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
Melissa Crutchfield
Bologna, Italy
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in The Lord forever, for The Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
Valerie, Omaha. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
Psalm 34:18,20 HCSB
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant,then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Exodus 19:5-6, NIV
Jennifer from Jackson, Tn
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)
Joyce, Wahpeton ND
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NASB
Melanie, Midland
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
Linda, Anderson. Psalm 19:14 NKJV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.
“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
Angie, Matthews, NC
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9, 10 NLT)
Yvonne, King, NC, He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23 NASB
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV
Karen, Houston
Col 1:10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, NAS
Betty from Waveland, IN “For this great God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide until we die.” Psalms 48:14 The Living Bible
Pam in Chiangmai – Isa. 30:15 (MSG) 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—
The very thing
you’ve been unwilling to do.
Bonnie, Port Orchard, WA
It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
Psalms 92:1-2 NIV
So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the lord! He will come to our resuce as certainly as the appearcne of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land. Hosea 6:3 NET
Heather Louisville, KY
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 (NRSV)
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created Revelation 4:11
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3 KJV)
Karen Todd, Beech Island, SC.
“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person”. Colossians 4:6. HCS
Beckie Potterfield
Florence, SC
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
Philippians 2:6 NIV
Heidi – Narvon, PA
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Phillipians 4:11-13 (NIV)
Nicola in Calgary. So speak and so act as people should who are to be judged under the law of Liberty the moral instruction given by Christ especially about love. For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment will be merciless but Mercy full of glad confidence exalts over judgement. James: 2:12-13
Kim from Arab, Alabama
Your word will not return void. It will accomplish what you desire and your Word will achieve the purpose for which it was sent. Isaiah 55:11
Nancy Rose Newport News Isa. 30:15 NIV. This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel says: In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and strength is your strength.
Traci Wood, Shreveport, LA
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 NASB
Wendy Gerard from Anderson, IN
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.
Winston-Salem, NC
Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians 6:22
Jill, DeLand. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High” Psalm 92:1
Suzanne, Centreville VA
Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Brittnie, Sugar Land, Texas
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Lyn Steriti
LIttleton NH
II Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
NASB
Tish, Renville MN. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” Proverbs 11:25 NIV
Joyce ,Syracuse,NY
NIV Zephaniah 3:17
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.
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, NET
Jessica Cochranville, PA
The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT
Stephanie, Valrico, FL. “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (Luke 1:45 NIV84)
D’Anna Nowack
Kilgore Texas
Psalm 91: 8-12 (NIV)
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Tammy Mashburn from Spartanburg SC “Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.” 1Peter 5:7MSG
Trina, Summerton, sc. “For those who obey me and walk in my ways, and those who love me will see me disclose myself to them.” John 14:21 niv
Sue – Troy, Michigan – “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:11-12 (NIV)
Deanna, Mansfield, TX “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.” NIV
Marci, from Florence SC,
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
Cacey from Livonia, MI
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Lacie, Americus For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 3:19 NIV
Marcia from Windermere, FL
“When I remember you on my bed, I mediatate on you in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6 (NASB)
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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eys of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
I John 3:6 NKJV
Charlene, Waterloo, ON
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)