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
Karen Columbia,Ky: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalms 139:14 NIV
Ginger, Tulsa OK
Proverbs 16:24 Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:8 NIV
Sorry so late-hope can still be included.
Lynne Chapman
Fishers, IN
Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Sara, College Station, TX: “I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. I will always praise you. My life has been an example to many, because you have been my strong defender.” (Psalm 71:6-7 GNT)
Lynne in Sedona
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him all the earth.”
Psalm 96: 8,9 (NIV)
Connie from Mountain House
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to Christ. I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and Gave Himself for me.
Gal. 2:19-20 (ESV)
Caroline, Aiea, HI
3) They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord . (Psalm 112:7, NIV)
Gina, Kosciusko MS
He will fear no bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7 NIV
Katrina Colorado
NKJV Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14
“I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 NASB
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isa. 41:10 NIV
“Then you will call on me and come and and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.” (or “will restore your fortunes”) -Jeremiah 12-14b NIV
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
Isaiah 49:16 NIV 84
Stuttgart, Germany
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Pam, NC
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Claire. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
Proverbs 12:4 (NIV)
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Lisa Pritchett
Hiram, GA
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 17:14 ESV
Cindy, Largo, FL
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Ann H, Carrollton, Tx
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:4 NIV
Shannan, Dallas, Georgia
As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my feet for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. Psalm 18: 30-36 NIV
Alison from McKinney TX
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 NIV84)
Catherine, Houston
Continuing in my getting healthy mode:
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Rom. 6:12 NIV
“…clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ! Peter 5:5
Christina, Houston
Do not conform 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
Dori Adams
Raleigh, NC
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Luke 1:45-47 NIV
Thanks, Lindsee 🙂
Louisa, London
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 ESV
Stephanie from Carlsbad, CA
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him, and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls”. 1Peter 8-9 ESV
Christ has liberated us to be free, stand firm then and don’t submit to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 HCSB
Debbie
Portland, OR
Tiffany Dallas, TX
Eph 4:3 (NIV)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Sissy, Waycross, NIV Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry, He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”
Christina
Nashville, TN
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray for everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
NLT
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
(Psalm 105:4 NIV) **a 2nd-verse this round, clearly laid on my heart
Kim, Austin, AR
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NKJV
Debbie Torkelson, Annandale, VA
This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. 1 Thes 4:11 NLT
Janet, Lenoir, NC. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17 NIV
Isaiah 30:15 MSG
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me– The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.
Syneva Mullins – Topeka, Kansas – Thanks, Beth, for the homework…it spoke volumes!
Jamie from Ossian, IN
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
James 1:5 NLT
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ , might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14 NIV 1984
Morag, Bishop CA
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Roman 15:13 (NRSV)
Karen ~ Greer, SC: Luke 1:45 (NIV)
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Elaine from Nampa, ID
“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God committ their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” I Peter 4:19 NKJV
Carol-Bellaire,TX
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30(NKJV)
Donna, Springfield, MO
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:4 NIV
Brenda
Conejo Valley,CA
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Eph. 3:17 NIV
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline 2 timothy 1:7
Elizabeth in Midland, Texas
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:19-21 NIV
Laura, Baton Rouge, LA
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surroundsing us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, depsising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1,2 NASB
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV