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
Carol Kirby, Amarillo, TX.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 NIV
Lauren from Magee, MS,
“My sheep recognize My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of My hand.” ~John 10:27-28 (the Msg.)
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.” Psalm 89:15
Alicia, OKC
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Colossians 3:5-6.
Niv
Alisha Scott, Little Rock
Forget what happened in the past,and do not dwell on events from long ago. I am going to do something new.It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it?I will clear a way in the desert.I will make rivers on dry land. Isaiah 43:18-19(GW)
Beth, Omaha, NE
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 2 Timothy 1:7 HCSB
Quita, Trenton,Tx
Ec.8:12-13 KJV
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
Janice, Harrison
“But love your enemies and be kind and do good [ doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost, and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, abundant) and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and the wicked.”. Luke 6:35 AMP
Rebecca
Owasso OK
2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Cindy, St. Louis – “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.” Psalm 33.11 NLT
Jeanine, Toronto, Canada
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalms 27:13-14 NKJV
Leah Taylor from Russellville, AR
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4 (ESV)
Sue Magee
Hazel Green, AL
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.”
Psalm 28:7
Cindy from Cochem, Germany: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
Kristy, Woodstock, Ga
“The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. THe commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
Psalm 19:7-8, NAS
Dawn – Maryland
” My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord. ”
Psalm 26:12 NKJV
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
Alison Hunt, Florida, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
Jean Herrick Princeton, Maine
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
And you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Psalm 51:6 (ESV)
Susan Lawrence, Nokomis IL Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3, NCV)
Cheryl Kemah,TX This is to my Father’s glory,that you bear much fruit,showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 NIV1984
Torrie Chizek, Grantsburg WI
Psalms 16:3-4 NIV
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or
take up their names on my lips.
Psalm 16:3, 4 NIV
Melanie E, Saint Augustine. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Maria, from Louisville, KY
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the Word of God will not be dishonored.
~Titus 2:3-5 NASB
Joyce, Wahpeton ND
This God – his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
Psalm 18: 30-31 ESV
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT
Centreville, VA
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)
Janet from Pearland, TX
Ephesians 1:4 NIV
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Adele from Matthews, NC ” God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food. But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgement and justice will be upheld.” Job 36:16-17 NLT
Carrie from West Lafayette, IN
Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess
Deuteronomy 11:8 NKJV
Janice – Conroe, TX
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
Is. 40:28 (NASB)
Linda S
McCalla, Alabama
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:11-14 ESV
Dawn, Clinton, PA ~ Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. 6:20-21, NASB
Barbie, Powell OH
“So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
Hebrews 4:16 – The Message
Katherine Chaney, Greenbrier, AR
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalms 63:3-4 ESV
Yanna Westmoreland Bryan,TX “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3 ESV
Terry, Carbondale IL
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
Sarah, Bracknell, UK
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”
Isaiah 43:1-2 NAS
Amanda, Port Arthur 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ” May The Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” ESV
Jaime ~ Wilson, NC
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
Joyce from Menifee, Ca
Jesus replied, ” What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NIV
Kathleen, Georgetown,TX
Colossians 3:12 NIV84
Therefore,as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Connie, Shipshewana. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Dawn, South Bend – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strenth of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Karla, Maumee OH
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:16 NIV
Amy, Indps IN – “nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 NASB
Carole, Imperial, CA: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NIV
Lisa, Fredericktown
See how my enemies have increased and how
fiercely they hate me!
Palm 25:19, NIV
Lisa DeCarlo, Alpharetta, GA
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24: 3-4 (NIV)