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
Jeanine (and daughters: Meredith, Sarah, and Emma)
Athens, NY
Psalm 65:11 (NIV 1984)
“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”
Amber
Columbus, OH
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”
Psalm 24:1 NIV
Jackie, Mobile, AL
Trust in the LORD and do good;Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.Delight yourself in the LORD;And He will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6 NASB
Jenni, Irmo, SC
Therefore, since we have a high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
Ali from Grapevine, Texas
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 ESV
Rachel, Evansville, IN
“Parents, do not be hard on your children. If you are, they might give up.” Col. 3:21 (CEV)
Stacey,Magnolia,Psalm 103:3 nkjv Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Lindsey, Grapevine, Tx
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” Phil. 3:8
The world and it’s desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God, lives forever.
1John 2:17 NIV
Karen, Gainesville, TX
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Susan L., Nokomis IL Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12:2, NCV)
Cathy, Lincoln, NE
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23, NIV
Diane, Vacaville, CA “And I am convinced that nothing can ever seperate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
Candis, Portland TX – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
1 John 3:17-18 (Good News Bible)
If a rich person sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against his brother, how can he claim that he loves God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
D’Anna
Kilgore, Texas
Isaiah 54:13
“All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.” (NIV)
Cheri in Cleveland, TN
Eph 6:18 NLT
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for believers everywhere”
Nicole from Perth, Australia
“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
(Leviticus 19:9, 10 NIV)
Abby Kaufman
Vacaville, CA
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:34, NIV
Kylie – Johnson City, TN
“We live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Tabitha, Palo Alto, CA
“Her husband will trust her.
She will greatly enrich his life.”
Proverbs 31:11 NLT
Jule, Bowmansville, PA
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says The Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ
Kim, Arden, NC 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 NIV
Kathy
Dallas
Philippians 2:13 NKJV
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Galatians 6:7-8 NASB
7-Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, then he will also reap.8-for the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the who sows to the Spirit will reap from the Spirit eternal life.
Heather, Ooltewah, TN
Do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speaks, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matt. 10:19-20 NASB
Sarah Redding, CA
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:5 ESV
Emily, McKinney, TX
John 15:5 (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Kim Safina
California
Always be joyful.
Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens.
This is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you maybe healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective!
Ephesians 5:16 NIV
Shayli,age 11,Chattanooga,TN
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.
(Late posting for 1/1 verse.)
Stephanie Johnson, Buda TX
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ESV
Nancy Bradshaw, Melbourne, Florida
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
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:13 NIV
Tammy in Lantana, TX
Candace, Houston, Tx
Philipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. NIV
Annie Downs, Nashville, TN
Psalm 16:4 (NIV84)
I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Jenna, Cedar Park, Tx
“You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NIV
Amy and Carolyn (mother and daughter) from Cherry Hill, NJ
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26, NIV
Nicole, Ocean Springs, MS
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 (NASB)
Ephesians 1:17, NIV
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you know him better.
Debbie, Katy, Tx
Philipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. NIV
Rachel Platts, Orlando FL
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” -Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Brittney, Kirkland
“Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.” Prov 3:17 NIV84
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he msut believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 NIV
Bette, Danville,PA
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him.
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2 NIV
Nicole from Parker, CO
“for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”
Psalm 26:3 NIV
Lisa Snyder
Montgomery,TX
1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV
Do everything in love.
Pat C, S Burlington,VT “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” II Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Joy, Altadena, CA
I belong to my beloved and he desires me!
– Song of Solomon 7:10 LEB
Cynthia, Massanutten, VA
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor 4:17-18 (HCSB)