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
Betsy, Westerville, Ohio
Look to The Lord and His strength, seek His face always.
Psalm 105:4 NIV
Leslie Lemmon, Platte City, Missouri
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise-in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
Patti, Roxboro, NC
“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.” Isaiah 55:10-11
Elizabeth from Becket MA
Since we are living by the spirit, let us follow the spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 NLT
Schel, Bayou Vista, TX – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
John 3-16 For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son ,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. .
Tracy Carden
Whitesburg, TN
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 NLT
Kerry Cotten Jackson, TN,
1 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,
2Â fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of 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.
3Â Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4Â In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:1-4, NIV
Sarah C. in Auburn, AL…
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalms 55:22 NLT
I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned and heard
my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place
to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise
to our God. Ps 40:1-3 NIV
Rosa,
Lynchburg, VA
Psalm 1:1-2 (ASV)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: 2, But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, and on His law doth he meditate day and night.
“And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”
Job 42:12 AMP
San Luis Obispo
Debbie, Moultrie, Ga
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil 4:8 KJV
Missy, Andersonville, TN II Samuel 22:31 NIV 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.
Lanita W in Houston, TX
Ps 40:15 (HCSB)
LORD my God, You have done many things–Your wonderful works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You.
Van Buren, AR
Commit everything you do to The Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalms 37:5 ESV
Donna, Arab, AL ~ All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Jennifer; Story City, IA
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (KJV)
Tina Miller Cleveland, Texas: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
Becky, Whitehall, WI, 2 Chronicles 20:12b “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” NIV
Beth, London ON
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8, NIV
Heather Wright, Andersonville, TN
Psalm 27:14- Wait for The Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for The Lord. (NIV)
Vickie Y. from Lynden, WA
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 (NIV)
Betsy in Mt Olive, AL
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
Melisa from Katy
Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge. (NIV)
Debbie ~ Lawrenceville, GA
But forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
Nancy from Knoxville
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NIV
Kristi, from Campbellsville, KY
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
-Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV 🙂
Megan, Grants Pass, OR
I long, yes I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Psalm 84:2 (NLT)
Kristie, Cypress, TX…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 through wordless groans. Rom 8:26 NIV
Mia from Burlington, VT
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous
right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. jeremiah 29:12 NIV
Tonya from Quantico, VA
So I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galations 5:16,17 NIV
Michelle Wynne. Frisco, TX
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22. NIV
Sue – Troy, Michigan – “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.”
James 3:7-8 (NIV)
Sue from Chadron, Nebraska
Let your light so home before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. Matthew 5:16. NKJV
Brittany, Carrollton, TX: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
Kathy – Anahuac, TX
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way, It is not irritable, and it keeps no records of being wronged. NLT I Cor 13:4-5
Psalm 119:37 (NKJV)
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way.
Ana from Greenwood, SC
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
John 10:27-29 (ESV)
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Psalm 86:5 NIV.
Birmingham, AL: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
Ellen, Moneta VA
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
-2Corinthians 7:1 (NIV 1984)
Jess from Houghton, NY
I’m leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is the gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (NLT)
Lorain Rathdrum, ID
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Prov 31:12 NIV
Mary: Zeeland, MI.
Psalm 19:14 NET
May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight O Lord my sheltering rock and my redeemer.
Connie from Carterville, IL
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Revelation 4:11 ESV
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NLT)
Kristi
Houston, TX
Ephesians 4:32 CEV
“Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”