Hey, Everybody! Welcome to Verse 3! One month down, only eleven more to go! I say that with a grin because I don’t want it to fly by. There are stressful aspects to what we’re doing here on our team because victory is labor intensive and demands focus and discipline. You can’t really cheat at your memory work. I mean, either we take the time for the constant repetition until it’s embedded underneath that skull of ours or we don’t. But, at the same time, it’s also rejuvenating, don’t you think? And fun? And, admit it, the team aspect of it is glorious.
In fact, I hope God is using this whole process to bring some of you back to life. I’m picturing all of us women like that valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Scattered in that broad dell of ours are skeletons of dead-tired, depleted girls from all over the United States and in at least a half dozen other countries. Thousands of us. The breath of God’s words falling on us, rattling our bones, wrapping us with new wine skins, filling our lungs, and beginning to raise us to our feet: a mighty army brandishing Swords. (Eph. 6:17) We use these swords to battle darkness and not one another. We are not Peter who, in an impulsive fury, left poor Malchus with one less ear in John 18:10. There they were, in the most critical moment in human history thus far and Jesus had to stop what He was doing and stick the man’s ear back on the side of his head. (Luke 22:51) Enough of this! Jesus commanded. The people around us who we are called to reach and serve in Christ’s name are not drawn to weapons and shredders but they are indeed drawn to courage and valiance and gracious strength. A well-trained soldier knows who his enemy is and who his enemy is not.
I’m looking forward to your verses! I am starting some memory work out of the one-chapter book of Jude today. I find this verse fascinating because the inspired penman really meant to write his audience about one thing when God sidetracked him to another. These dimensions of divine inspiration make my mind spin. I love thinking about it. Here goes mine:
Beth, Houston. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 (ESV)
Contend for the faith. Lord, show us, teach us, equip us, fill us, and anoint us with holy affection, sound minds and doctrine to contend for the faith. Show us how to fight for our faith without wounding and scarring the people we were called to influence in the process. This can get tricky. Show us how it’s done.
I’m honored to serve you, Sisters, and to draw swords with you in this battle against the blackest darkness. Built up in Christ by the breath of the Spirit, focused and deliberate, we can be a mighty army.
OK, let’s have it. Your names, cities, verses, references, and translations.
Live and love well out there today, you hear?
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Heather–Corpus Christi, TX. “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)
Jeremiah 29:11
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.
Micah 6:8 (NIV) – He has showed you, O man, 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.
Nancy, Champaign, IL
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 (NASB)
Angela Clyde, Tx Romans 12:12 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Sheri, Fort Worth
Titus 3:4-8a NIV
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying.
Ronna K – Deer Park, TX
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by his Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5 NIV1984
Paula- Dickinson, ND
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress, I willnot me shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. -Psalm 62:5-7
Sherri Moore, Pueblo West, CO –
Rom7:24-25a ESV
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)
Lisa Christopher, Olympia, WA
Psalm 19:3
“There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” (NIV)
Raven, Atlanta Ga
“Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies!”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Cheryl, Everett,Wa. Psalm 23:2 NIV “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters”
April, Portland, Maine
I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. Exodus 23:29-30 ESV
Monica, Utah “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Col. 1:17 (NIV)
Stephanie from Carmichael, CA
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)
Susan, Decatur, IL. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16. NIV
Pam in Thailand – Psalm 103:2-4
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
Eliana, Sandpoint, Idaho
Matthew 6:27-29 CSB
” Can you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow; they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!
April, Sandpoint, Idaho
Philippians 1:6 ESV
” And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ,”
Tina Marie
Gig Harbor, WA
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.-Proverbs 13:20
Dawn, London, UK
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
(NIV1984)
Lidiya, Melbourne Australia
Psalm 71:3 NIV – Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go; give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and my fortress.
Francesca, Melbourne, Australia. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NIV
Jeannie, Palmer TX
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.” Acts 2:22 (NIV)
Dawn from Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Commit your work to the Lord , and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)
Wendy, Columbus, OH
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
Hannah in Maryville, Tennessee
James 1:19-20 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Amanda, Clinton, MO “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as we’ll.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
Michelle, bossier City
Psalms 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
Darinda-Trenton, TX
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Mary Beth T – Charlotte, NC – “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” Phil 2:4-5 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 ESV
Paige- Alabama- “Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, since as members of one body you were called to peace”.- Colossians 3:15 TNIV
Shari, Lawrenceville, Ga.
“Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.”
Psalm 139:4 NASB.
Dawn in Wausau, Wisconsin
The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV84
2 Corinthians 3:3
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Linda, Anderson. NKJV 1 Samuel 12:21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver for they are nothing.
Annette, Richmond, VA
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Sarah, St. Peters, MO
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 and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV 1984)
“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8 KJV
NIV … Sorry!
Debbie
Norfolk, VA
Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” NIV
Rebecca, Arkansas
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV)
Huntsville, Ontario Canada
Psalm 25:12 (NIV)
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose
Psalm 121:5-6 “The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand: the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night.”
Laura, Terrell, NC
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. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion’; therefore I will wait for Him”.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)
Kristie, Normal IL
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.