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
Olivia, Madison, MS:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph.2:8-10 ESV
Maggie, Seattle, WA
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” -James 1:22 (NIV)
Odessa, TX
Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later He spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, If you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7 NIV
Jessica
Cochranville, PA
Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. Ephesians 3:8-9 NLT
Barb from Wetumpka, AL
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galations 5:16
NLT
Temple, TX
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3: 15 NIV
Chris
Canton, NC
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
Dawn, South Bend
Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
Deuteronomy 6:13NIV
Angie Belleville, IL
James 4:7 NLT
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will glee from you.”
Angie, Hampton TN
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [a]so that I may lay hold of that [b]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:12 NASB
Proverbs 3:18 (nlt)
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her, happy are those who hold her tightly.
Suzy Myers
Bay Springs, MS
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
Meagan, Valleyview, AB, Canada
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2, NASB
Marsha – Lee’s Summit, MO
Indeed before the day was, I AM He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work,and who will reverse it? Isaiah 43:13 NKJ
Heather S., Louisville, KY
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 Amplified
Heather Wilkinson
Springfield, VA
Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. 1 Corinthians 15:58a NIV
Alicia P, Chicago, il
Jamie- Moore, OK
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV
Michelle-Greenville,TX
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:16-18 NASB
Patti – Monument, Colorado
“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 NLT
Shelli, Glen Allen
“My wayword children “, says The Lord, “come back to me
and I will heal your wayword hearts.”
Jeremiah 3:22 NLT
Janet from Odessa, TX
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 HCSB
Jeannette Z. from Mission, TX
“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
Katie, Madison “Jesus… said, ” Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 NIV
Megan from Houston “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
Denise Ramser Gambier,Ohio: I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Tera
Gardendale, AL
I Kings 19:11b-12a NIV
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. I Kings 19:11b-12a
~Suzie from Fort Mill, SC
“I will commit (betroth) myself to you forever; I will commit (betroth) myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.”
Hosea 2:19,20 NET
Amanda
Derby, KS
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all you ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Megan from Sioux Falls, SD
“No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11b, NKJV
Janet from St. Louis
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name…. Phil. 2:9
(NIV):)
Susan,Fairhope,AL- Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:4-5 (NIV)
Stephanie Floyd
Danville. Ky
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. NIV
Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. NIV
Tamara Ward from Alexandria, VA
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
I Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekial 36:26 ESV
Connie, Durham, NC “James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds. James 1:1-2 ESV
Tracy from Aurora, CO
Ephesians 4:29=Do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT)
Tammie, Benoit, MS
Whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 2:5-6 NASB
Conway Springs, KS
Rejoice in our confident hope. be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:12
Nancy from Knoxville, TN
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
Sheila, Splendora, TX
“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (ESV)
D’Shan Berry from Roswell, NM
“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.”
Psalms 71:20 NLT
Isaiah 26:8( NIV) Yes, Lord , walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and your renown are the desires of my heart.”
2 Corinthians 5:20(NIV)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Gill, Lancaster, UK.
…with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with oneanother in love. Ephesians 4 v 2 (NKJV)
Candy Seale, La Grange, Texas
We had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9 KJV
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most high, thy habitation.
Psalms 91:9 KJV
Judy from Lake Charles, LA
“A little while, and the wicked will
be no more; though you look for them,
they will not be found.” Psalm 37:10 (NIV)