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
Kathy
Dow IL
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrew 10:23 NIV
Mindy, Gloster, LA – It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. Psalm 92:1-2 NIV
Dianne Walters – Hartselle, AL
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness
James 1:19-20 NET
Vanessa, Houston, TX – So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven…Matthew 10:32-33 ESV
Marcia. San Clemente CA
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore.
Psalms 105:4 nkjv
Ann from St. Johns FL, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 NIV
You have made your way around this hill country long enough: now turn north. Deut. 2:3 NIV
Cheri, Savage, MN Psalm 52:8 NIV
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God, I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
Lindsey Edmond, OK
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Lauri W., Houston, Texas
Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
…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.
(summoning the exiles to return, The Word: especially the promises; sent out like a messenger)
Paulette
Nogalus Prairie, TX
Matthew 5:14 The NET Bible
“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.”
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21 NIV
Lorraine, Corpus Christi, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you
as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” NIV
Ali from Grapevine
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Rhonda
Gilmer
So sorry, I posted the wrong verse.
Philemon 1:4 NKJV)
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
Allison, Rancho Cucamonga, CA:
Psalm 119:103 NKJV
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Dwan, Kings Mountain, In you, Lord my God, I put my trust., Psalm 25:1, NIV
Charmaine McLeod, Calgary, Alberta
Psalms 100
“1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Julie, Muskogee Oklahoma, Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
(HCSB)
jaimee, madisonville,
…in Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…Ephesians 1:11 (NIV)
Brenda, Midlothian: “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.” Psalm 25:15 ESV
that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, (1 Thessalonians 4:4 NIV)
Galatians 5:1 NIV84
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Lauren Robbins
Saraland, AL
Blake, McKinney
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
Susan, Houston
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one gets to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
Priscilla R. Frisco, TX
– My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4,5 NKJV
Adrienne M.
Lubbock, TX
John 3:16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Tina, Alabama: His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NLT)
“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.”–Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV)
Nicki Bishop
Bowling Green, KY
Susan, Tucson, AZ
God, with his mercy, gave us work to do, so we don’t give up. 2 Corinth 4:1 NCV
Pam in Texas
Set your minds on things above,
not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
Mollie Thomas, Fairhope, AL
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
Karen- Houston
Col 1:9-10…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, , bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God… NAS
Helena, Highlands Ranch, CO
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19 NIV84)
Scarlett Temple, Social Circle, Ga.
Luke 9:23 (NIV84)
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Debra, from Calgary Alberta
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23
Susan.Nashville
Psalm 63:1
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You. In a dry and weary land where there is no water. (NASB)
Karen Thompson in Schererville, IN
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Elsie, Scottsbluff Nebraska
I Corinthians 2:9 NLT
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Phyllis, Irvine, CA “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:7-8 (NIV)
Amanda, Springfield MO
Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 NLT
Susie, Littleton, Co
Psalms 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your only spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Proverbs 4:11 “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.”
Michelle, Colorado Springs, CO
Hebrews 11:6
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” NIV
Rhonda, Plain City, OH
“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17 (NASB)
Cynthia, Poplar Bluff
2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
Toni, Greer, SC I consider my life worthless to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Acts 20:24
Toni, Greer, SC — Oops! Forgot translation — NIV
April, Magnolia, TX
“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”
Proverbs 11:25 NKJV