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 Iād try to do it as much justice as she does. She happily obliged, so here I am. What makes it easy is that Iām memorizing right alongside yāall, however, this time around I feel the pressure to make it a good verse. Of course, Iām both kidding and laughing.
Actually, my scripture memory verses donāt 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 weāre 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 āIād Rather Have Jesusā. Iām not sure if youāve listened to those lyrics lately, but what a convicting song it is and rather vulnerable if you ask me.
You tell me:
Iād rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
Iād rather be His than have riches untold;
Iād rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
Iād rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
āØAnd be held in sinās dread sway;
āØIād rather have Jesus than anything
āØThis world affords today.
Iād rather have Jesus than menās applause;
Iād rather be faithful to His dear cause;
āØIād rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
āØIād rather be true to His holy name
Whoa. Iād Rather. What is your rather? What do you want so bad, but youād 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 didnāt 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:
āYes, 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.ā Philippians 3:8 (NLT)
Isnāt 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, menās applause, riches or anything else my flesh cringes for.
Jesus is simply better.
Have I achieved it? Hardly.
āI donāt 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.ā Philippians 3:12
But I press on. I put my focus on one solitary thing.
āNo, 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.ā Philippians 3:13
Because after allā¦
āHeās all that my hungering spirit needs;
Iād rather have Jesus and let Him lead.ā
Jesus is better. Letās 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 yāall, āI love them so much and feel their prayers and to keep them up!ā
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!
Yāall are priceless.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Janice in Abbeville, AL
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome he world.”
John 16:33 NKJV
For I know the plans that I have for you,ā declares the Lord, āplans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NASB
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20
Carter, Charlotte
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ” Eph. 3:18 NLT
Martha, Georgetown, TX Galatians 6:4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. NLT
Stephanie, Lititz, PA
“Godās way is perfect. All the Lordās promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
2 Samuel 22:31 NLT
Grace, age 5
“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3 NLT
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11, NLT
Nicole Bloomington, IL
“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” Psalm 25:9 ESV
Marci, chas., SC
I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13:6 (NKJV)
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV
Kristi from Lee’s Summit, MO
The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8 NIV
You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen. Ezekiel 2:7
Mia from Burlington, VT
“But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.” Psalm 73:28 NIV
Tessa from Nacogdoches, TX
Psalm 27:13 NKJV
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Leslie, Simpsonville, SC
“Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the generosity of God and who I am,you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.'”
John 4:10 (The Message)
Julie/Deer Park/He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Proverbs 17:27 NIV
Leanne
Eden Prairie, MN
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 NLT
Zoe L from Oklahoma City
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Cor. 10:13 NIV
Leah Cullen – Ramona, CA
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” – Mark 11:22-23 (ESV)
Kelley from Houston:
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 (ESV)
Debbie
Olathe, KS- “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.” Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV84)
Dottie Lynchburg VA
Romans 8:7-8
“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God”.
Pam Hendersonville, NC
“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:13 KJV
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Brenda Kelley, Taylors, SC
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT
Dawn from Jasper, IN
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Kathryn, West Palm Beach; “But the rich should take pride in their humiliationāsince they will pass away like a wild flower” James 1:10NIV
Kat, Albany, NY
“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 15:4
Jo, Columbia, Missouri
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6 NIV
Debbie Z Vancouver, WA
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- John 1:12 NIV
Kathy, Austin Ps 91:14 Because she love, me, says the Lord, “I will rescue her; I will protect her for she acknowledges my name.”
Phil 3:13b Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead
Lesley, Cypress, TX
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12, ESV
Glo in Houston says:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what
is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (TAB)
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:10 NIV
Karen, Grandview, TX
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
Amy, Birmingham, AL
Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
I have only recently started going to Beth Moore’s bible studies. She is charming and I love listening to her. But what has happened to her eyes! I am so distracted by her “transformation” that it’s difficult to watch her!
I want my girl next door Beth back!
Cheryl – Concord, NC
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
Matthew 5.11 ESV
Chrissy Hilliard, Aurora, IL
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”
-Romans 5:3,4
Katelyn P
Arlington, TX
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Romans 1:16 KJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ;
For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
That believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Cheryl, Austin: Proverbs 13: 19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,but the path of the upright is a level highway. (ESV)
Karen Salvato, Lubbock, TX
1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB)
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
Laurie Chester
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
NIV
Hannah, Chesterland, OH
“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ”
2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV
Missie, Marble Falls, TX
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 ESV
Johannah
Alexandria, LA
“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Proverbs 10:19 NLT
Elizabeth, Pittsburgh, PA:
Hebrews 10:35-36, NIV –
“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.”
Rosalie Cincinnati
“The Lord is my strength and song and is become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14 KJV
Elizabeth Pack, Charleston, WV
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:31 (NIV)
(For May 1, 2013)