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
Kristina from Duluth, MN “Cast your cares on The Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 NIV
Stephanie and Grace Lloyd, Lititz, PA
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NLT
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersâof whom I am the worst.But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16 NIV
Kim
Orange City
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
John 14:21
NIV
Lovella S.
LaGlace, Alberta, Canada
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 (NIV)
“The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, & my deliverer,
my God, my mountain where I seek refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 NIV
Indiana
“In a large house there are not only things made of gold and silver, but also things made of wood and clay. Some things are used for special purposes and others are made for ordinary jobs. All who make themselves clean from evil will be used for special purposes. They will be made holy, useful to the Master, ready to do any good work.”
2 Timothy 2:20-21 NCV
Cheryl, Tarpon Springs
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isa. 40:20 NIV
cindy, sacramento, ca,
Ps 119:133 kj
Order my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Marissa, Seattle, WA
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
Psalm 91:3, NLT
Jen Z.
Athens, GA
Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. Philippians 4:11 (RSV)
Whitney from Mt. Vernon, TX…Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)…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.
Dana from Muskogee
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Godâs love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrowânot even the powers of hell can separate us from Godâs love. No power in the sky above or in the earth belowâindeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39 NLT)
Kelly, Jackson, MS
“And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
II Corinthians 3:18 NET
Misti White, Nemo, TX
Philippians 4:8 (English Standard Version)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Kiana ~ Fairfield, TX
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
Psalm 105:4 NIV84
Rosa, Sulphur Springs, TX
But He answered, âIt is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.â
Matthew 4:4 HCSB
Jennifer, Sherwood, AR- Isaiah 9:6- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NIV)
Denise, Asheville, NC, Ezekiel 37:4-5 (NIV)
Then he said to me, âProphesy to these bones and say to them, âDry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
“God will make this happen, for He who calls you is Faithful” (1 Thess. 5:24, NLT). – Amen! Heidi, Tampa, FL
Mary Beth, St. Louis MO
Romans 8:3-4 (NET)
“For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
(Sorry I’m late!)
Hannah K.; Maryland;
Philippians 1:27-28a
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”
Ah! The problem with hurrying is I forgot what version, and what I posted was the NIV (by accident).
I’m really doing the ESV: Phillipians 1:27-28a “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”
Sorry about that! đ
Jessica from Smyrna
Prov 22:6 NIV
Train up your child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Brooke, Augusta
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
Romans 12:2 MSG
Prospect Heights, Illinois
“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all;
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34: 19 – 22 (1984 NIV)
Cindy,
Virginia Beach, VA
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
JoAnne Victoria, BC Canada
“The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2 NIV
Susan Dixson, Charlotte NC
Ephesians 2:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 For we are Godâs masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!â (Thanks Lindsee!) Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Kathy, Fresno, CA
Hebs. 12:1,2 NIV & NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us, & let us run w/ perseverance and endurance the race Yaweh has marked out for us individually. How? By keeping our focus on Jesus, the One whom we depend on from start to finish!
Carrie C, The Woodlands, TX
1 Peter 2:12 NIV
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Laura Hall, Dalton, GA, Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV
Diane, Fresno, CA
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:24 (ESV)
Destinee
Birmingham, Al
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
Katie
Greenville, SC
James 1:22-24 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face In a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
taylor lane, birmingham, al
The fruit of righteousness will be peace.
The effect of righteousness will be quiet and confidence forever.
Isaiah 32:17 NIV
Lindsay, Grapevine, TX: Kind words are like honey – sweet to the sould and healthy for the body. Proberbs 16:24 (NIV)
“God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful”. 1 Thes. 5:24 (NLT)
Tori from Las Vegas, NV
“We live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Catherine
Mill Creek, WA
I guide you in the way of wisdom; lead you along straight paths. When you, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Proverbs 4:11-12 NIV
Beth Robertson, Paducah KY
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Romans 1:16 NKJV
“The Lord will fight for you;you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Vanessa Kornelsen, Linköping, Sweden
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:5+6 (NIV)
Cindy in Raleigh NC
1 Thess 5:24 (NIV)
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Diana, East Peoria
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT
Stephanie Winder, GA
Jeremiah 6:16 ESV
Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
Amy, Lakeland, FL,
Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Cindy from Valdosta, GA
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14, NIV
Beth, Murfreesboro, TN. Phil 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.
Carol, Wilmington, DE – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV