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
Jeanie, Spencer, IN
“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
Riverton, UT
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. NIV
Lindsay, Ellsworth,ME
“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.”
Psalm 118:5 New Living Translation
You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 NIV
Romans 5:5 [NIV1984]
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Jennifer Olmstead
Janesville, Wisconsin
Jessica R, Allen TX
Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)
“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: [8] Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. [9] Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Natalie, Paragould AR
She opens her mouth with wisdom and instruction of kindness is on her tongue
proverbs 31:26 (LEB)
Jessica R., Allen TX
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
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.
Rachel, Dallas
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
Trenton, OH
Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of The Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
NIV
Brooke, Bartlesville
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Psalms 143:8 & 10 ESV
Barb, Kansas City
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they might have life and may have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (NET)
NIV Luke 6:35
” But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
Melissa, Houston, Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you brethern by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Sandra Hanrahan, Alberta, Canada
” blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11 (NIV)
February 10
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.”
Rachel. Oklahoma
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.”
Matthew 6:25 HCSB
Katie B., Yuxi, China
“Finally, brothers and 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.: Philippians 4:8 NIV
Linda, Lees Summit, MO
Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always. Psalm 105:4 NIV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51: 10-12. ASV
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.'” Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
Allison, Auburn
“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
(Sorry this is so late!)
Jennifer from Springfield, MO
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT: “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
Carol from Plano TX
“Little Children let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3:18
Meleah, Baltimore
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
-1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (ESV)
Heidi, Atlanta
Ephesians 4:2, ESV
..with all humility & gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Kristy, Houston
Psalm 121:3 ESV
He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you, will not slumber.
Sarah, Phoenix,
James 4:6 NIV “But he gives us more grace.”
Andrea K.
Madison, FL
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galations 5:1 NIV84
Cindy B., West Palm Beach Florida, Feb. 1 SSMT: Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Psalm 37:3 NIV
Sarah
Fredericksburg, VA
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 ESV
Pineville, LA
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:8
Maria
Klamath Falls, Oregon
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 NIV
Tami
Platte, South Dakota
Galatians 2:20 NIV
“For I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Melissa F., Blairsville, GA
“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10, NASB
Lindsay, Wenatchee
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52, NIV.
Jane……SocialCircle,Ga.
Psalm 107:1 nkjv
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For His mercy endures forever.
JoElle~Glenville, NY
2 Cor 4:17 NIV
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
Heather, Lansing MI
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:13 NLT
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
NIV Matthew 6:21
Maria Cristina – Orlando, Florida
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
Mimi Alpharetta, GA
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Tara G.
Sherwood, AR
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
Linda New York
He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. Psalm 91:4 HCSB
Christina, Waukee IA
“You have been saved by grace through faith. And this is in your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of words, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 3:18-19
Carolyn
St. Peters, MO
You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day,6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Psalms 91:5-6 NIV84
Jenni, San Diego CA
By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. (1 John 4:17-19 NET)
University Place, WA
John 15: 7,8 ESV
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”