**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
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
The effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
Isaiah 32:17 NIV
Margo, Laramie, WY
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:1-2 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me get through some “black days” when depression made me feel hopeless.
Jeanene,League City, TX
“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, for You I wait all the day.”
Ps 25:5 (NASB)
Jesus wept. John ll:35
Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Marla, Lame Deer, MT
Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. NIV
Dwynne Riegel, Chapman KS NIV Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Rachel, Blairsville, GA: 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.
Nichole C, Nashville, TN
Habakkuk 2:3
Amplified Bible (AMP)
For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.
oops I forgot the last part…Memorizing scripture this year has helped me not be afraid of the future.
Lori, Atlanta, GA
” O Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalm 95:6
Memorizing Scripture this year has empowered me as I am better equipped to draw on the Word while ministering to my hurting friends…
Tammy, Rowlett, TX
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Cynthia, Blaine, WA
Behold, God, my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 (Amplifiec)
Memorizing scripture this year has been like air to be able to breathe in a very dark life situation. He has been my rock and my refuge. He is the I AM!
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” Rom. 6:16-17 NKJV
Jennifer Collierville, TN (Near Memphis)
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Memorizing Scripture this year has helped me to have His word in the forefront of my mind at all times, allowing me to encourage and BE encouraged. He is so awesome.
Debbie from Westerville, OH (typing from St. Louis, MO on our way back from CO)
Philippians 3:13b-14 NIV
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Sharon Modesto ,Ca.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man Is Powerful and Efective!!!
James 5:16 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has let me see Jesus sweetly as He gives me the gift of His Word(like a big chocolate bonbon) I’m eating it up! Thank you LORD!
Cherry, Conway, AR
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV
Memorizing scripture has changed my life in that I can feel God’s presence as I whisper his own perfect words back to Him.
Rhonda – Lima, OH
Ps. 119:133 “Establish my footsteps in Your Word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.” (NASB)
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me to be more focused on who God is and what He is doing; and caused me to be so much more thankful to Him in all of it!
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself to me.
Memorizing scripture keeps my focus on God, with so many distractions. It has become something I call pocket evangelism! Others look forward to the scripture too!
Psalms 45:11 NIV
The King is enthralled by your beauty, honor Him, for he is your Lord.
Jamye L., Greenbrier, AR
I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15: 1-2
Philippians 3:14 NIV
I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Memorizing God’s word has helped me view life with an eternal perspective; thereby helping me to endure these “momentary trials” through the promises of the ONLY wise God!
Jeri Cook
Missouri City, TX
The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. Ecclesiastes 12:10 NIV
Diane H.
Dallas. Tx.
Memorizing God’s word has been a challenge, but has made me more aware of His presence.
Carla Lee
Corryton,Tn.
NIV Jer. 29:12
“You will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.”
Memorizing God’s word this year has caused me to take a closer look at just how much I need and thirst for Him and HIs word!
Gina, Kosciusko
Matthew 7:3
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Kim, Corning, NY. Isaiah 45:3 (NIV) “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you will know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Teri, Gadsden, AL — “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 NIV
Memorizing scripture this year has gave me sanity in the hardest of times I’ve faced. Prasie Him!
Susan, Ellensburg
Psalm 5:11b NASB
“Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.”
LuAnn, Winfield, Romans 8:37-39 NIV, No in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither, death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, niether hieght nor depth,nor anything else in all creation will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me to see how personal Gods love & His word are. That He has wisdom for EVERY situation.
Beth. Stillwater. 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me break my stronghold of over-eating!!!!!
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Memorizing scripture this year, I feel the closeness of my God at the beginning of each day; and each time I reach for my spiral, He reminds me that He is with me and we are doing all things together.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Memorizing scripture this year, I feel the closeness of my God at the beginning of each day. Each time I reach for my spiral, He reminds me that He is with me and we are doing all things together.
Lara Harris, Spring Hill, TN
Psalm 112:8 NIV
His heart is secure, he will have no fear, in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
..has kept me above water and breathing.
Joan, Fredericktown, OH
NIV Romans 5:5 Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy spirit whom He has given us.
Memorizing God’s word this year has kept me from drowning in sadness
Marlinda Heppner, Oregon
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
John 14:23 (NASB)
Memorizing God’s Word has sharpened my sword, when trials come the Spirit quickens and brings up the perfect verse for the situation. God’s Word is Alive and Active in me! I’m Believeing God!
Becky, St. Augustine, “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 Memorizing God’s Word this year has
given me peace in the dark hours of the night when
worries, confusion, and doubt attack my sleep.
Janell, Clovis, NM “Let your eyes look straight ahead; Fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 (NIV) Next month my youngest child turns 18 and I know that memorizing these scriptures is preparing me for the future. I hear God say, if you look forward it will be as rewarding as my past! Thanks Beth for your inspiration!
Katie G. – Crawford, Texas – “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 Cor. 10:5 – NIV)
For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 115:8-9 NRSV
Memorizing scripture has taught my soul to march on and be strong!
Loved that verse.
Rhonda, Sulphur, LA – “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT
Amy, St Louis
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has…
-helped me encourage others by praying over them, emailing them, speaking to them (and have the references to go with the words)
-helped me stay focused, connected, and committed to growing closer to Him and really hearing the words He has spoken and applying them to my life.
Leslie
Alpharetta, GA
Psalm119:50
“You have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”
Memorizing scripture has helped me to stop doubting His love!
Becky,Pasco, WA…NLT Psa 68:35
God is awesome in his santuary.
The God of Isreal gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Memorizing the word has helped me to be an overcomer in circumstances beyond my control and not give into fear.
Karene, Yorba Linda, CA
“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Memorizing Scripture, although it has been harder this year than last time, has helped me let go of fear and uncertainty, and given me peace as I trust in the Lord.
“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.” Galatians 6:1 MSG
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been a first for me and is a beautiful reminder that God loves me and I am His.
Ruth Denison, Texas
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psalms 95:2 (KJV)
Memorizing the scriptures has kept me in the Spirit so that when frustrations come a scripture verse that I have memorized comes to mind and brings peace.
lakeland, florida, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14 NIV…Memorizing God’s Word this year has wallpapered my mind with Truth empowering me to face my circumstances wrapped in God’s love.
Pam, Wadesboro
Genesis 50:20 NKJV
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Katie (Firestone, CO)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has continually reminded me that this life is about knowing Him more and brought much peace and joy in the process.