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
Yours, O Lord , is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord , is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12 NIV84)
Awesome scripture dear friend!!
Kim; Warren, ME: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 ESV
Kristi, Seagrove Beach FL
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine powers to demolish strongholds. 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 10:3-5 NIV
Temple, TX
I John 2: 5&6 NIV
“But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
Carol, Kansas City This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8 NIV)
Sue Hartley
St. Louis
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Aubree, San Antonio, TX
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
Jessica, Hannibal, Missouri. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes, the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home making her the joyous mother of children. Praise The Lord! Psalm 113:7-9, ESV
Amanda
Derby,KS
Phillippians 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 you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Nerissa, Mountain Home, AR: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3: 3-4 (NIV)
Jackie in Athens, Ohio
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Heb. 4:16, ESV
Tammy from Gravette, AR
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:13-14 ESV
Michelle from Waterloo, Ontario
“Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand that he may life you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Tracy from Kentucky, But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 ESV
Stacy. Conway, WA. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Molly Hotchkiss, Cypress, TX
“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Nehemiah 4:14b, ESV
Nona
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth.” Ps. 145:18 NIV
Stormy, Lynchburg, VA
Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NIV
Wendi, Kathleen, GA
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:31-32 (NIV)
Shara, Somerset, CA James 5:9 NASB
Do not complain brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
Galatians 5:16 NLT
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Amarillo, TX
Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Andi, Rockwall, TX
“All your children will be followers of the LORD and your children will enjoy great prosperity.”
Isaiah 54:13 NET
Cherise, WY:” Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
Kayla – Vancouver, BC
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and ou’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”.
Matthew 11:28-30 (the message)
Chris M, Seattle, WA
Hebrews 13:17 NIV
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Anne Ranck
Lewisburg, WV
He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.
Job 22:30 AMP
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
Finally, brothers, 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)
Ginnie, Clewiston Florida – Strive for peace with everyone, for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
April Lopez, BonneyLake,Wa
For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self control.
2nd Timothy 1:7NET
Emmilianna ,Ferreria, BonneyLake,WA
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exhalt him.
Exodus 15:2KJV
Lori ~ Port Arthur, TX
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. -Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Michelle from Columbus, TX: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” Matthew 19:29, 30 NIV
John 15:8 ESV
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear mucn fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Daphne, AL
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourself. Philippians 4:3 ESV
Melissa Irwin; Franklin, TN
Deuteronomy 6:23 (ESV)
“And he brought us out from there, that He might bring us in and give us the land that He swore to give to our fathers.”
June from Lake City, Florida
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matt 19:21 NLT
Jeannine Hale – Eagan, MN
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP)
Carmen Boso Summersville, WV
“With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in His likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” – James 3:9-10 NIV
Julia, Nashville
John 15:8 NIV This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Christina Acree, Winter Haven. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5, ASV
Kathy, Chandler,OK. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. -Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
Colleen, Frisco, TX
Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5, NIV
Janice Coulter from Russellville, Arkansas
Mark 12:30 ” And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Sally from Sour Lake, Texas
Romans 8:31 (HCSB)
What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
Joy-Georgetown, TX- 2Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of your youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on The Lord out of a pure heart. NIV
Shelley, Springfield, MO
“Oh, that we might know The Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of the dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. ”
Hosea 6:3 (NLT)
Keri Lee Robbins, Las Vegas, Nevada
“Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he is approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. James 1:9-15 NKJV
Michelle, Fort Worth
The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum 1:7 NIV84
Sue, Groveport OH Psalm 91:2 NIV
I will say of the LORD,”He is my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”