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
Debbie from Cathey’s Valley, CA: “Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.” Psalm 40:4 (NLT)
Rita Brown
Midland, TX
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Denise
Burlington, CT
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 (NKJV)
Stephanie – Fredericksburg, VA
“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
Candace- Greenville, SC
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40: 30-31 NIV
Sharie, Chillicothe, MO
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jer 29:13 NASB
Heidi, Snohomish WA
Job 19:25 NIV
For I know that my Redeemer lives and in the end He will stand on the earth.
Debbie, Georgetown Tx
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Madisyn- Greenville, SC
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40: 30-31 NIV
Stephanie, La Habra, CA “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:10,11 NIV
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Tx
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11 NASB
Donna Nash from Huntington, WV
“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
Colossians 1:18 NASB
Sonya Dickerson, Chesterfield, VA
“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” 2 Timothy 2:23-26 NLT
Alisa
Clinton, MS
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:5-6
ESV
Joy, Land o Lakes FL Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
God is our strength and refuge, an ever present help in trouble.
Tori,Moore OK, Prov.15:1(MSG) “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.”
Patti Hayes, Tampa, Florida
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Dotti, Jackman “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Megan H., Dayton, OH
He will not let your foot slip — He who watches over you will not slumber; (Ps. 121:3, NIV)
Megan H., Edina, MN
1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV
“However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– but God has revealed it [wisdom] to us by His Spirit.”
Melissa Porter Granbury Tx
Ephesians 6:10 (NASB)
Finally, be stong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Christine Friend, Flagstaff,
“ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Bev Goodman
Morristown, Tn
Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 NIV
Jennifer from Pickering, ON, CA
“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, ESV
Molly Arnold, Rochester, NY
“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 NLT
Cindy, Fort Worth, TX
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:8-9, NIV
Kim, Michigan. John 10:14 NIV I am the good shepard; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
Jennifer Londeree
Huntington, WV
Get rid of all bitterness, anger, rage, harsh words and slander as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph. 4:31-32 NLT
Keaton Lovell, McCurtain, OK
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Jen K (Prosper, TX)
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
Prov 31:12 (NLT)
Julia, Morehead, KY
The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NIV
Gulley, San Antonio
Psalm 121:5-8 HCSB
The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going, both now and forevermore. “
Tiffany H
Texas City
He who has believed and been baptized shall be saved; he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Mark 16:16 NASB
Amie Torralva, Honolulu, HI
“A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20 NASB
Rebecca, Las Vegas. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 NIV
Fenton, MO
I am growing and becoming strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God is upon me. Luke 2:40 KJV
Cory Anna, Atlanta
“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? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT)
Marie Franklin, TN
Cease striving and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 (NASB)
Ericka, Tampa, FL: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Phillippians 4:6 NKJV
Carol, Belleville, On: Since God did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else. Romans 8:32 NLT
Ashley from Houston, TX
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”
Psalm 105:4 NIV
Lisa-Austin, TX
Phillipians 4:6 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Look to the Lord and his strength; Seek his face always.
NIV Psalm 105:4
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts afar off.” Psalm 139:1-2 NSV
Talia, Cincinnati Ohio
Romans 15:13 NLT
“I pray that God, the source of all 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.”
Tonia from Meridian, Idaho
Habakkuk 2:1 New King James
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
Lisa, Watkinsville, GA: Ephesians 3:12 NIV. In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Psalm 143:8 let the morning bring me work of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Stephanie from Woodward, OK
The Message
John 15:17
“But remember the root command: Love one another.
Chelsia, Waverly MN
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12, NIV