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
Kathy, Austin 1 Peter 5:10 Amplified
And after you have suffered a little while
The God of ALL Grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will HIMSELF complete and make you what you ought to be. Establish and Ground you and strengthen and settle you.
Kristin, Panama City, FL
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT
Kelly Watson, Greer, SC
Consider it pure joy my brothers when you encounter various trials. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfectr result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4 (NASB)
Sue in Grapevine, TX
Psalm 141:3-4a (NIV 84)
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
Kara C, Aurora, Il
Matthew 11:28 (NLT) Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Kristina, Huntsville, AL
(This is Jesus talking.) “I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift hte world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT
Seantea Burroughs, Los Angeles
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He WILL do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)
Kristi, Lenoir City, TN
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings-and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.
Revelation 17:14 NIV 1984.
NIV Version – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
A life verse for me.
Dawn, Mt. Olive, NC
Exodus 14:14 NIV
“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”
And He still does. This is very dear to me.
Boise, Idaho.
“Because she loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue her; I will protect her, for SHE ACKNOWLEDGES MY NAME. She will call upon Me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble, I will deliver her and honor her. With long life, I will satisfy her and show her My salvation.”
Psalm 91:14-16 NIV
Sharon, Henderson, TX,
I Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ESV
Kaycee LaBoudiere, Somerville AL, Colossians 2:17 NLT
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world.”
Megan from Sioux Falls, SD
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;” Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Eph 2:10 NLT
Cindy, Wausau, WI
Jude 22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. (MSG)
II Cor 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (NIV)
Judy Hand. Littleton, NC
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of The Lord.
James 5:14. (NIV)
Sabrina~Houston,TX
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John14:21 ESV
Lanny from Inverness
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
Sheila – Guyton
“Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen and support you after you have suffered a little while.” I Peter 5:10 (HCSB)
Kristen, Detroit. “We always thank God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you ” Colossians 1:3 NIV
NRS 1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Susan, Overland Park, KS “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.” Eph. 1:17 (NIV84)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
KJV Ps 61:2
Deanne Johnson, Laguna Hills, CA
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go:
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8
Sara R., Slidell,LA::
“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”
~1 Thessalonians 4:7-8(ESV)
Leann R, Atlanta GA.
If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know Him. Those who say that they know Him, but do not obey His commands, are liars and there is no truth in them. 1 John 2:3-4 (GNB) Good News Bible.
San Angelo, TX
Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
Angela; Covington, GA
Brothers, I so not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14. HCSB
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 NIV1984
Angela Carlsbad NM
Mathew 6:21 NIV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Charlotte Bankson Gadsden, Alabama
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NKJ
Kathy, SCF WI Psalm 30:2, ESV: ‘O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.’
Peg, Gardendale
“The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
Haylee. Atlanta, GA. “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people”. (Philippians 2:14-15 NLT)
Ps. 139:13-14 ESV
For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well.
Deidre
Hickory, NC
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14 NASB
Lindsay from Boston, MA: “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.” 2 Samuel 22:31-33 NIV
Natalie, Nesbit, MS – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV
Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man (woman) who makes the LORD his(her) trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie.
ESV
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Barb, Phoenix – To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24-25 (NIV)
Jeanelle
Houston
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps.32:8 KJV
I’m writing this to find out if Beth has her own personal facebook page. If not, someone has set up a FB account in her name, pretending to be her, offering to pray, and then asking for money to be sent to an orphanage in Africa. Some of the wording in the private messages, just doesn’t sound like something Beth would say.
I would appreciate a response to my question at your earliest convience.
God Bless you Beth and all of your staff.
And thank you for the work you are allowing God to do through you!
your sister in Christ
LaVada Price
Christina Harroun, Gridley, IL “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV
Amy from Everett, WA
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8 (NIV 1984)
Heather S., Louisville.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Missie, Marble Falls. “You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11(ESV)
Eva in Wichita,KS
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14, NIV
Lori from Bothell, Washington
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4 (NIV)