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
Cheryl Pease, Tarpon Springs, FL
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. Eph. 3:20 NIV 84
Amy
Middletown, DE
I Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV) Do not be misled “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for there are some ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.
Kadie- Tinley Park, IL
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (TNIV)
Becky Faulkner, Hayden AL – I have stored up your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11 ESV
Kimberly, Stockbridge, GA
“casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 ESV
Caitlyn, West Virginia
“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)
Alexis…Anderson, SC
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
RoundRock, TX
Mark 11:24. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. NIV
Rachel
Middletown, DE
Psalms 4:8 (NIV) – I will lie down and sleep in peace for you, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Morag, Bishop, CA
“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” Psalm 130:5 NIV
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NLT)
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
Erin from Mobile, AL
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Phil 4:8 NIV
Kelly Ephrata PA
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13 NKJV
Lindsay, Warrior, AL. “And those who know your name put their trust in you,for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
Ebonique, Atlanta Ga
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the 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” Philipians 1:9-10 NIV
Ashley from Ann Arbor, Michigan
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV84
Blair
Austin
“complete by joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility, count others as more significant than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:2-3 ESV
Cindy
Hazlehurst, MS
Matthew 4:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Jeannie, Nashville, Tn.
“The LORD is my Shepherd; I have everything I need.” NLT
Jen K (Prosper, TX)
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
Prov 31:11 NLT
Lisa Christopher
Olympia, WA
“Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.”
Psalm 19:2 (NIV)
Jeanette, Fraser, CO, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Col. 2:7 ESV
Megan, Madison, MS “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” Psalm 105:4 NLT
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.Psalm 37:7 NIV
Chattanooga, TN
Mark 8:20-23 (ESV)
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.
Linda – Conyers, GA
Come all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 KJV
Nicki Bishop
Bowling Green, KY
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”
Galatians 5:13-15 NKJV
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13 KJV
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8
Hannah | Oklahoma City, OK
Ephesians 5:8, NLT
“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealously unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned. Song of Songs 8:6-7, NIV
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
April, New Orleans, LA
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32, HCSB
Melissa Droegemueller, San Antonio, TX
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
Kara C, Aurora, Il
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) “…give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Patti, Monument, CO
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Debbie, Norfolk, VA
They (his mercies) are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 NIV
Alicia ~ Rome, GA
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 ESV
Katie
Grand Rapids, MI
Romans 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Katherine, Edmonton, AB Canada
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically as something done for the Lord and not for men.
Colossians 3:23
HCSB
Connie from Plano, TX: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him , because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NAS
Blair | Arlington, TX
“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
Laura, Parma OH
John 4:24 (NIV)
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.”
Tieton WA
…and the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7 HCSB
and
…keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy that lay before Him, endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of god’s throne. Heb 12:2 HCSB
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
John 1:1 ESV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Michelle, from Cypress, TX
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
-Jn 15:8 ESV
Proverbs 31:25 NIV “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
Emily from Ottawa Canada psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you,  Lord , with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (NIV)
Matt. 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moth & rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in & destroy. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV
“The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalms 27:1 (NASB)