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
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Cor. 13:4 (NIV)
Lori, Friendswood, TX
Tara, Loganville, GA “Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands.” Deut. 7:9 HCSB
Bekah from Marion, IN – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 ESV
Shelby, from Indiana; “Those who worship hollow god’s, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshipping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! I’ll do what I promised I’d do. Salvation belongs to God!” Jonah 2:8-9 (The Message)
Janet, Vine Grove, KY
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Susan from Murfreesboro, TN – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Emily, Weatherford – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Cor, 4:17 NIV
Megan, Stow, OH. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore. Ps. 125:1-2, NIV84
let not the foot of pride come up on me and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. Psalm 36:11 NIV
Jan from Minneapolis
Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Joanne Hill
Orange, Texas
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:19,20
Vickie, Poplar Bluff, MO.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV
Kelly K, Aiken, SC.
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8, KJV
Connie, Shipshewana, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 4:16 NIV
oops…typo James 5:16
This is my verse too!!
Karen from Columbia KY, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh words stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 KJV
Cheryl, Coffeyville, KS
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Eph. 4:2 NIV84
Sherry, Indianapolis
2 Timothy 1:7 nkjv
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.”
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32, ESV
Auburn, AL
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Jackie, Covington, IN. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrince, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16 & 17 (NKJV)
Cathy, Lebanon
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV
Ashley from Chesapeake, VA: “This  you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak  and  slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 (NASB)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Rom 12:12 ESV
Sharon Meekins
Charlotte, NC
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV
Carrie from Zeeland,MI
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV
Joelle, Agawam.
I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. Phil 3:14 (NLT)
Tersia Vivier, Caledon, ON, Canada
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18 (ESV)
My heart’s lifejacket right now, suffered a miscarriage yesterday…
I’m praying for you.
Praying for you <3
Praying for you!
Psalm 33:13-15 ESV
The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes their deeds.
Nelda Adkins, Houston, TX
“The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!“
Psalm 64:10 (NIV)
Sarah Miller. New Palestine, IN
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NIV)
Jody from Traverse City, MI
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.
~James 3:17 (NIV84)
Vanessa from Rogersville, MO
God has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go. Psalms 91:11 NCV
Chrissy, Guyton 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
Andrea from Sioux Falls, SD “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Joani from Jacksonville, Fl
“Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” Proverbs 19:2 (NIV).
Jodie from NY, NY
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
– Proverbs 13:12 NIV
Jessica from Clare, MI
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.
~James 3:17 (NIV84)
Michelle from Waterloo, ON
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Charlene, Houston
The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18 NIV
Beth – Mansfield, Texas – He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge.His truth is your shield and armor. (Psalm 91:4 GWT)
Patsi from Porter, Texas
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Psalm 32:8-10 (NIV)
Judy from Gladwin, MI
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.
~James 3:17 (NIV84)
Carolyn, Dover, Ohio
“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” Psalm 139:3,4
Karen Chillicothe, IL
“Seek The Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.” Psalm 105:4-5 ESV
Bonnie from Dacusville, SC
Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
You crown the year with Your goodness; Your ways overflow with plenty.
Ps. 65:11 HCSB
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Elisabeth (@Zumbalyzious)
Modesto, Ca
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
(James 4:17 NLT)
Missy S, Winston-Salem, NC
“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT)