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
Eniola, Lagos Nigeria
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10, 11 NKJV
Heather, London, ON
“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.” Isaiah 43:1 NIV
Brenda S – Pewaukee, WI – Psalm 104:28 (NASB) “You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.”
Lynda, Ocala, FL: As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14. NIV
Abilene, 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.
Betty Watson, Waveland IN “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:6 The Message
Laurie, Gibsonville, NC
“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. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead”
Philippians 3:12-13 NLT 🙂
Linda
Johnstown, Pa.
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 (NIV)
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” -Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)
Susan Cary NC “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near”. Philippians4:5 NIV
Melisse, Slippery Rock, PA
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)
Andrea, New Brunswick, Canada
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Gina- Rosamond, Ca
Galatians 5:22-23
NIV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Diane from Cypress, TX
Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another. My heart faints within me! Job 19:27 (ESV)
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.
Psalm 143:10 NRSV
Desiree Calgary, Alberta
Hartley, IA
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. NIV
Colossians 4:6
(NET)
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
roxanne hummelstown, pa
but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6 NIV1984)
Allison from Scottsdale, AZ
Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
DeeDee. Katy, Tx
Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess 5:16-18
NIV
Karla Dumal
Gulfport, MS
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15 KJV
Megan, St. Louis;
Philippians 4:6, ESV “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (HCSB)
Michelle from Highlands Ranch, CO
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)
Debbie Sevierville
Amplified
The Lord of Hosts, regard Him as Holy and honor His Holy Name (by regarding Him as your only hope of safety), and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread (lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him). Isaiah 8:13
Karen, Dover, NH “The heart is deceitful above all things and desparately wicked. Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind. Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty”
Psalm 91:1 (AMP)
Mauriceville,TX
“But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 NIV
Fran, Stedman, NC
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
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
Praying for you, Siesta Mama!
Oops! I live in Pittsburgh 🙂
Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
Emily, Anchorage, AK
Valerie, Fultondale, AL
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 NIV
Betsy, Lincoln Park
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.” Psalm 91:3 NIV
Joan, Allentown, PA Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Kristin, Clearwater, FL
Sue – Troy, Michigan – “When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3 (NIV)
Ti-Leigh
Orlando, FL
Proverbs 13:12 ESV
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Missy Jeanes, Lititz PA
“A man’s anger doesn’t produce the kind of life God wants” – James 1:20 (NIRV)
Sharleen says: Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. NKJ
Rachel, Surprise, AZ
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” ~Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)
Bobbie Murphy
Natalie, Grand Prairie, TX
But who can discern his own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Psalm 19:12 NIV
Theresa E from Oakland Township, MI
“Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.”
Psalm 25:7 NIV
Kerry Cotten, Jackson, TN
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV
Bobbie Murphy
Danville, KY
Proverbs 16:3
NKJV
Commit your works to the LORD
And your thoughts will be established.
Janice Victoria BC
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Ps. 55:22 NAS
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers (siestas) love one another deeply from the heart.
I Peter 1:22 NIV
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through Him,
and without Him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through Him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was His own,
but His own people* did not accept Him.
But to those who did accept Him,
He gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born
not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-14 NAB
Houston, Tx. NIV
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Lisa Campo
Blue Bell, PA
John 1:1-14 NAB
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through Him,
and without Him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through Him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was His own,
but His own people* did not accept Him.
But to those who did accept Him,
He gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born
not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.