WE MADE IT!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!! To the glory of God, we made it, Siestas! If I could hug your neck, I’d purely squeeze you in two! Please picture me (in a long skirt) doing copious cheerleader jumps! I cannot wait to celebrate with as many of you as possible in January. I wish with all my heart that every single one of you were coming. This girl right here is ready to party. Even one of you missing is too many but I know that it’s hard to manage the time away and the travel expenses are also just too high for many. I’d pay every one of your ways if I could.
Okay, you darling things. I didn’t even have to think twice about the verse I wanted to memorize this last time around in 2011 because it’s about you. With your understanding, I’ll use “sister” instead of “brother.” Here goes:
Beth, Houston. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my [sister], because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” Philemon 7 ESV
Oh, gracious. That is the truth.
Now, since this is a very special occasion, we’re going to break protocol. This time I’m not going to limit you to your usual 1st and 15th Scripture-only entries. As we wrap up our year, you are welcome to also write a brief paragraph about what this journey with Christ has meant to you and why. No pressure. The invitation is simply there is you want to testify.
You are so incredibly dear to me, Siestas. I am at a loss for words. What a ride.
Lord Jesus, thank You, thank You, thank You, thank You! We cannot do anything to Your good pleasure that You do not first initiate and then enable. To You be all credit, honor, and praise. Please cause us to retain “the implanted word, which is able to save [our] souls.” (James 1:21) Make us wiser and make our hearts larger. You are our delight. We want so much to be Yours, too. You are our everything.
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
Psalm 23:6 NIV
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Kathy Cupit
Hazlehurst, MS
Psalm 91:16 (KJV)
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Julie, Waco
“Be strong & courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9 NLT
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”
Psalm 27:4 (NIV)
Nikki, Franklin, Tn
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
“In my distress I called to the Lord, I cried to my God for help. From His temple, He heard my voice; my cry came before Him and into His ears.~ Psalm 18:16
Lisa S. in Montgomery, TX
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 effective.
Patti, Fort Walton Beach, FL; I have gotten behind this month of December so will need to post my verses for the 1st and the 15th. This year has been my first attempt ever to memorize scripture, and I thank you so much for the challenge and the inspiration that you have given me. I will treasure the words in my heart that I have learned and seek to better learn the ones I didn’t retain as well. I won’t make it to the celebration because my baby will be getting married that very same day! This has been a blast!
December 1–“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trial of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
December 15–“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. -Michayila, Houston
This year memorizing scripture is allowing me to taste hope again.
Kristl, Hagerstown: Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. Hosea 6:3 NLT
Rosebud ATlanta, TExas
Call to me and I will answer and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3 {ESV}
The Lord said to me, “You have circled this mountain
long enough. Now turn north!”
-Deut 2:2 (New American Standard Bible)
Allison Eclectic, AL
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8 AMP
Holly, Beaumont, CA “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11 KJV
Susan, Atlanta, Ga
For now word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37 NIV
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:5
NLT
Celeste, Los Angeles & Toronto: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– Ephesians 6:17 & 18 NKJV
Anna & Janie
Bartlesville, OK
Dec. 1 – Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Dec. 15 – Hebrews 13:15-16
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of the lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, fo with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Yvonne
Louisville, KY
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will neve leave you nor forsake you.”
Sadie
Nicholasville, KY
Psalm 11:1 (HCSB)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
My 2 scriptures for December are:
Isaiah 9:6b NIV
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 28:20b NIV
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Lynn – Rochelle, GA
Sorry it’s late, but I was determined to finish 🙂
Stephanie, Queen City, Tx: 19) And my God shall supply all
your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Candaec, Colordo Springs, CO
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”IS 9:6 NKJV
Matia, Fort Worth, TX
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
Matia, Fort Worth, TX
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Joshua 1:8
Beth C, Huntsville, AL
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
Rachel
Tucson, AZ
Rachel
Tucson, AZ
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
karina
baton rouge, la.
“Yes Lord, walking in the ways of Your truth, we wait eagerly for You; for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.”
Isaiah 26:8
NIV
This year was harder than the last time we did this…it has been so difficult finding time to post my verses. I still have some from earlier this year. UGH! By the grace of God, I will finish STRONG!!!! I love you Mama Beth! See you in January! I wanna hug your neck!!!!
Sydney, Tucson,AZ
John 1:16 NIV
From the fullness of his grace we have all recieved one blessing after another.
Trisha Wall, Midland, TX: “By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I am not turning back” (Phil 3:13 MSG).
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his rightousness and all these things will be added unto you.
Mttw 6:33 NIV
This has been such a blessing to me. I am so grateful you Beth, the living proof staff and my most delightful Lord.
Mindy, Van
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Traci, Frankfort, KY
“Pray without ceasing,”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV
Kathryn Aurora CO
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
Anita
Austin, TX
Dear children, Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
Melanie – Decatur, AL
Thank you Beth and LPM Staff for the accountability that posting on the blog has provided for me. I worked retail this year during the holidays. So, I was especially drawn to reflect His glory amidst all the business and chose this verse for the last 2 weeks of the year –
Philippians 2: 9-11
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I have been wondering about the schedule for the weekend of the 20-21. It starts at 7 P.M. on Friday at Houston First Baptist, but I don’t know how late it goes or when it starts on Sat. Can anyone fill me in as I seem to have missed it? Thanks, Connie
Acts 17:26-27 NIV 98
From one man He created all mankind. He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. He did this so that man would seek Him and perhaps find Him- though He is not far from any one of us.
Do I need to resubmit the last 4 verses, because they aren’t showing up and I posted them all on the same day. If I do, let me know.
Hollie
2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. Bug God’s word is not chained.
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
But as a result we learned to not rely on ourselves but on God who can raise the dead. 2 Cor 1:9
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 2 Cor 1:3
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my [sister], because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” Philemon 7 ESV
Houston, Texas
Becky, Alberta, Canada
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
Liz Lyons, Cypress, Texas, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
“Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thes. 5:16-18 (NIV)
Heather
LaGrange, KY
Janelle, Dallas
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Gloria in Houston says:
Lift up you hands in the sanctuary, and bless the
LORD.
The Lord that made heaven and earth bless you out of
Zion.
Psalms 134:2,3 (KJV)