**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
”Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law.” Psalm 119:54-55 NIV.
Memorizing God’s Word this year has helped me recommit to a faltering 30-year marriage…God has been so faithful even when I have not been, pouring out His healing love and mercy. Instead of the divorce I expected, my husband and I just renewed our vows. So sweet! Believe me, if God could fix us, He can fix you too. (If your marriage needs it; no judgment here.)
NIV Ephesians 3:16
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.
Memorizing scripture this year has been convicting, edifying and JOYFUL!
Deborah, Waco, TX
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;thou annointest my head with oil;my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalms 23:3-6
Memorizing God’s Word has given me encouragement and filled my heart with joy because He loves me and cares for me!
Rebecca, Dallas, TX: “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
Delores, Columbia TN
Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
“And the Lord, He is the One who
goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Memorizing scripture this year has helped me with my walk with the Lord, brought comfort and peace to my soul thu many struggles and trials. Thank you Jesus:) & Thank you Beth for encouraging us:)
“They will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with you and will rescue you declares The Lord.”
Jeremiah 1:19 NIV
This Word has pounded, pressured, pulveized….yet encouraged, refreshed, strengthened my heart…WOW GOD!!!
Jennifer, Garland, TX
My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. James 1:19-20 HCS
Memorizing God’s Word this year has help me keep my focus on the areas God wants to change in me. It has been rewriting the old habits with new ones.
Tami Kc, Mo
Psalm 16:6 NIV
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delighful inheritance.
Heather, Glencoe, AL;
No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11(NIV)
Paula, Newark, Ohio
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NAS)
Memorizing God’s Word this year has rekindled my hunger for Him 🙂
Macey, Whidbey Island, WA
Phil 1:7 “I hold you in my heart”.
Macey, Whidbey Island, WA (I have another verse) 😀
” ~ And let not your adornement be merely external ~ braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
1 Tim 1:15 ESV
Tracy, Spring, TX
LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
Psalm 16:5 NIV
Stephanie, Glen Burnie, MD
Romans12:19-21 ESV
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,”Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord,” To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Tracy, Edgewood. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. ~James 3:16-18 (NLT)
Memorizing God’s Word has given me incredible strength, peace, stability and comfort amidst the most difficult season on my life.
Amy Storms
Santa Clarita, CA
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14, NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been life-giving–my very breath–and at times I’ve felt as though I were hanging on to my spiral for dear life.
Leah, Little Falls,
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Adrienne, Clarksville, TN
“We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
Memorizing God’s word this year has gotten me through my husband’s yearlong deployment with little stress and has seen us through the miraculous adoption of our infant son.
Erin, Denver
Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 KJV
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
I Peter 4:9 (NIV)
Emily – Des Moines, IA
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with god things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV
Memorizing scripture this year has given me something stable and eternal to cling to when so much else in my life seems to be changing.
Lynn, Springfield, MO – Prov 3:5 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
“So faith comes from what is heard and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”
Romans 10:17 (HCSB)
Megan – Prattville, AL
Being 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
Jolie, Cottage Grove, MN
;all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:16b-17 NIV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has been an anchor for my soul, bringing a bright focus to each day and a bright hope for my tomorrows.
Lee Ann, Wewahitchka, FL
“She considers a field and buys it. From her earnings she plants a vineyard.” –Proverbs 31:16
The passage I’m currently working on has really challenged me to be a better woman of God and a more encouraging, faithful, godly wife.
“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.”
Ps. 25:9 NLT
Lisa: Steinbach, MB
Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Memorizing God’s Word this year has pulled me out of situations that had potential to become very dangerous.
Sandy, Gettysburg, SD: “Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11:33a (NIV) Memorizing God’s word has taught me that, indeed, I can memorize! Something I thought my brain cells were incapable of doing.
Lisa Mesa, Arizona
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By NO MEANS! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:12 NIV
Christy T. – Hawthorne, CA
“He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Psalm 103:7-8 (NIV)
Lexington, NC
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. NIV
Jeannette from Ellicott City, MD
“For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland”
Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Memorizing God’s Word has changed me in so many ways!! It has healed many wounds and has brought encouragement through difficult times.
-Sorry, here’s the rest of my comment.
Memorizing Scripture this year has shown me the power of memorizing whole segments of scripture. Matthew 6:25-34, now Psalm 103. It feels like such an accomplishment, and such a neat way to really meditate on the verses in their context. It also has me rehearsing/saying them out loud, on my long morning walk with my 9-month-old son and my dog. The neighbors probably think I’m nuts, but after hearing the teaching in Believing God on the power of our spoken word, I speak the scripture out loud. Then I roll right in to praying OUT LOUD. Thanks for keeping me accountable!
Catherine, Puyallup, WA
“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.”
Jonah 2:8 ESV
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
James 3:17,18 NIV
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Memorizing God’s Word this year has revealed the availability of His divine power in me if I will fill my mind with His Word.
Cary Forney, TX Psalm 139:5 NLT
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Memorizing scripture this year has been powerful, challenging and such a blessing.
Tangila, Pearland TX
“Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:5 (NASB)
Donita – Tucson, AZ
Ephesians 5:1 (The Message)
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you.
Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:18-19(NLT)
Beth Herring – Oak Grove, La.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”
(Ephesians 4:32) KJV
Memorizing God’s Word has revolutionized my intimate and purposeful walk with Him. It has cause me to listen more carefully to His voice and to seek Him like never before.
Karissa, Martinsburg,WV
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I amm your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Mindy, Rowley, IA Habakkuk 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” NKJV
Memorizing God’s Word this year has caused me to discipline myself to study the Word regularly instead of only leaning on things I’ve learned before, and it’s made me feel that I’m practicing what I preach when I tell my kids to study their Awana verses before watching TV or playing video games.
Natalie, Houston – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has been an act of faith because I have avoided scripture memory for years with various excuses. it’s helped knowing that we are all doing this together and having the structure and accountability has helped me move forward BUT really I have been able to memorize by God’s grace and only by the power of the Spirit because I am weak but he is faithful!
Columbia, SC “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1John 3:1
Memorizing the word of God puts His words in my mouth and therefore in my heart.
Tammy N. – Lubbock, TX
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. Psalm 145:17 (NIV)
Songs of Solomon Chapter 2 Verse 4 (ESV)
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Shannon Rogers, AR – “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” NKJV
NKJV Psalm 37:11- “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace”.