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
Paula, Russell KY
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29 NLT
Kathy- Natalia, TX
Psalm 119:28
My soul melts from heaviness
Strengthen me according to Your Word
Stephanie, Hamilton, GA – Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Katie Cincinnati, Ohio
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 NIV)
Mary Beth from Georgia
Ezekiel 48:35 (NKJV)- All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.
Karen, Hewitt. “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my lot secure”. Psalms 16:5 NIV
Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NIV)
Carol
Carthage, NY
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:15&18 NIV
Kathie Mullins
Chino Hills, CA
NIV
James 1:6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Jennifer, Cape Coral, FL
“This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”
Isaiah 48:17-18, NLT
Draper, UT
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Marie, Post Falls, Idaho –
“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness? Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
– Exodus 15:11, NKJV
Pam from Mazie
PSALM 81:10 ESV
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Valerie, Fultondale, AL
“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40 NIV
Vicki
Burton, Michigan
James 1:7-11 (NIV)
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 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; it’s blossom falls and it’s beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Rachel, Winchester, Ky., Psalm 25:20 (NKJV) Keep my soul and deliver me; let me not be ashamed for I put my trust in you.
Nancy D., Round Rock, TX–
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Fatther is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but fom the world.”
1 John 2:15-16 (NIV84)
Carol, Littlestown- Philippians 1: 20, 21 “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death, for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Terry from Jasper, GA…1 John 24-25 NKJV Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise He has promised us – eternal life.
Sarah from Brownwood
Romans 15:13 NIV
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.
Jennifer from Huntington, WV
Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
Proverbs 3:5
Sheila, Bradley Il.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14. NIV
Reeder
Auburn, AL
2 Cor. 10:5 (NIV)
. . . we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Beth Cary, NC
2 Timothy 1:5-14 (NIV)
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Marlies, The Netherlands
‘Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB
Psalm 34:17 KJV
The righteous cry out and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 ESV
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NIV
The Lord gives strength to His people, The Lord blesses His people with peace.
Psalms 29:11 NIV
Sharon Stiglic – Boca Raton, Fl.
“Show me the path where I should walk, O’Lord: point out the right road for me to follow.” Psalm 25:4 (NLT)
Zephaniah 3:17 (AMP)
The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior Who saves! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in silent satisfaction and in His love He will be silent and make no mention of past sins, or even recall them; He will exult over you with singing.
Samantha
Plainfield, IN
But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
Galatians 5:22
NIV
jess hummelstown pa
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Acts 18:9-10 NIV1984
Heidi – Stewartville, MN
James 2:17-18 KJV
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Leslie
Rochester, MN
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2, 3 HCSB)
Becky, Stromsburg, NE
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
James 4:3 NKJV
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Rachel, Austin TX
“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)
Diana Anderson, Greenville, Kentucky Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;
Michelle, Russellville ~ She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 NIV
Angela, Katy TX:
“My dear brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing fine clothes and a gold ring, and another man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man in fine clothes, saying, “Here, sit here by me,” but to the poor man you say, “You stand over there,” or “Sit here at my feet,” have you not become judges with evil thoughts and discriminated among yourselves?
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters, has God not chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom which He promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the wealthy that are persecuting you? Are they not the ones that are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones that are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
James 2:1-7 (NIV)
Jennifer, Nashville, TN:
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure.” Psalm 16:8-9 (NIV)
Karen from Fort Dodge Iowa – She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 26:31 NKJV.
Brittany, Griffin. Romans 12:12 (NIV) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:14-15 ESV
Michelle, Cypress, TX.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. – Romans 15:4 NKJV
Katie from Medford, NJ
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Dayna, Overland Park, KS
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
Kim, Brooklyn, The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10 NKJV)