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
Rana, Whitehouse, Tx
“Show me your ways, 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. Remember Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” Psalm 25:4-7 NIV
Nicole, Parrish, FL: For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. Corinthians 4:17-18 (NET)
Beth, Ongole India, Hebrews 10:39 “we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.” HCSB
Trish Price
Paintsville KY
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up their wings as eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk,
and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
KJV
Kina, Chicago
Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Jennifer
Suwanee, GA
NIV Psalm 63:3-4
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Lisa, Huntsville, AL …because this verse has landed in front of me from two different sources this week…
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’ — Is. 30:15 NIV 84
Tracey from Shawnee, Kansas
2 Cor. 12:9 (NET)
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.
John 1:1-2 (NIV): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” Such beauty in my precious Jesus, the Word!!!
Vicki, Lubbock, Texas–Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! Lam. 3:22-23 HCSB
“You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” Deuteronomy 2:3, NASB
Madeline from Flagstaff, AZ
Tracie in Maryland
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”. NIV
Needed this simple reminder.
Margaret, The Villages, FL
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV)
Robin, Phoenix
Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. (Romans 12:9, 10 MSG)
Big Lake, MN
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.
Hebrews 11:1-2 nasb
Jeanene- Newnan, GA
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22 ESV
Anita, Lawrenceville
Blessed be The Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
Psalms 68:19 (ESV)
Amy from Charleston
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NIV
Deb, Loveland, CO – “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Jess, Columbia, MO
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV “Show me your ways, 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.”
Michelle, Chester, NJ. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,* for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 ESV
Becky Akana, Suwanee, GA
Isaiah 55:6-13 (NIV)
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord ’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (Isaiah 55:6-13 NIV)
Ellen White, Saint Augustine, FL
A Fool shows his annoyance at once, But a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Proverbs 12:16 NIV
Kristi, Austin “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord,my Rock and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
Brenda Lewis
Fort Ashby, WV
Proverbs 31:15 (NLT)
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
Laura, Houston: “I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, you alone keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 (NLV)
Jessica B., Chapel Hill, NC
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Carolyn, Raven’s Country! : “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”.” Romans 8: 14 – 15
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Abigail from Charleston
“He is a tree planted beside streams of water that bears fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:3, HCSB
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
Butler, OH
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21 NIV
Diana, East Peoria, IL
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be and encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT
ooops….should say “that your words would be AN encouragement to those who hear them.”
Ellen K., Stoughton, MA
Galatians 5:24, 25 – And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Regina in Tallahassee, FL
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Ecclesiastes 11:7 KJV
Shelby Flowe from Lilburn, GA – “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:6-7 NIV84
Leslie
Wisner, La.
” As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
1 Peter 4:10 ESV
“Guide me in your truths and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long”.
Psalm 25:5 NIV
Chrissy,
San Tan Valley, Arizona
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from and evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-24 ESV
Ellen K., Stoughton, MA
Oops, That’s ESV for Gal 5:24,25. May our Lord bless & teach us as we hide His Word in our hearts and minds!
Cathy Pfeifer-Croken, St. Catherine’s, PEI:
“Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty
will be with you,
just as you say He is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV 1984)
Deneen – Pittsburgh, PA
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB
Gillian, Oshawa, Ontario Canada May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel Psalm 69:6 NIV
Denise from San Antonio, TX
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
Michelle, from Carthage, TX
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2, NIV
Terry, East Peoria, IL
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness “Clear the way for the Lord is coming!”
John (NLT)
Carla, Orlando – And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor 9:8 NIV
Jamie, Mobile, Al:
“But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares The Lord.” Jeremiah 1:7-8, ESV
Sue
Big Rapids, Mi
Lamentations 3:25 NASB
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
Jn 19:10 ” I have come that you may have life and life to the full”