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
Lori from Elgin, TX
“We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
NIV
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34
NIV
Maple Valley, WA
Jeanie from Brenham, TX “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)
Wanda – Laurel, MS
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me: and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.
John 14:21 NASB
Andrea, Vivian, LA
Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Romans 12:10 NET
Noe’l, Mehoopany,
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 ESV
Mary Hughes–Ardmore, AL
” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKHV
Anne from Houston, TX. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and corageuous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you whereever you go.”
So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build each other up. Romans 14:19 NIRV
Shaminder,
Toronto, ON
Blessed be the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Julie, Grimsby, ON Canada
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” NIV
Amy- Fort Polk, LA
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philipians 3:14 (CEV)
Kara, Philadelphia, PA
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Luke 12:25
Connie, Durham, NC, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age, Matthew 28:19-20,NAS
Becky from Redmond, OR. Blesses is she who has believed that what The Lord has said to her would be accomplished. Luke 1:45 ( NIV).
Tammy-Tifton, GA
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!
-Luke 19:10
Kori from Lenoir, NC
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV
Sarah Lozier Biddeford, ME
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord [rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24 NASB
Carolyn
Houston, TX
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NIV
Jacee-Bothell, WA
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ~James 3:9-10
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NASB
Nicole … Stanford, KY
vs 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. NIV
Proverbs 31:11
Roxy…Columbia, Md
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!
I Jn. 3:1 (NIV)
Alice, Hardin
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV
Ann. Centerville. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matt. 7:2. NIV
Natalie, Paragould AR
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5-8 NIV
Tonya Parker, Adel, GA. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 NKJV
Tonya Parker, Adel, GA. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 NKJV
Barbara, Summerville, SC.
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. (John 15:4 HCSB)
Amy, Fort Collins, CO
Rejoice in The Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, NIV)
Heather from Livingston, TX 2 Peter 1:5-7 nkjv But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Molly-Tyler, Texas
James 1:10
NIV
…and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass…he will pass away.
Robin from Fairfax, Va
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20 NIV
Lesli Morrow-Mansfield, TX Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears The Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
Danaye from Spencer, IN
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
– Matthew 19:26 NIV
Michelle, Fair Grove
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7 ESV
Janna Windham Covington, WA
#2) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)
Rosharon, TX
Phillipians 2:5. NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Laura, Ft. Worth, The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. Psalm 118: 6-8, NIV
Sandi, Pueblo West, CO
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
Melissa J from Houston, TX
“Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:7 NIV
“For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Psalm 139:13-14a
Kelly from Huntsville, AL
Gemma Critchley, Liverpool UK,
Don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is gods place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status defines your life.
1 Corinthians 7:17 the message
Rebecca
Cottage Grove, MN
Colossians 1:15-17 NLT
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in His holy name. Psalm 33:21 ESV
Meggie, Winnipeg, Canada.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” Isaiah 26:4 NLT
“Blessed is the man whose sin th LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32:2 NIV
pat w. green bank,wv. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9. NASB
Jody Gaston, Greenwood AR
Take delight in The Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 34:7