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
Hannah-Houston
“Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. When you talk you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone the way you should.” Colossians 4:5-6 ICB
Lori, Toledo
Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters , but one who has insight draws then out.”
Stacey Houston, TX
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Angie, Markham.
Who is wise and understanding among you?
By his good conduct he should show his
works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
James 3:13 NET
Angie, Markham.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, accommodating,full of
mercy and good fruit, impartial and not
hypocritical.
James 3:17 NET
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3, NIV
Ashley from Bean Station, Tn: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10 ESV
Ramona Gellick
Medina, Ohio
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
For He himself is our peace…
Ephesians 2:14a NIV
Sandy E.; Kansas City, Missouri; “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 GNT
Alyse Woodstock, GA
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV
I John 2:17. The world and it’s desires pass away but whoever does the will of God lives forever
Suey Houston NAS
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
linda, colorado springs.
but i will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. psalm 71:14 (esv)
Joyce
Sparta, New Jersey
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 (ESV)
Robin Freeman~ Garland Tx
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalms 56:3 NIV
Michelle Weihing, Frisco, Texas
When I am afraid, I will trust in You.
Psalm 56:3 (HCSB)
Patty B, Marysville, OH. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Phillipians 3:13 NIV
Norfolk, VA
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Isreal says:
In repentance and rest is your salvation,
In quietness and trust is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15. NIV
Lisa Coody, Kathleen, GA
Micah 6:8, NIV
“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.
Traci in MN
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Susan, Overland Park, KS
“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.” Zeph. 3:17 NIV 84
Stephanie, La Habra, CA Jesus looked at them intently and said, Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God. Mark 10:27 NLT
“For nothing is impossible with God” Luke l:37 NIV
Lindsay Garlington-Bend,Oregon
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 (NIV)
Tammy Mashburn Spartanburg SC
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
Carolyn, St. Catharines, ON
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Mindy in Franklin, TN
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; (Psalms 37:23 ESV)
Laura, League City:
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Cor. 12:9 NLT
Diane – Roswell, GA
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)
Jennifer, Pickering ON
Isa 6:1 ESV
” In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple”
Joy from Lubbock, TX
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 NIV
Leah from Bloomington, IN. “He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. Psalm 18:19 NLT
Janet,Longmont,CO
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed…”
Isaiah 40:1,2a NIV
Woodstock,Ga.
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:4
Janet, Tulsa
“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, NIV
John 17:3 This is the way to have eternal life — to know the only True God and Jesus Christ, the one [God] sent to earth. NIV
Ann H, SC
The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:8 NIV
Matthew 6:33 – 34, NIV
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Tammy
Ingleside, TX
PS: Lindsey: Good job! Thank you for all you do for Beth and for us.
…for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29 NIV
Sherri, Marietta, GA: “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You.” Psalm 86:5 NIV
Tammy/Siloam NC—–John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. (NIV)
Tracy, Sidney, OH
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Laura
Decatur IL
2 Corinthians 1:11
Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. NLT
SKay Fires, Possum Kingdom Lake, TX
Psalm 139:9&10 (NIV)
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Donna D, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not know,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.”
Abby- St. Louis
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Phillipians 3:8)
Trina, Summerton. “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.” Phil 3:8 (NLT)