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
Amanda from Brookville Ohio
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)
Valerie, Virginia Beach, VA
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17, NIV
Debbie, Calgary Alberta, Canada
“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
Maureen, Logan, UT
For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
Psalm 49:10-11 NIV
Tracy from Aurora, CO
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away.
Psalm 139:1-2
Nancy, North Little Rock, AR
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
Shannon from Surrey, BC Canada
“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
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
Valerie
Sparks, Nevada
Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
NIV Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our ininquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made comfortable to his death.”
Philippians 3:10
Vanessa, RIo Rancho NM
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:1-2 NIV
Jenny, Tulsa, OK
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” Psalm 92:1, NASB
Shannon Thies from Pekin, IL
“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” -Colossians 3:12
Susan, Carbondale, IL
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3 NIV)
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Proverbs 31:11 NIV
Picayune,MS And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God to those that are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV
Rathdrum, Idaho
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Proverbs 31:14 NIV
Jonna, N. Hollywood, CA
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
Anita Livingston – Odem, Texas
For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us: “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, so that all the world may be saved.”
Acts 13:47 TEV
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 NIV
Sheena Brady Fairbanks, AK
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…(2) looking unto Jesus…
Katy Motsinger, Frisco, TX
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:7b-9a NIV
Elizabeth Blakeley. Escalon, CA. “For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” -2 Corinthians 4:11(NIV)
Sherri Bennett, Huntington Beach, CA:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7, ESV
Shauna, Farmington, MN. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17 ESV)
Kelly, Redlands, CA “Most Assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24-25 NKJV
Julie, Cypress, TX
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
–Ephesians 6:14,15 NKJV
Kelley, des Moines WA – NIV Jeremiah 17:9
Amy in Waipahu, Hawaii
The LORD HELPS the fallen and those bent beneath their loads. HE IS CLOSE to all who call on Him, yes all who call on Him in truth. HE GRANTS the desires of those who fear Him; HE HEARS their cries for help and RESCUES them. The LORD PROTECTS those who love Him.
Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
Psalm 145:14,18-20 NLT
Marta, Anchorage.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25 – 26 NIV
Mollie from Garland, TX 🙂
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Myra, London, England
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Katherine, Edmonton,AB Canada
Kathie Mullins Chino Hills, CA
James 1:11-12 (NIV)
James 1:11 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 will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Margie – Maseru, Lesotho “Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith; strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.” NLT
Trenton, Texas
Do not let your beauty be the outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
Trina
Midland, Texas
Isaiah 26:3, 4 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord , the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Alicia, Gulfport
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5 NIV)
Helen Wall
Crystal City, MB, Canada
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 (ESV)
Eniola, Madrid Spain
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us,and we are filled with joy.”
Psalm 126:1-3 NIV
Fynette Cape Coral, Florida
but even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you. I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me. Psalm 56:3-4 CEV
Robyn Bonitz, Brooklyn, CT
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 NIV
Eva-Lynn, Jakarta, Indonesia:
Be joyful 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
Sandra Bradley, Chiang Mai, Thailand
“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.” Deuteronomy 30: 19-20
NIV
Esther, Alburquerque, Spain
For this God is our God for ever and ever;he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14 NIV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Rom 5:3-5 ESV
Pamela New Been NC
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with in expressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Chanda from St. Petersburg, FL
Psalm 103:1
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
RSV