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
Annmarie, Livermore
Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 HCSB
Phyllis from Fulton, MO
Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
II Cor. 10:5, King James Version
Paula, Marlinton, WV
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. (Ephesians 3:14-16 NLT)
Diana from Indianapolis – Eph 2:10 – NIV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Donna from Cypress,
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Atlanta, Georgia
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” John 7:38 ESV
Jill
Plano, Texas
Psalm 90:17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Joni, Port Neches. “May God Himself,the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lotd Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24, NIV
Amanda, Surrey BC, Canada, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7 NLT
Jen Lee, Ames, Iowa: “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8, Holman
Monica, FL; Romans 12:12 NIV “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Psalm 119:103
Psalm 16:8 (ESV) I have set the LORD always before me; becaue he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Kristi, Scottsdale, AZ
…I will call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2 ASV)
Sarah, Arkadelphia, AR
Job 19:27 NIV
I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Savannah, Cabot, AR
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:6-7 NIV
Karyn Aldridge, Brisbane AUSTRALIA
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:10, 11 NIV)
Jacqueline M, Lancaster County, PA
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NET)
14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing—
Emily Harris, Arkadelphia AR
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)
Cyndi, Lexington KY
Being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Johnna, Bulverde, TX
Psalm 75:11 NIV
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Sheila and daughter Rebecca, age 10, Moncton, NB
‘ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think on these things.’ Phil 4:8 (NIV)
1 John 4:19 ESV “We love because He first loved us.”
Chattanooga TN
Martha, Catawba, NC
HEBREWS 13:16
And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Deborah, Vinton, LA
Jesus looked at them and said, ” with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
NIV MATTHEW 19: 26
Susan, Houston
Romans 1:9-10, ESV
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
Caty from Stockbridge, GA – Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? -Exodus 15:11 KJV
Hannah from Mt. Holly, NC
Romans 8:26, ESV- Likewise, the spirit helps us in our time of weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as ought, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Karissa, Martinsburg, WV
Proverbs 3:3 NIV
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Caroline from Paducah, KY. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Geri
Deer Park, TX
John 1:5-7 NLT
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
Sherri in Galena, OH:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6
NIV
Lydia from Amsterdam
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion –
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendour.
Isaiah 61:3 NIV uk
Mary Lisa, Glenwood MN – Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3 (NIV)
Rita – Alva, Florida
” And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:17 – NLT
Jenny
Corona, Ca
This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.” Matt. 6:9-13 ~NIV
Suzy – Orlando, FL
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV1984)
Connie, Kingwood, TX
John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jenny
St charles, il
John 11:40 NIV 84
Then Jesus said, “did I not tell you if you believed you will see the glory of God?”
Amy, Washington DC, 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (ESV) “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.”
Clarksville, TN
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
Tammy in Maryville, Mo
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV
Melody Faith, Knoxville, TN “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”” (I Peter 4:8 NKJV) – A little late, spent the night at the hospital with a friend. 🙂
Melissa Giomi, Concord, CA
Psalm 4:8 NIV
I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Vanessa from Anderson, SC:
“I am the Lord your God, … I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13 (NLT)
Marie says
Mancelona, Michigan
Romans 6:6-7: NAS. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin–because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Abby
Oak Ridge, TN
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
MaryBeth~ Abilene TX
Psalm 86:11 NIV Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord .Psalm 12.7.esv
Whitewright, TX
Psalm 112:7 (ESV) ~ He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.