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
Billie, Kensington, Ohio
Your word is a lamp for my feet
And a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
Linda, Warren I Peter 4:8 And above all things, have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. NKJV
Tai from Kensington, MD
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers (and sisters) throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:8-10 NIV84
This is the convenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.
Hebrews 10:16 NRSV
Tamara Ward, Alexandria, VA
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Cheya, Houston
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8 NIV
Sarah Baker – Shreveport, LA
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Donna G. (Sorry to be late..couldn’t be helped)
Eldorado, Texas
Psalm 55:22 (NIV ’84)
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
geni, FL
1Samuel 17:45
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin…But I come to you in the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Sandy, Elizabethtown, Pa
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Isaiah 45:2-3 NIV
Erika Opperman Kansas City Missouri
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19 ESV
Jennifer, Clemmons, NC
Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11,NKJV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Cindy, Kent, Wa
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:22 NIV
Beth – Marietta, OK
“A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
Stacie, Sioux Falls, SD
And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 NIV
Judy, Hoover, AL – Beloved, althought I was very eager to write 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)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galations 5:25 NIV
Jenna Lupo; Huntsville, AL
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope HE has given to those HE called– HIS holy people who are HIS rich and glorious inheritance.” Eph. 1:18 (NLT)
Kellye C. Knoxville, TN. “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'” – Isaiah 43:1
Emily, McKinney, TX
God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”
Jeremiah 31:3 (The Message)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (NIV 1984)
Phoebe, Tucson, And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” Exodus 34.6, NIV
Gretchen from Metairie, LA
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 (NKJV)
Beth, Woodstock, GA. “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)
Jeanne San Antonio,TX 1st of Feb: Psalm 139:23 NLT
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Tracey in Alabama
” I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” Psalm 40:1-2 ESV
Kimberly
Uganda
Genesis 19:17b (ESV)
“Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
Please help me to learn to do the right thing, and I will be honest and fair in my own kingdom.
Psalm101:2 (CEV)
Shannon, Tampa, FL
Kim in Lavalette, WV
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 ESV
Stephanie, Buda. Tx. Philippians 4:19 (esv). And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
NIV Song of Songs 5 — I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I gave eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Hannah from Dickinson Center, Ny-Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.- Psalm 37:5-6, ESV (capitals added)
Elaine Farmer, Dayton, OH
Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” – Matthew 9:29 NIV
Angie, Hampton, TN Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
NIV
Sorry it’s late…getting over the flu…Martha
Melanie – San Antonio
Psalms 125:1 (NLT)
“Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated, but will endure forever.”
Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12 NIV
Denise, Ocean Springs,MS Do not let any unwholesome talk
come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Sarah Sour Lake Tx
Psalm 34:17 (NISB) The righteous cry and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
A few days late ): “Put on the full armor of God so that you be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 Ivory Cheyenne WY
Amber, Houston
and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. ⌊I pray⌋ that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
Ephesians 3:17 HCSB
Carrollton, TX
Colossians 3:12-13 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Sara Brownlee, Pottsville, Arkansas
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
Can I still join in?
I am memorizing the book of James. So far I am up to James 1:1-10.
Jamie S. Harper
Birmingham, AL
Eposi
Houston, TX
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
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
Titus 3:3-5, NIV
Jennifer Savannah, Missouri
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29 NIV
Ami L Pruett, Waynesville, North Carolina
Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. – Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Kelly Collett, Buckhannon, WV
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18 NIV. Rachel from Indiana
Katie, Crawford, Texas – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12(NIV84)