor. 15:57-58 HCSB
Laura, Del Rio, TX
Zechariah 7:9 ‘Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;” NASB
Memorizing Scripture this year has been the Lord’s way of protecting me.
Amy, Moncks Corner, SC.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8, ESV
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus the apostle and the high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
Nakeisha
Houston, Texas
Memory Verse #12
Proverbs 31:27 (NLT)
“She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.”
Memorizing Scripture this year has shown me that God meets me where I am and wants to encourage my heart…that He truly is a personal God, as well as the King of the Universe.
Mindy, Van
Hebrews 13:10-11 ESV
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
Memorizing Scripture this year has been a much needed way to keep my mind renewed and focused on God through difficulty and discouragement.
Colleen, O’Fallon,IL
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Memorizing Scripture this year has gotten me on the other side of an absolutely ROTTEN six months.
Roberta, Fanshawe, OK
So faith comes from hearing, tha is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (NLT)
Louisville, KY
Hosea 13:6 “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud.; then, they forgot me.” NIV
Psalm 9: 10 KJV, And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Rebecca, Mobile Al
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 (ESV)
Memorizing Gods word has been hard for me keeping up and remembering to do get verses twice a month but I’m it’s always on my mind. So it is changing me.
Linda S.
McCalla, AL
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
John 14:3-4 ESV
Kristen C, Three Rivers, MI. “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 (NET)
Memorizing Scripture has strengthened my emotions and will to make God-honoring choices.
Stacy Detroit, Michigan
Ephesians 6:18-NIV
” And pray in the spirit on all occassions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4,5 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year is renewing my mind … it is bringing discipline to my ‘wandering’ thoughts.
Andrea, Pottstown
John 20:29 NLT
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
Memorizing God’s word this year, has given me great comfort. I like to think of my verses as a comfy blanket. One I can wrap around myself when needed.
Andrea, Pottstown (forgot the first time).
Holly, Beaumont, CA “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Rachel, Alexandria
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 NIV
Memorizing God’s word has just helped me to think more about God and try to bring Him into my every day.
Jan, Denton,TX
A word out of your mouth can seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything – or destroy it! A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony into chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. James 3:5-6 MSG
Memorizing scripture is giving me a storehouse full of wise words right out of the Lord’s mouth to use and rely on!
Kelly
Avon Park, FL
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has humbled me, showing me how much God loves me and thinks about me.
1Peter 4:12,13 NIV “Dear friends,do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”. Memorizing scripture this year has put The Word of God on my tongue to be used by Him to give comfort. His Word is alive and active in me!
Houston, TX
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
King James Version (KJV)
Johnstown, CO
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
King James Version (KJV)
Loveland, CO
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
King James Version (KJV)
Rachel, Ft. Smith, AR: And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. 1 John 2:28 (MSG)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has proven over and over that a mind filled with God’s Word is victorious!
NIV
Matthew 5:3,4
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
I Kings 3:9
Give me a God-listening heart so that I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people? TM
The Lord popped this verse out at me to begin memorizing just days before a friend confided a great deception she has been living. It has been my lifeline of prayer for me and for her.
Jessica, Winston-Salem, NC
“Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ISV)
Leverett, MA
Therefore do not let sin riegn in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Romans 6:12 NIV
Memorizing scripture has been hard work! Not always doing so well at it. But it has made me think about whether I really believe what I am memorizing or not? Do I take God at His Word? Am I willing to live by it?
YES!!!
Allison, Eau Claire, WI
Jer.32:17
Ah! Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has softened my heart, directed my focus on God, and given me strength in the face of my husband’s infidelity. To God alone be the glory!!
Michelle, Moultrie, GA.
Job 19:25 (NASM) As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Committing scriptures to my heart and mind has really given me such a sense of comfort and peace in times of trials and also in times of triumphs.
Tanya, Warren, PA
“For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has kept me grounded when I have started to stumble.
Dianne, Florida
Psalm 130:5 NKJV
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope.”
LeAnne, Malawi: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 ESV
Memorizing Scripture enabled the Holy Spirit to bring to mind many precious promises while my child was sick in a 3rd-world hospital.
Susan, Barrie, ON, Canada
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverence.” James 1:2-3 NIV
Memorizing Scripture this year has been difficult but I am unlearning some perfectionism – the effort is worthwhile and having a verse to think of for two weeks is helpful even if I don’t memorize them.