We’re off and running, Sweet Things! And 11,000 strong!!! Oh, how I pray that God will grant us the divine favor and indwelling power to keep it up month after month and finish 2013 in the multiple thousands. What joy He and we would have! For now, we take it step by step, one verse at a time. Don’t get caught up wondering how in the world you’re going to memorize 24 verses when you’re having a hard time memorizing the first one. That will sink your Scripture memory boat for sure.
I make you this promise based on my experience and the experience of many others: the more you memorize, the more you’ll get the hang of it. I was going to say that the more you memorize, the easier it gets but it’s not easy and that’s part of what makes it such a victory to celebrate with Jesus. I do believe I can tell you with confidence, however, that your tenth verse will very likely be easier to memorize than your first one. By that time, you’ve quit letting your nay-whining old nature tell you that you can’t do it and you shouldn’t have even tried. A big part of the battle in the first month is simply telling that self-destructive echo in our heads to shut its mouth. It’s replacing “I knew I couldn’t do it” with “Oh, yes I can. I can do all things through Christ.”
Persevere! Let’s not be quitters! God would rather us make it to the end of the year still stumbling over some words than throwing our hands up and quitting at the first imperfect recitation. Even if we don’t get our verses down perfectly, the pursuit itself is the very art of meditation. Nothing about it is a waste of time. Just think of how it helps to break the mental loop of rehearsed offenses. We’re going to be fixated on something. That’s how our minds often work. But we get to choose what.
So, right now say verse 1 out loud the very best you can.
Tremendous job. Now, let’s add our second one to it.
I totally love my verse this time around! It came up in my Scripture reading during my quiet time early Sunday morning. Here it goes:
Beth, Houston. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Isn’t that fabulous? I’m choosing this verse specifically so that I can turn it into intercessory prayer. Mind you, I’m not “claiming” it like I’d be apt to do with a promise more clearly obvious under the New Covenant. I’m reluctant to claim the fulfillment of a promise made straight to Israel for myself or people in my world unless I know that we have a coinciding New Covenant promise. I’d have to see consistency to pray it as one fervently counting on it. Isaiah 54:13 carries obvious elements that are very consistent with the promises of Christ to us. He promised that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and He blatantly gave us His peace but where I’m asking God to do an Isaiah 54:13 work in my family is the emphasis on ALL my children. I want every single one of them to be students of Christ Jesus, to love His Word and His ways with a passion beyond the natural realm, and for His peace to be great upon them and contagious. If you’ll look in the Scripture’s context in Isaiah 54, especially in verses 11-17, you’ll see that V.13 is within the promises God made specifically to Israel and scheduled for fulfillment in a time yet to come. So, no, I’m not claiming it, so to speak, BUT, I am indeed asking for it. That’s fair game.
God is not obligated to say yes to promises like those in Isaiah 54 this side of His Kingdom’s full revelation but, as I persevere in prayer and faith, He will indeed hear me and I believe be pleased that I had the boldness to pray it. He is not blessed by our small, vision-bare petitions anyway. I’ve thought for a long time that God would rather hear His children voice outrageously large prayers of faith even if He has to say no on occasion than hear our pale, timid, tepid requests for things He’s already given us anyway. For instance, if we belong to Him in Christ, He is indeed going to “bless us” and “keep us.” So, I’m adding Isaiah 54:13 to my spiral and planning to reword it often into a request. I’m going to take the risk that He may indeed perform generational miracles with a family tree sprouted from the soil of disease and brokenness. Make us oaks of righteousness, Lord, for the display of Your splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
This I know for sure: we often have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)
I love something else about Isaiah 54:13. I love that the word translated peace in English is the word “shalom” in Hebrew. The Hebrew word blows the doors off of our usual concept of peace. When I ask God for great peace to be upon my children, I have no interest in a trance-like state of passionless nirvana. I want God’s brand of peace: lively, vivacious. Here’s what the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament has to say about it:
“The general meaning behind the root š-l-m is of completion and fulfillment—of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship.”
It means to be intact, healthy, sound. It means wellness of soul. It conveys the idea of God prospering His child. He describes His peace like a river: moving and running. His peace is no pond. I read the verse first out of The NET Bible that sits open on my desk at home. Isaiah 54:13 is worded this way on its pages: “All your children will be followers of the LORD, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.” Right that moment I jotted the verse down in my journal and, under it, asked the Lord (with enough zeal to imprint it on the next page) to prosper my children and their children and their children and their children in the way that really matters: grant them lives that bear much fruit – I said MUCH FRUIT –Â for THIS is to our Father’s great glory. May they blatantly show themselves to be Christ’s disciples. (That’s John 15:8 and, if you haven’t memorized it yet, it is a must! Prioritize it early on in your year if God causes it to leap off the page with you.)Â With all my heart, I want God to use this lineage He is redeeming to prosper His Kingdom.
So I am really fired up about my verse for our next two weeks and hope to still be saying it and praying it for the next generations of this family line when I’m about to see Jesus. If you don’t already have a verse selected, you are welcome to share it and make it your own with Jesus. Choose any verse that He’s using to speak to you right now. Remember, that’s what will make it stick to your ribs. It needs to mean something to you!
Hit it, Girls! Remember! Only your names, cities, verses, references, and translations! You are stellar, Sisters. I love you so much.
Edited to add: Information on how to download your Android or iPhone application!
I know many of you have been asking if we are going to have an app this year for your smart phones, and we have both good news and bad news. The good news is YES, we ARE! We have created an app for both Android and iPhones. The bad news is, the Android app is ready for you, but if you would be so patient with us, we’ll have the iPhone app ready for you in about five or six days. Does that sound good?
So, excuse me while I get technical for just a minute!
For those of you that still have the old application on your phone (and this goes for both Android and iPhone users), you would most likely have received a notification about the availability of this new one, but if not, and you are currently using an android, simply click here to download the app. (This link is for Android users only.) Android users, if you’re having issues with this link (and it’s currently working fine on this end), you can search “Living Proof Ministries – Scripture Memory Team – 2013” in your phone under applications. (I have very little knowledge about Android phones, so forgive me if my wording is wrong.)
When the iPhone app is ready, I’ll update this post for those of you who would like to download it with all the instructions you’ll need. However, I do know upfront you’ll be able to find the app in the iTunes store via your phone or computer.
Once you have the application, it is very user friendly. You’ll be notified the 1st and 15th of every month with the new blog post that will land in your application (you will only be notified if you have turned on notifications for this specific app), you can share the post, and then you can also store your memory work in there. It will also act like your spiral. You may want to use both your spiral and the app to have on hand in case you lose one or the other!
I hope that helps! Doesn’t this make it so much more fun?
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Cathy, Lake Saint Louis, MO
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalms 118:6
NIV
Debbie Pauly from Conway Springs, KS
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
Suzanne from Galion, Ohio
To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Luke 1:74-75 (NKJ)
Barbara from Spring Hill, FL “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealously is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 13:30 HCSB
Michele O. from Raleigh
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
*REPOSTING*
Colleen Duebber, Cincinnati OH.
All those the father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
John 6:37-38 NIV
Gwen from Blumenort, Manitoba, Canada – My verse this week – “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4 (NIV)
Alicia, Harrisburg, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” ~Matthew 25:40, NKJV
Amie, from Memphis
” Preach the Word, be prepared in season and outof season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with GREAT patience and CAREFUL instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
Alanna, Frisco, TX: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV)
Mt. Juliet, TN
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 NIV
Cindy, Annapolis, md, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2 NIV
Heidi from Whitefish, MT
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Tori from The Woodlands, TX
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:15-16
Jennifer, Littlefield, TX
“I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Phil. 3:9 (NIV)
Lynn Greene, Villa Rica, Georgia
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you
NIV
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Kelli T.
Southeastern Colorado
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:8 New King James Version
Astrid in Texas
(2Ti 1:7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
King James version
Bonnie – Marietta, GA
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6
Elizabeth Kellett from Searcy, Arkansas
And what do you benefit if you gain the WHOLE world but lost your own soul? Mark 8:36 NLT
Kayla from Plainview, TX
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied, free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me, let me not be put to shame for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
Psalm 25: 16-21 NIV
Ann Unruh, Denver PA, This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 NIV84
Shari, Vail, AZ…”For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakend by the sinfuyl nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man…” Romans 8:3 NIV
Mary, Olney Springs, CO Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
NKJV
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.”
Joel 2:25
Birmingham, Alabama
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB)
Casi
Woodway, Texas
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 NIV
Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Julie from Mt. Juliet, TN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2nd Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Anne, Dallas.
And my God will supply all your riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19, NASB
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Teri from Washington DC
“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
Sharon St. Clair from Harrisburg, PA
You God are MY God. Earnenstly I seek you.
Psalm 63:1 NIV
Tisha, San Antonio
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Isa. 12:2 (NAS)
Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song, He has become my salvation.
Paula, Dickinson ND
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Jaclyn – Houston, TX
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6
NASB
Becky from Eldred, Pa
“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”
Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Meredith from Lubbock, TX:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
-John 16:33
Jennifer D. from Jackson, TN
“Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great,” Isaiah 54:13 (HCSB)
Jennifer from Clarksville, TN
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as we’ll.
Matthew 6:33 NIV
Elsie – Scottsbluff Nebraska
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NASB
Catherine Morningstar – Collierville, TN (Transplant)
Joshua 1:9 NLT This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
(late in posting on internet but not late in starting memorizing) 🙂
Elizabeth
Raleigh, NC
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” NIV
Rhonda from Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1 Peter 1:13 NKJ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Linda Johnson from Kansas City MO
“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45 NKJV
Dana Strake, Houston, TX
For we know, brothers (sisters) loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
Sara, College Station, TX – Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. (Proverbs 20:3 NLT)
Carrie C, The Woodlands, TX
In this you greatly rejoice,
though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials.
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV 1984)
Kelly, west Richland
The glory of God-let it last forever! Let God enjoy his creation! Psalm 104:31