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
Debbie from Royse City, TX.
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want. So you quarrel and fight. You do no have because you do not ask GOD!
James 4:2 NIV
Jennifer – Golden, CO
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. – Proverbs 27:12
Laura Jackson, Humble, TX
Job 14:7
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Cathy from Mtn. Grove, MO–Romans 12:2 NIV “Do not conform any longer to the
Pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test & approve what God’s will is-His good,
Pleasing & perfect will.”
Susan, Nashville, TN
Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
Psalm 112:1 NASB
Mitzi from Midland, TX
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV84)
Christy, Summit, MS; “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
Jennifer Dove – Roanoke, Va
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
Matia, Fort Worth, TX, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with Godna thing to be grasped.” Philippians 2:5-6, ESV
Carrie from Spokane, WA
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8
Shasta from Bonaire, Ga, Luke 9:25, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
Keaton Lovell McCurtain OK
“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
1 Peter 3:4 NLT
Casey, Ooltewah, TN “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
BethAnn, Enola, PA
Depend on the Lord, trust in him, and He will take care of you.
Psalm 37:5
Terri~Tulsa, OK: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Cheryl Kennedy from Newville PA
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transofrm you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Tarah DeClue in Bolivar, MO
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)
Tina, Cleveland TN
Kasie Jackson, Dallas, Texas
“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 on those things.” Philippians 4:8
I chose this verse this time because I feel like in the midst of my days, my mind starts to try to control itself. If I could stop and meditate on this verse, it would help me remember that if I focus my mind on Jesus, he will calm my soul. He is the ONLY thing that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Hebrews10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
This is my first two verses: NASV I Cor. 16:13,14 Iowa
Be on the alert,
stand firm in the faith
act like men, (means be courageous)
be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.
Kit Odenton, Maryland
Psalm 23, 1-2
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.”
NAS
Teresa Olson, Knoxville, TN: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”~~Ephesians 4:29 KJV
Enterprise, Oregon
Psalm 16:5 (NIV)
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
Do not judge, or you to will be judged.
Matthew 7:1 NIV
Psalms 37:4-6
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Donna in Earle, AR: He will even deliver one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands. Job 22:30 NKJV
Erin Williams, Edmond, OK
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Terri
Aynor, SC
Whatever you do,
do it enthusiastically,
as something done for the LORD and not for men.
–Colossians 3:23 (KJV)
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me. Job 19: 25-27 NIV
Carrie, Pueblo CO
“Present to God a thank-offering! Repay your vows to the sovereign One!
Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!” Psalm 50:14-15 NET
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
Jan from Arlington TX
James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it but sitting judgment on it. NIV
Judy Woodward, Lake Charles, LA
“for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.”
Psalm 37:2(NIV)
Faran
Judsonia, AR
Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Sherry, Deer Park.
“Find rest, O my soul in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5 NIV
Kaitlin Neal; Raleigh, NC. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be disciples.” John 15:8-NIV {thanks for the recommendation Ms. Beth!)
Heather in Evergreen, Colorado
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
Deer Park, Texas
No, the word of God is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it. Deut 30:14
NIV
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalms 73:28 ESV)
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that joy might be full.
John 15:11kjv
Roswell, Ga
Beth, Toronto: “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45 NKJV
Gayle in Dodgeville, WI
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” – I Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Midge:All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Natalie, Houston
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.. (1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV)
Kathy
Danvers, MA
2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV
So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Rayleigh Sun, Edmond, OK
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.
Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)
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. Ephesians 4:2-3
Rhonda Calvert
Siloam Springs, AR
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah (Psalms 46:1-3 NKJV)
Erin Holland
Paragould, AR
“Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NIV