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
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NLT)
Mary, Atlanta – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
“Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.”
1 Peter 5:7 MSG
Ruth Cherry, Royse City, Texas
“Set a guard over my mouth O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalms 141:3 NIV
Andrea; Cartersville,GA: “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” Psalm 25:14 NASB
Christine Port St Lucie, FloridaÂ
Psalm 103:1 ESVÂ Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Gail
McDonough, Ga
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Ellen, Moneta VA
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8 (NIV 1984)
Natalie Chicago
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Search me, O God and know my heart test me and know my Anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Kristie Lovely
Queen City, TX
“Even then Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:10 NKJV
Bette, Danville
Psalm 46:1 NIV
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Ashley from Allen, TX
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) Part 4 of 4
“20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Kristel Hines from Russellville, AR says:
Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you.
Psalm 86:11 NLT
Christina McClain, Nampa, Idaho HCSB James 1:9 “The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation”
christina, Plano, Texas~
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15, NIV1984
O Lord, You Have Searched Me And You KnoW Me.
Psalm 139.1, niv
Psalm 27:1 (MSG)
Light, space, zest—-
that’s God!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
Donna Tyra Martinez Georgia
My Lord is so wonderful!!!
Phil 4:7 NIV
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Boston,
O Lord, You Have Searched Me And You KnoW Me.
Psalm 139.1, niv
Suzy, Grove City, Ohio
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8 NIV
Darcy, Pittsburgh
“As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.”
~ Psalm 138:8, NLT
“And these signs will accompany those who believe in my name: they will drive out demons; they will speak new languages; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18
Karoletha from Longview,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 NIV
” ‘For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ ”
Luke 14:11 (NIV’84)
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
Lori D., Georgetown, TX
(Memorizing Psalm 100, starting with 1 and 2)
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2 (NIV)
Mary Beth, St. Louis
“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)
Sue ~ Hartland, MI
For I Am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says
to you, “Do not fear, I will help you”.
Isaiah 41:13 NASB
1 Thes 3: 12 May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity, like our love for you, 13 so that your hearts will be reinforced with His strength, held blameless and holy before God, our Father, when our Lord Jesus, [the Anointed, the Liberating King,] appears along with all His holy ones. [Amen.] The Voice
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)
I forgot to type in my daughter’s name and city when I entered this – Grace, Elida, Ohio – sorry!!
Bombey from Bellaire, TX
Psalm 116:2
2 Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!(NLT)
Joanne from Bremerton, WA
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. And to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ESV
Jenny, Elida, OH “For the sun rises with scordhing heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”
Ashleigh, Lewistown, MT
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
Mansfield, OH
In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”says the Lord, your Redeemer. “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you.
Isaiah 54:8-9 N,T
Amy Brown, New Palestine, IN
‘If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump.” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.’ -1 Corinthians 13:2 MSG
danae | lafayette, in
don’t you realize that your body is a sacred place of the Holy Spirit? don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? …so let people see God in & through your body. — I corinthians 6:19-20 [msg]
Ontario, Ohio
You feed them from the abundance of Your own house, letting them drink from Your river of delights. Psalm 36:8. (NLT).
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 Cor 4:18(NIV)Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Freida, Chatham, La “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10 NIV
Lyli, Fort Lauderdale:
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4, ESV).
Tyler, TX
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalms 32:1 (ESV)
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 NIV
Ashley from Durban, South Africa
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 ESV
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him alone.
Psalm 62:1 NIV
Andrea, Burleson, TX
For my son …
“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)
Dayla, Springfield, MO
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
Michele, Rockmart, GA
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Susan Oak Ridge Tn
For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Mttw 7:14 NRSV
Courtney from Lima, Ohio
“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
Habakkuk 2:3, The Living Bible