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
Kellie, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
“When He saw the crowds He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 NIV
Tonya from Eucha, OK Daniel 2: 20-21 HCS “May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
Stacy, Kimberly, WI,
“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”.
Romans 4:20-21 (NLT)
Jessica from Fort Worth, Texas
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)
Madison, Ms
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
Psalms 126:5
NIV
Marcia, Pembroke, NH Habakkuk 3: 17, 18 Amplified version
Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, (though) the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will rejoice in The Lord; I will exalt in the (victorious) god of my salvation!
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places,
indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 16:5-6 (HCSB)
“I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” Joshua 1:9 NET
Margie, Allen,TX
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:3-5. NIV
Johannah, Alexandria, LA
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. (Romans 8:12 NLT)
Deena, Corona, CA
“I will praise You forever for what You have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise You in the presence of your saints.” Ps. 52:9. NIV
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1 Corinthians 2:7
Lisa
Forsyth,IL
“Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded,’ says The Lord ‘, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, ‘ says The Lord ‘, that your children shall come back to there own border. ” Jeremiah 31: 16-17 NKJ
Alyssa, Tom Bean, Texas
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Psalm 20:7
NIV
Claire, Washington, D.C.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. – Psalm 84:5
Jessica, Conifer CO: “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 MSG
Brenda, Denver, CO –Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. Hebrews 6:17 (NIV)
Joyce L., St. Louis, MO
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Christ Jesus in accordance with his good will and pleasure.
Mary R. Duluth, MN
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 NIV
Kim from Springfield
Psalm 103:10
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Kim here…sorry I forgot to put the translation of my verse in Psalm 103:10 It is the NIV 1984
Amanda, Calgary, Alberta
Yet I will rejoice in The Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:18,19 NIV
Pam Hamilton, OH
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Is. 53:4 (KJV)
James 1:4 NKJV “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Teresa, Bessemer, Al, The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT
Kaylenn, Temple, TX
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Margaret W. Memphis, TN
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Melinda~Eckley, CO.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.1 John 3:18 NKJV
Jennifer, Cullman, AL
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)
Ruth, Austin, Texas
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
1 John 3:3 (NIV)
Palatine, Illinois
O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.
Psalm 38:21-22 (NIV 1984)
Lisa from Birmingham….
Proverbs 18:13- “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” ESV
Emily, Aurora, MO
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:15, 16 NIV84)
Amanda B
OKC
Psalm 18:28 NLT
You light a lamp for me.
The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
Rebekah, Fairfield, TX
But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you.
Luke 6:27&28 NKJV
Carrie, San Angelo
Psalms 19:14 KJV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer.
Sara, Downey California
Psalm 62:1-2 NLT
” I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.”
Philippians 2:14-15, NIV
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe.
Dawn, Kansas City “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Allison M., Scottsdale, AZ
Galatians 5:22-23
New English Translation (NET)
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: Psalm 19:14 NET May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight O LORD my sheltering rock and my redeemer.
Sarah Barker, Greensboro, NC
1 Corinthians 12:27
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Sue S from Lawrenceville, GA
“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”
NLT
Margo, Laramie, WY
2 Corinthians 4:1,2 NIV
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Sorry!
Shannon Boyer, Houston tx
Vickie M, Garland TX.
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe.
Philippians 2:14-15, NIV
KhristinaO from Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The Message John 15:5-6
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing,
Danielle, Pratt, KS
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalms 103:2 (NLT)
Pam, Naperville, IL
“…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:3 NIV
Kelley, Olive Branch, MS
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 NIV
Hannah | Oklahoma City, OK
Psalm 18:32, NLT
“God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”