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
Annette, Lee’s Summit, MO — Colossians 1:10 NIV:
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
I Cor. 3:17 NIV
Hallelujah, Jesus!
Beth – Wynnewood, OK. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 NIV
Eva, Knoxville, (cont) Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3 (NIV)
My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6 (NASB)
Pammie, Barstow. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21 NIV
Hanna Wahlbrink from Lexington, Ky
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. Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Hebrews 12:11-12 (NIV)
Deborah, Markham, VA
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
-Romans 1:20 (NIV)
Kim, St. Louis, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:1-2 NIV84
Lori R., Knoxville, IOWA
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7, ESV
“So I say to you: Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, those you seek find and those who knock, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 TNIV
Ana from Tampa, FL
Psalm 143:1,8 (NIV)
O Lord, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Amy from Rogers, AR
The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will rest in His love. He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
Zeph 3:17 NAS
Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” I Cor. 13:3 NIV
Bettie, Pasadena
2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT
“We are pressed down on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.”
Kelly, Chesterfield, Missouri
James 1:9-11 NIV
The brother in humble circumstances ought to pride in his high position. (10) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. (11) For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
April Jones, Springfield, IL, Lamintations 3:24 (NIV)
I say to myself, “The Lord IS my portion; therefore I WILL wait for him.” (the caps are my emphasis added).
Lamentations 3:24 NOT Lamintations – I hate typos!
” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the begginning, his command is that you walk in love” 2 John 1:6 ( NIV)
Pam, Corydon, IN
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust
in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
Jill, Springdale, AR
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you want through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2, NIV84
Jamie – Niles, MI
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service”
1 Timothy 1:12
Delores O. Lake Stevens, WA
With Your help i can advance against a troop; with my God i can scale a wall.
Psalm 18:29 NIV84
Keely from Hermann, MO, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by paryer 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.”
Phillipians 4:6-7 NIV
Bryn, Frisco. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly, he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6, NIV
Diane S. from Chesapeake, VA
“You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’S hand, a
royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
Isaiah 62:3 NIV
Carolyn, Rocksprings, TX
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,for they bring life to those who find them,and healing to their whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)
Elizabeth Gilbert, Az.
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. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this , not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 NIV
Kari from Barbourville, KY
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,an endless river of righteous living. -Amos 5:24 NLT
Dawn, Colleyville, TX
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Eph. 14-15 (NIV)
Charlotte in Mims, FL
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NASB)
Vasthie, Orlando, FL
DO not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?” For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all of these things will be added to you
Matthew 6:31-33 NASB
Kelsey, Texas
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV
Lisa from Leesburg: “But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Andrea; Cartersville,GA: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1 ESV
Jill, Watertown
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~ 2 Cor. 12:9, ESV
Terri from Staunton, VA
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35, NRSV
Karen, Colchester.
Your life will be brighter, than sunshine at noon and life’s darkest hours will shine like the dawn. You will live secure and full of hope. God will protect you and give you rest.
Job 11: 17 & 18(GNT)
Kim Safina
Los Osos, CA.
“But you, are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation
a People belonging to God, that , you may declare
the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. ”
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Hodnett, Sonya, Shreveport, LA
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Sherri
Spotsylvania,VA
“Above all, Clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” Collosians3:14 NRSV
Debra, San Antonio, TX. The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NIV
Erin
Littleton, CO
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Cara, Highlands Ranch, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 NIV
Tshaka; Fort Knox;
My heart has heard you say, “come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 NLT
Sarah, Montrose, CO
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:3 (ESV)
Dee, California
If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord”and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 ESV
Brooke. Houston, TX. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” NIV
It is better to trust in the Lord that to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8 (KJV)
Cyndy, Columbia
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV