Hey, Darling Things! I was so happy to catch up with many of you yesterday! I was seriously thirsty for some time with you. If you didn’t tune in to the livestream but want to catch up, check the previous post. The video will stay up for a little while. It’s not at all too late to watch it and leave a comment with your 5-song playlist (on that post, not this one please!). That post is about trading in a spirit of despair for a garment of praise! If you’re game for that, jump back to the previous entry after you’ve left your memory verse here.
Man, oh, man, I was tested all day long yesterday on whether or not I’d permit Jesus to cover me with a garment of praise. Anybody else? The day wasn’t complete until I had car trouble. Oh, and I almost forgot to throw in here that Star and Geli were bound and determined to have my raccoon for supper. I screamed to high heaven and Keith ran out in the sticks barefooted in his maroon Texas A&M pajama pants and called them off. Why the police didn’t drive up to see if there had been domestic violence, I’ll never know. Laughing. Oh, mercy, ladies. We live real lives, don’t we? The kind where you unload a dishwater that was crammed full of dishes only to realize late into the massive unloading that they were still dirty. Blast it.
I’m praising our glorious God this morning while it is still dark outside, anticipating that over the next half hour the sun will rise on a brand new day and it will be a great one. A great one, indeed, Lord Jesus. Bring it. And show Your beautiful self to us in its course.
SO, SISTERS, IT’S TIME FOR OUR 5TH VERSE! You are jotted in my prayer journal this morning where I asked God to keep you steadfastly at the process and to give you joy and victory in it and to keep your soul alive and healthy in His Word. Do not grow weary in your well doing! Always keep in mind that we’re wearing our obsessive minds out on SOMETHING. It may as well be the Word of God with the power to build it back up! Your God did not give you a spirit of fear, Sweet Thing, but of…
POWER.
LOVE.
SELF CONTROL.
I thought maybe some of you could use some fresh ideas this round so I’m going to put a few extras in here today. Two of these are from the Psalm I read to you at the conclusion of the livestream yesterday. The beauty of the first selection is that it would count for both your Scriptures this month since it’s two verses. Now, mind you, you’d still have to document the second half of it on March 15th but that’s easy to do. Right? I felt like God put a word on my heart yesterday that some of us who are really struggling with the memorization process might be making it a bit harder than it has to be in some of our selections. Try to avoid over-complicating it when possible. Only choose a really complex portion when you feel like your life and sanity depend on it and, in that case, go for it with all your might and ask God to empower you to absorb it. OK, here goes:
(1) It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; (v.2) to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-4 ESV (See how easy those two would be, Sisters? And it would knock out your whole month of March!)
I’ll go ahead and choose the second one (out of the same Psalm) for my selection this March 1st. I’m choosing The NET Bible for my translation on this one because it makes me happy to use the word happy in a Bible verse. Thank you, Miss Shameless Sanguine.
Beth, Houston. “For You, O Lord, have made me HAPPY by Your work. I will sing for joy because of what You have done.” Psalm 92:4 The NET Bible
I’ll throw in one more because I jotted it down on an index card several months ago and set it on my desk at home where I can see it everyday while I’m having my quiet time. It hasn’t finished its work in me yet so, while it’s still on my mind, I’ll offer it up as one more possibility for some of you. I love, love, love this verse in The Message.
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
“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
Well, amen to that.
I love you guys so much! That sun is just beginning to peak through the trees. It’s going to be a great day.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Jaclyn Bailes, Palestine, TX
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
Shannon, Mandeville
1 Cor. 15:58 NIV Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Andrea, Burleson, TX:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9, NIV
Tess
Cartersville, GA
“Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving”
Col. 4:2 NET
Emily, Topeka, Kansas
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
James 2:8 (NIV)
Kelli, Dover
Rejoice in The Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 ESV
For You, make me glad by Your deeds, O Lord
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
Psalm 92:4 NIV
Donna, Arlington “For You, O Lord, have made me HAPPY by Your work. I will sing for joy because of what You have done.” Psalm 92:4 The NET Bible
Julia Stevens Hill — Anniston, Alabama
Isaiah 49:13 NIV
Shout for joy, O heavens;
Rejoice, O earth;
Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people,
and He will have compassion
on His afflicted ones.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. ” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV1984)
Kristi
Houston, TX
Psalm 131:1 HCSB
“LORD, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I do not get involved with things too great
or too difficult for me.”
Shannon Davis, Mt. Olive, Al
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
Sharon
Ann Arbor, Mi
Mark 5:34 NIV
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering”
Alexis, Anderson, SC. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He Loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NKJV)
Pat, Joshua Texas
“But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and do not lag behind.”
Isaiah 40:31 Message
Lois, Schriever, LA
‘By those who come near Me I [a]will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.’ Leviticus 10:3 NASB
Deb, Kokomo,In. Phil4:13 NIV
” I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (NIV)
Valerie ~ Oklahoma
“Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11 NIV
Paula, Gladewater, Tx
Leaving on mission trip today!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. NIV
Commit everything you do to the Lord . Trust him, and he will help you. (Psalms 37:5 NLT)
Kristia, Kentucky
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed
Proverbs 16.:3 NIV
Jan Horne
Bossier City, LA
Natalie Meyers, Nesbit, MS – “He must become greater and greater and I must become less and less.” John 3:30 NIV
“Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NLT
Kristy Newkirk, Oklahoma
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NASB
Xan Moody
Cullman, Alabama
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret-it only causes harm.
Psalm 37:7-8
NKJV
Deanne Johnson, Laguna Hills, CA
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 NIV
Keri Lee Robbins from Las Vegas, NV
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural (genesis) face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this ones religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:21-27 NKJV
Amy from Miamisburg, OH
“Nevertheless I am continually with you, you hold my right hand.”
Psalm 73:23 ESV
Tammy, Van, TX Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.(NIV1984)
Janice, Arkansas Psalm 51:1-2 NIV
Have mercy on me O God, according to your unfailing love. According to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from sin.
Michelle, Fort Worth
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23 ESV
Megan, from St. Louis;
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2
Tiffany, Tyler, Tx.
I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2 ESV
Careese in Amarillo, TX
God has come to save me.
I will trust him and not be afraid.
The Lord is mt strength and my song;
He has given me the victory.
Isaiah 12:2 NLT
Kathy, SCF WI, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8
Freida, Chatham, LA continuing Psalm 103
“who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5 NIV
Karen: Centralia, Mo: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 NIV
Cathy, Lincoln, NE
Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21, NIV
Debbie, Cabot, AR “There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” Ecc 3:4 NLT
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Lezlie – Prince George, VA
It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV84)
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 | NIV
Laura Berg in Carlsbad
”Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. ”
Isaiah 40:28. NIV
Delanie, Spring Hill, TN Matthew 6:28-30 NIV
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Barbara, Tomball, TX
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Tim 1:7
Tara, Eustis
Numbers 6:24-26
24 The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 The Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
NIV
Michelle K., Warner Robins, GA
“For You, O Lord, have made me HAPPY by Your work. I will sing for joy because of what You have done.” Psalm 92:4 The NET Bible
Dawn Maryland “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
He has sent me….to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness 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 spendor.
Isaiah 61:3 NIV