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
Lynette, Aurora, CO
Romans 15:13
New Living Translation (NLT)
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Deb in Windsor, CT:
“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
Stacie, Merced: “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” Luke 3:5-6, NIV
Taylor Buelke. Littleton, CO
Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1Cor. 9:24 (NIV)
Leigh, Houston
Proverbs 11:2, Holman Christian Standard
“When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom,”
Phyllis, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Isaiah 40:8 NIV
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.
Sarah, Oklahoma City OK
“As for God, His was is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.” 2 Samuel 22:31 and again in Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
Norma
Leander, TX
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
Psalm 119:89,90 ESV
Rachel – Texas
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” 2 Cor 10:3-4 NKJV
Shannon, Tyler, Tx. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. James 5:14-15, NASB
Rhonda, Houston
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
1 Chronicles 28:20 NLT
2 Timothy 1:8
Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
ESV
Heather
Birmingham, AL
Nicole, Knoxville,
“I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” Ps. 121:1-2 (NIV)
Cheryl, Knoxville, TN Psalm 19:14 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O LORD, my refuge and my redeemer.
Shelly, San Angelo, TX
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Missy, La Canada, CA
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Sherilyn–Warsaw, Indiana
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.
II Corinthians 10:5
Ruth from Atlanta:
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:3 ESV
Glenna, Cumberland House,SK “I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.” (Psalms 101:4 NLT)
Pam, Cary, NC
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 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Pam from Holland, MI Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Psalm 119:114
Debbie, Rochester, MN James 1:1-18 NLT This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Dorothy, San Diego
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14
Kim, Nashville, TN
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV 84)
Romans 8: 26-27 NIV
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Eleanor
Memphis, TN
I Cor. 6:12-13a
Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for good, but God will destroy them both.
(Can you tell what I am battling with? ha,ha)
Now to him who is able do for far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever, Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV
Valerie ~ Lewiston, ID:
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has planned.” Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)
Amber, Rockwell, NC “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10 ESV
Sheri
Portland, Oregon
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
James 4:13-14 NIV84
Warner Robins, GA
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16, 17 ESV)
Delanie from Spring Hill TN
John 10:10
New International Version (NIV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Heather, Aberdeen SD
Psalm 9:10 NIV
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.
Kim C from Franklinton, LA
Psalm 105:4-5 NLT
Search for the LORD and for His strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders He has performed, his miracles, and the rulings He has given.
Becky from Kimberly, Alabama
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
“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
Jodie from NY, NY
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Psalm 54:4 NIV
Janice
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.
May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10
Ginny Wilson, Ooltewah, TN
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5, NIV
Brea B. – Gardendale, Alabama
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:2-3 (NIV84)
Christina Brown
Louisville, KY
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 NIV
Elizabeth McInerney from Novato, CA
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18
NIV
Maggie from Seattle, WA:
“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)
Deb Knepp in Bremen, In
You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Psalms 139:3 NIV
Rome, GA
From His fullness we all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:16, 17 WEB)
Karen, Brandon, MS:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
– 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
Shannon, Johnstown
“It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.”
Proverbs 20:3 ESV
Keri, Toms River, NJ.
Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Is. 41:10 (MSG).
LOVING this translation!
Pam, Spring, TX
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Ashley (Dallas, Ga)
“There came a man sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.”
John 1:6-7 (NIV)