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
Christie in Ashland, KY
For this reason, we also constantly thank God that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which also performs it’s work in you who believe.
1Thess 2:13
“for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:3 ESV)
“I am the Lord and there is no other, apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” – Isaiah 45: 5-6 NIV
Katie in San Antonio, TX
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV84
Cara from Houston, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13 NIV
Jill Hsieh, Aurora, IL – Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” NIV 1984
Houston
New International Version…Pink Edition
1Thessalonians 5:16-18.
be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for your ln Christ. Jesus.
Allison, Scottsdale, AZ:
Micah 6:8
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Amber from Huntington, IN: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 NKJV
Psalm 37:4-5, ESV
Delight yourself in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord;trust in him, and he will act.
Kelly P
Concord, NC
the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. Psalm 37:29 NIV
Lindsey
Scenery Hill, PA
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESV
(Not sure if I’m going to add verse 18 yet…but incase… And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.)
Glenda, Antioch, IL
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or in vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Phillipians 2:3 NIV
Lindsay, Evanston, IL: “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)
Bethany, Hattiesburg MS
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above youself.
Philippians 2:3 NIV
Susan, Charleston, SC
John 15:8 NASB
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
Tina, Knoxville: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV84)
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him.”
James 1:12
Verse # 2 for 2013
Debbie, Gastonia, NC
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7 NIV)
Jordin from Albuquerque, NM
“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 with your God.”
Micah 6:8, NIV
Emily Harris in Arkadelphia, AR
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Rebecca knoxville tn … 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)
JoLee from Arlington
Isaiah 45:5-6 (NIV)
“I am the LORD, and there is no other. Apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you though you have not acknowledged me so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people my know there is none besides me.”
Marcy – Euless, TX.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
Proverbs 4:25 NIV84
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Tisha
Pilot Mtn, NC
Ashley in Lawrenceville, GA
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Janae – Riverside, PA – ”
You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11
Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for you.
-Psalm 143:8 HCSB
Paula from Bakersfield…
“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (ESV)
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:9~10 NIV
Holley Richardson, Atlanta, GA:
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4 ESV
Leah in Rochester, NY
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Tamara, Katy TX, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, NASB
Rachael from Ashford, CT “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8 ESV
Holly Longmont, CO
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 NLT
Monica, Abbotsford
Deut 31:6
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.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Jan from San Diego, CA
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18 NIV84
Annie from St. Louis,
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe
yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5-7
Sarah, Colorado Springs, CO
Psalm 119:11 NIV
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Jan. 1
I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God willed not self- willed. Ezekiel 36:26 MSG
Kelsey H., Pensacola, Fl
“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)
Ashley from Bean Station, TN: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 ESV – Passion 2013 “Immeasurably more!!”
Kara, Rutledge. “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16 NASB
Joyce, Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Torrie,Melissa TX
“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” Psalm 62:7 NLT
Melanie – Decatur, AL area
James 1:16-17 NIV
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Maggie, Seattle, WA
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” -1 Cor. 9:24 (NIV)
Anna G. – Mobile, AL
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams of the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying the seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:3-6 NIV ’84
Bonnie Jean Faile, Livingston, AL
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Eph 3:20-21 NIV