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
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die…” John 11:25-26
Jennifer, Dallas Tx
“‘You are my witnesses’, declares The Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.'” Isaiah 43:10 NIV
Leigh in Fairhope,AL
For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Karen,Harrison AR
Carrie, Burnsville, MN
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Rachel, South Carolina
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NLT)
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.
Trinna, Covington, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:6 (NIV84)
Heather in Headland, AL
Jeremiah 12:3, NASB
But You know me, O Lord; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Angie, Centerville, OH
Come to me , all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
Candace, Colorado Springs, CO
“Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.”
1 Peter 1:7a
The Message
Brandy, San Angelo, TX
Job 37:5 (NKJV) God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
Lydia Patterson, Andalusia, AL. “Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And He could bear Israel’s misery no longer.” Judges 10:16 NIV 1984
Sorry I’m a few days late – been out of town!
Missy S, Winston-Salem, NC
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” ~ Hebrews 10:19-22 (NASB)
Lou Ann – Moultrie, GA –
New American Standard Bible Psalm 46:10 – “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Kari, Amery (NIV)
1 Corninthians 13:13
An now these three ramin: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Katie Morris, Stamping Ground, KY
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you teh desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:4
Petra Borchert, Saint Cloud, MN (totally spaced it 2/1)
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
Monique Dozer, Elizabethtown, KY
Ephesians 4:14-15 NET
So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.
Michele, Anderson, SC
I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:1-2 (KJV)
Psalm 46 v. 10 – Be Still and know that I am God!!
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
D’Anne, Loganville,GA
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15 NIV
Shelly
Gordon, Texas
John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.
NIV
Donna- Birmingham, AL
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NIV
Philippians 4: 8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers (sisters), 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.
Tanya, Lorton, VA
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
Jen, Yuba City, Ca.
“Seek the Kingdon of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need”. Luke 12:31 NLT
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit: apart from me you can do nothing.
John 155 NIV
Pam Altice
DeLeon Springs, Florida
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.”
Jeremiah 30:17 (NIV)
Vicki, Asheville, NC
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 (NIV)
Soozi, Lexington, KY. “Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NET)
Jennifer, Sycamore, GA
We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. –2 Corinthians 10:5 NET
TAMMY
MERRYVILLE, LA
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7
“FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.” NKJV
Dacia – Warrensburg, MO
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
~ 1 Peter 4:8, NLT
Jennifer Cooper; Greenville, TX
Psalm 143:8 NKJV
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Lynne, Gainesville VA
Psalm 91:1-2
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
“As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,
in order to bring it about as it is today, to save many people alive.”
Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)
Krista- Gunter, TX
But seek first his kingdom and his righteounes, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Cindy, Tulsa, OK
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Jenna
Waco, TX
And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your food on a stone.
Luke 4:11 (NLT)
Caitlyn Arlington TX
” you prepared a table for me in the presence of my enemies
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and
love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever. NIV
Ottawa,Illinois
Isaiah 1:16-17 (ESV)
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
Susanna, California
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT)
Caroline
Waco, TX
Don’t be concerned about outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with 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)
Danielsville, Georgia
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor 13:7 ESV
Linda from Helena, Montana: “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 NIV
Danielle, Sevierville, Tennessee
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Holly from Benton, AR
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8
Melissa
Waco, TX
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)
Sandra, Waco, TX: Psalm 63:3-4 NIV: Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.