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 – 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.) 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
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen Revelation 1:5b-6 ESV
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Tasha
Malvern, AR
Galatians 2:20 (NIV 84)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Emily from Houston~
“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
1 John 3:18 NIV Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Tracy, Edgewood, Kentucky
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ~Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
Denise 🙂
New Market, AL
But more than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8 (NASB)
Beth – Wynnewood, OK
He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40 NIV
Ashlie
Glen Rose, Texas
Everything is premissable but not everything is benefical.
1 Cornthians 10:23
Meredith, Blacksburg, VA
Psalm 84:11 (ESV)
For the Lord God is a sun and a shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Hebrews 5:14
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my Name.”
John 15:16 (NIV)
Samantha from Texarkana, AR
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8 TNIV)
Gina, Waynesville NC
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.
James 1:5 (NIV)
Kristin, Searcy, AR:
I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4 (HCSB)
Sally, St. Paul. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Isaiah 40:28 NKJV
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God,
the LORD,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Lindsey, Nacogdoches
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men speak, they will give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by you words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:36, 37 KJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NASB)
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Karla, Richland, WA.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2a
Michelle Alosa Concord, NH
Luke 11:9-10
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Karen Thiessen, Everett, WA
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Maria Ruiz
Philadelphia,PA
1Peter 3:15 (NIV)
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
Tajuana ~ Midland, Tx.
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.
Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
NAS
Anne C., Santa Clarita Calif. ~ Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.
Keri, Houston, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:10 TNIV
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NIV84
Nancy from Perry, GA
GOAL: to memorize Philippians
… for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Phil. 1:5-6 NKJV
Leah Johnson, Apple Valley,CA
2 Peter 1: 3-4
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world causes by evil desires.”
Becky in Brewer, Maine
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Psalm 119:130 (ESV)
Dawn Stevens- Frederick Maryland “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Romans 5:5
Philippians 4:19 NLT
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Heika, Texas –
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15: 7-8
Jessica Dunham, Round Rock, 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 success.” Joshua 1:8 NASB
Cindy, Clarksville TN. The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11 NKJV)
Krista, Eagan MN
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NLT
Caralee, Edmonton, Alberta. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see aGod. Matthew 5:3-8, ESV
Cathy Pfeifer-Croken, St. Catherine’s, PEI:
“In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express.”
Romans 8:26 (GNT)
Halley, Elkhorn, NE
“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 NIV
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may swell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalms 27:4 NIV
Shannon, Charlotte, NC: You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 ESV
Ashley W.
Indian Trail, NC
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 62:8 ESV
Lee, Columbia, SC.
2 Timothy 3:17 ESV
“that the man of God may be complete, quipped for every good work.”
Sherry; Baltimore, Maryland
3John 1:4 (NLT)
I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason WITHOUT the Holy Spirit) is death (death that comprises ALL THE MISERIES arising from sin, both here and thereafter.) But the mind of the (Holyu) Spirit is life and (soul) peace (both now and forever.) Romans 8: 6 Amplified Version — CAPS mine, couldn’t resist. :))))))))
I forgot my city/state. Sorry– Shellie Rushing Tomllinson, Lake Providence LA
Lauren F, Frisco TX
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, & the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. BE not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 ESV
Erin Sheldon
Savannah, GA
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Phillipians 4:8-9 (NLT)
Patti, Roxboro, NC
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.”
Matthew 5:3 – Message