Hey girls! Lindsee here! By now you know that our dear Beth is teaching her heart out this week, taping her next Bible study in Tennessee. So, when I realized that SSMT would fall right smack dab in the middle of the taping, I told her that if she trusted me, she was welcome to release this to me and I’d try to do it as much justice as she does. She happily obliged, so here I am. What makes it easy is that I’m memorizing right alongside y’all, however, this time around I feel the pressure to make it a good verse. Of course, I’m both kidding and laughing.
Actually, my scripture memory verses don’t always come easy to me, but this week was a different story. You see, this past Sunday at church was an all hymn Sunday. Typically we’re a little more contemporary and certainly throw in a hymn every now and then, but this Sunday every last song was one you could find in a hymnal. Truth be told, I kind of loved it.
Among the selection of hymns, we sang “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. I’m not sure if you’ve listened to those lyrics lately, but what a convicting song it is and rather vulnerable if you ask me.
You tell me:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin’s dread sway;

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

I’d rather be true to His holy name
Whoa. I’d Rather. What is your rather? What do you want so bad, but you’d rather have Jesus? I could name countless things. But really, what rubbish each of those things are compared to knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and savior. What rubbish they are compared to being known and loved perfectly by Jesus himself, who gave His life for you and didn’t expect anything in return, lest we even think we have anything to offer in return. I know it in my head, but I want to fully grasp it in my heart.
That led me to Phillipians 3:8, which is my scripture this go around:
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 (NLT)
Isn’t is so true, that the more time we spend getting to know our Jesus, the more the things of this world grow strangely dim? I think it is true. The more I learn that Jesus is the ONE faithful and trustworthy thing, the less I worry about worldwide fame, men’s applause, riches or anything else my flesh cringes for.
Jesus is simply better.
Have I achieved it? Hardly.
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Philippians 3:12
But I press on. I put my focus on one solitary thing.
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13
Because after all…
“He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.”
Jesus is better. Let’s hear yours! (And that’s three options for you, ladies! Should you choose to use one of those. Grin.)
On a not-so-different, yet different note, our sweet siesta mama did just tell me to tell y’all, “I love them so much and feel their prayers and to keep them up!”
Oh, and one more fun and important thing, be sure to hop back on tomorrow (Thursday) for the announcement of our summer Bible study! The suspense!
Y’all are priceless.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Savannah, Arkadelphia AR
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Matt 5:11, NIV
Joni, Port Neches. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.” James 2:19 NIV84
Sarah, McKinney, TX NIV “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5
Kim, Littlestown PA. “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11 (NKJ)
Ann
Morelia, Mexico
“as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
For He know how we are formed, he remembers we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
He flourishes like a flower of the field.”. Psal 103:13-15. NIV
May 15 –1 Peter 2:15 NIV
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Georgine East
Austin, TX
Sarah Cox from Jay, Ok
“when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.”
I Corinth 4:13 (HCSB)
Shannon Houston, TX
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Eph 4:29 NIV
Summer, McCurtain, Ok
For the despondent, everyday brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15 NLT
Selina, Aberdeen. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 KJV
Stacy, Greenfield, Indiana “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Tina Houston,TX
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. Eph. 3:14&15 HC
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Mechanicsville, VA
‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’
Mark 11:24 NIV
Emilie Eaton, IN
1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
Natasha, Pearland,TX
Count it all joy, my brethren when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3 ASV
Judge not that ye be not judged.
Matthew 7:1 KJ
Lexington, KY
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Roxy
Riverton, Utah
John 15:8
This is to my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
NIV
Johnine from Murfreesboro, TN
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John 15:3
Holly from Alpharetta, GA
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
Psalm 103: 9 NLT
Andrea, Ontario Canada ” The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. ” Prov . 21:31 NIV
Whitney from Russellville, TN
Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to morning and your joy to gloom. James 4:9. TNIV
Tiffany
Muskogee, OK
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalms 116:1, 2 NLT)
Kaiva, from Chicago
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NLT
Colossians 1:28 NKJV
Him we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
BECKY PEURIFOY – LONGVIEW TX – JOHN 15:7 NIV “IN YOU REMAIN IN ME AND MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH, AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU.”
Joanna K, Salinas, CA
Psalm 121:1-2
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Forgot the (ESV)
Kristin Cho; Northville, Michigan
John 15:13 NIV
“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.”
Amen
Stephanie Knight
Waynesboro, MS
“knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” James 1:3 HCSB
stephanie, houston
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:10 NIV
stephanie, houston
If I say, “surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
Psalm 139:11 NIV
Angie Greenville Ohio
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Angela Greenville Ohio
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you. Isaiah26:3 NIV
Gina, Tulsa
Dear children, let us not love with words or with speech, but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV
Lisa Auten: Rogers, AR: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Phil 4:5 NIV
Julie Huffman: Springdale, AR: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Phil 4:5 NIV
I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord , the maker of Heaven and Earth.
Ps 121:1-2 NIV
Melissa Eaton
Anna, Tx
ESV Psalm 139:13
“For you formed my inward parts’; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”
Isaias 6:3- «*Santo, santo, santo es el Señor *Todopoderoso;
toda la tierra está llena de su gloria.»
Phillipians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers, 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 about such things.”
Isaiah 54:17 NLT “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from me, says the Lord!” Dawn Lucy Attalla Al.