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
Karin from Brandon, MS – As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17, NIV
Meredith from Columbus, OH: She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” -Genesis 16:13 (NIV)
(Taken from the book “The God Who Sees” by Tammy Maltby, which I’m currently reading)
Heidi – Bakersfield
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” — Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT
Aly from Mansfield, TX
“The good person out of the good treasure in his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:45, ESV
Cindy, Yakima,WA
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”
Acts 17:29, NIV
Jennifer, OKC Even now, “declares the Lord,” Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Joel 2:12 NIV
Regina, Salado, TX
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Carolyn, Austin TX
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we areāyet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NIV
“Ah Lord God! behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by they great power and stretd out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” Jeremiah 32:17 KC, MO
Cathy, Mobile, AL Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10
Judy Pauley, Norfolk, Va.
Habakkuk 3:19 ESV
The Lord is my strength. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so I can walk on the steep mountains.
Lois, Charlotte NC
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.ā Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Amber R. from Hattiesburg, MS:
“Being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
wendy from colorado
The Lord is my shepher; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 NKJV
Toni ~ Orlando, Florida
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7 ESV
Ashley, Colorado
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3, NLT
Kelly Wiggins
Fowler, CA
Exodus 20:1-3 (NIV)
And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”
6 Donāt worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience Godās peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Jessica from Rockvale,TN
Psalm 28:7 (NLT) “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of Thanksgiving.”
Amy, New Palestine, IN, “‘And this is my covenant with them,’ says the Lord. ‘My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!'” – Isaiah 59:21 NLT
Tami KC, MO
John 14:27 NIV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Laura Humphreys, Savannah, GA
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Laura, Nebraska.
Isaiah 30:15 NKJV
For thus says the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel: āIn returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.ā
wendy from colorado
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His nameās sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 NKJV
Karen, San Antonio, TX
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
Ephesians 2:8
English Standard Version (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Shawna in Virginia, “Rather train yourselves for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” ESV 1 Timothy 4:7b-8
Kathy, Wake Forest, NC
3 John 1:4 (ESV)
I have not greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Philippians 4:8 The Living Bible
Amanda Hurst, Van Buren, AR
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
Tab Lewis from Greenville, SC
“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord of heaven’s armies.” ~ Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)
Lynn from Alpharetta, GA says:
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Psalm 105:4 (NKJV)
Lisa W
Hillsboro Or
Psalm 25:1 NLT
O Lord, I give my life to you.
Lynn in Frankfurt, Germany
“All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you” Psalm 38:9 (NIV)
Judy Woodward
Lake Charles, LA
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy
safe pasture.” Psalm 37:3 (NIV)
Amy from Miamisburg, OH
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power 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 10:4-5 NIV
Tabitha Schenkel from Liberty,NC
“For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.”
Romans 11:29 NLT
Kathy Willis
Huntington WV
Isaiah 43: 1b-2
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. ESV
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
John 1:14 ESV
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down oneās life for oneās friends. (John 15:12, 13 NIV)
Deborah-Hartsville,SC “Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise Thee.” -Psalm 67:3 NASB
Amanda, Fairbanks, AK
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name,” Psalm 86:11 NIV
Carolyn, St. Catharines, ON
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV
Jacqueline, Costa Mesa, CA
Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Katie in San Antonio, TX,
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
Bethany T. Harrisburg, NC
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Ontario, OH (Isaiah 43:18 NLT)
“But forget all that — it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
Mansfield, OH
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10. NASB
Cindy H. Paducah, KY
Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Lesley from Clinton, MS
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV