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
Marcy
Euless, TX
Psalm 86:5 NIV
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Jamie, New Palestine, IN
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
My dad passed away a few weeks ago. Need to meditate on this verse.
Michelle Alosa
Concord, NH
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Amanda, Daphne, AL
Eph. 429 NIV84 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Jodee
Raytown, MO
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
James 2:17 NLT
Lindsey, WI
John15:8
My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.
Life Application Bible
Teach me ur way Lord, that I may rely on ur faithfulness . Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear ur name. Ps. 86:11
Lori, Owasso,OK
“These instructions are not empty words–they are your life!”
Deut. 32:47a (NLT)
Jay, Oklahoma
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 NIV
Kristi from Lee’s Summit, MO
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:10 ESV
Andrea, McKinney, TX
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.
(Psalm 40:8, NIV)
Rachelle from Smyrna, TN
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
Randi, knoxville, TN
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3 NIV)
Adrianne, Atlanta, GA
“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)
Elaine from McVeytown, PA
Col. 3:3 NLT
“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Eph. 4:1 NIV
Martha, Clearwater,FL
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here is a good seat for you”,but say to the poor man.”You should stand there,”or “Sit on the floor by my feet”, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2: 3-4 NIV
Diana, North Attleboro
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NIV84)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJ
Keli, Talihina, OK
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”. James 4:10 KJV
Cynthia, Charlotte, NC
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
Katie, Charleston, SC
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, curing their pains and sorrows.
Psalm 147:3
Jane, Bakersfield, CA
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 RSV
He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6
Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. Deut. 32:2, NLT
Dana, Murray, KY 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. Psalm 63:3-4 NIV
Andrea Henley, New Bern, NC:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34 NIV
Debbie Laureen, New Port Richey , FL
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5 NIV
Sherree from Mansfield, TX
Psalm62:5 NLT
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.”
Christy, Lima, Ohio
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)
Suzanne Houston, TX
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)
” If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but dont love, I am nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps but I dont love, I’m nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-2
The Message
Amber, La Junta, Colorado
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”
John 15:13 (NIV)
Jean, Columbus, Ohio “But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 2:22
Ashland, KY Exodus 15:2 NLT “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him–my father’s God, and I will exalt Him!”
Wendy Couper, Peterborough, ON Canada
So I say let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting eachother so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:16-17 NLT
Roxanne
Hummelstown, Pa
James 1:7-8
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
NIV1984
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
Angela, San Diego, CA
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God,my God,is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 1 Chronicles 28:20 NIV
Lori, Springfield, Mo. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16 (KJV)
Freida, Chatham, La “…who forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases,” Psalms 103:3 NIV
Mary, Anacortes,WA
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1 ESV
Kelly, cape girardeau mo
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26 NIV)
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33 NIV)
Morgan/Chicago
Karen, Centralia, Mo: And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, my sinful nature. I want to do what is right but I can’t. Romans 7:18 NLT
Kelsey, KS
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
(Isaiah 12:2-4 ESV)
Alesa, Malvern, AR
Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by Yahwehs name, and they will stand in awe of you.
Deuteronomy 28:10 HCSB
Kim~ Rushville, Ohio
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:22-24 NIV
Stephanie, Riverside, MO
Yes, because God is your refuge
The HIGH God your very own home
Evil can’t get to you
harm cant get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go
If you stumble they will catch you.
Psalm 91:9-12
The Message