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
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:15,16 ESV
Suzann Benson
Kingwood
Linda S
McCalla, Alabama
“And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:40-45 ESV
Tabitha, Milan, MI
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.”
Psalm 62:5 NIV
Heather, Tallahassee I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5 NASB
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb; I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well. NIV
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…”
Ephesians 3:16-17 (NIV)
Crystal, Gridley, IL.
Shelley
Springfield, MO
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalms 42:8 ESV)
Ouida in Trenton,TX
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:35
Zephaniah 3:17
New International Version (NIV)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
With my whole heart I have sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandents. Psalm 119:10 KJV
Heidi from Idaho
Romans 12:6-8
The Message (MSG)
If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
Melissa – Black Creek, Ga
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. (Acts 17:24, 25 NLT)
Sarah, West Monroe, La
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)
Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Stacy – Hinckley, England
For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 GNT
Amanda E
Rockwall, TX
“But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9a (NIV)
Pushkala, Louisville – Many are plans in a persons heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Prov 19:21 NIV
Kathy
Dow, IL
O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7
NRSV
Jackie, Covington, IN: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NKJV
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”
Luke 1:45 NIV 1984
Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant.
I Cor. 13:4
ESV
Natalie from Perry, Ga. “Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the ONE who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” I John 4:4 GWT
A verse my friend reminded me of this week in midst of trouble. Praising God for the perfectness of His word and sweet friends who remind you of it!!
Sue M, Grand Rapids, MI
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-21 ESV
Shelly Wilson, Fort Worth, TX
Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV) – But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord ’s praise, for He has been good to me.
Pattie Self, San Angelo, Texas
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV
Proverbs 3:5-7
Amplified Bible (AMP)
5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.
Monica Pribe, Blacklick Ohio. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2Timothy 1:7 ESV
Madison, Ms
Come now, let us settle the matter, says The Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18, NIV
Mary Lou, Young America, MN
Psalm 18:19-20 (NIV)
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
Jude 9 But even the archangel Michael when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” TNIV
Sherri Smith, Bellevue NE
I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things or me.
Psalm 57:2, NASB
Kim, Louisville, KY
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15, ESV
Billie, Greenville, KY “And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.'” Luke 10:2 ESV
Paige, Flowood, MS
Psalms 103:2 NLT
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Judy of Marietta says: “People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.” James 3:7-8 NIV
from Lorton, VA
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
(HCSB Digital)
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NIV
Danielle, Evansville, IN
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I main gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NIV
Michele, CA
My soul clings to thee; Thy right hand upholds me. Psalms 63:8 NASB
Rachel Owasso, OK
Psalm 51:1 NIV
Have mercy on me oh God according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-8 NIV
Emma, Flowood, MS
Psalms 1:1 ESV
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Molly Z. From Pierce, NE
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 32:7 NIV
If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Prov 3:24 ESV
Kadie- Tinley Park, IL
who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1Peter 1:5 (tniv)
Sarah B, Athens, GA
“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)
Ephesians 3:18: NIV “may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Jennifer- Germantown, WI
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7 (NLT)
Lisa Lucas Indianapolis, IN
NIV
Psalm 51:2
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Stephanie, Austin, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 NIV