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
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, (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)
Kerry Beebe from Albuquerque, New Mexico
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.
2Corinthians 4:18 NIV 05
“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 ESV
Joni, Clarinda, IA
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. NASB
Kimberly, Cypress, TX
“Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from SETTLING DOWN in complete dependence on me.”
Isaiah 30:15 (The Message)
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3 (NISB)
Becki L. Battle Creek, MI
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1 John 3:9 (NIV)
Melynie Durham, Crown Point, IN
Yes my soul, Find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 62:5
NIV
Linda from Okeechobee
“Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,”
Luke 24:45
NET
Sabrina, Pikesville,MD.
“So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by ADONAI the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (CJB)
The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Jane W, Charlotte, NC
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:9-12 NIV
Darcy, Edwardsville, IL
Esther 4:14 (NIV)
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time at this?”
Michele, Edmond, OK
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Is 55:8-9 ESV
Emily, Elk Grove, CA
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” -Romans 12:9 NIV
Kari – Dallas, Texas – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Stephanie, Madison, Maine “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Rom. 8:5-6 NKJV
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ESV
Marilyn Gadsden, Al
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said “I am the light of the world Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8;12 NIV
Cindy, Houston, TX…..2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
Ronnie, Ostrander, Ohio Psalm 94 18-19 When I thought “my foot slips” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. ESV
Sharon, Lakeway TX
Psalm 18.31-32, NIV
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Myra, London, England
II Corinthians 12:9 NIV
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Cindy, Kearney NE
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12 KJV)
Kelsey, Pensacola, Fl.
“My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Susan, Fairview, TN. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:21 (ESV)
Janet, Port Orange,
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12) NiV
Diana & Linnea (age 10)
Waconia, MN
James 1:22-25 (ESV)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if a person is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he is like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
Shelby from Indiana,”and those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.” Galatians 5:24 AMP
Becky, Okla. City, OK
The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. JOHN 14:17 NIV
Brandy M Brown
DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Friendship Baptist
James 1:19-20 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
“Delight yourself in the Lord & he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 NIV
West Monroe, LA
Jackie from Lake Charles: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” Philippians 2:5-6 NIV
Mendy Cary, NC
But now, this is what the LORD says-
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Sherry, Easley, SC
Phil 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Pam from San Marino, CA in Porto, Portugal on vacation – don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. John 14:1 Common English
Kate Posthuma from Cheney, WA
She will have no fear of bad news; her heart is steadfast, trusting* in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NIV 1984
(*trusting = leaning on & being confident in)
forgot the reference Isaiah 43:1 NIV
Heidi in Whitefish, MT
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but a spirit of power, of love, and of
self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Rene, Overland Park, KS “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 ESV
Cathy
Warsaw, IN
I forgot to post yesterday…
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:23 NIV
Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
“He has shown you what IS good; and what does the Lord require of you but…
to do justly
to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God”
Janet, Grand Prairie TX
Who are you to to judge someone else’s servant? To their on master they will stand or fall. And they will stand, for they will stand for The Lord is able to make them stand.
Romans 14:4. TNIV
Stacey, mcKinney, tx
Proverbs 14:1
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” (NIV)
Nicole Graves
Keller
Psalm 112:7-8 NLT
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
“I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me 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. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in the him.” ~Psalm 40:1-3 NIV
Charissa – West Chester, OH
Exodus 14:14 NIV
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling.”
Isaiah 30:15ESV
Pat
Crawfordsville, IN
Dina Garcia, garden grove, CA, “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,” Hebrews 12:1
Karen
Virginia Beach, VA
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”