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
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV Diana Anderson, Greenville, KY
Cindy, Largo, Florida
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16
MaryJo, Indianapolis, IN
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b (NIV)
Diana, Seekonk, MA
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:7 NIV
Chelsie, Farmington, MI
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26, ESV
Leslie
Wisner, La.
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”
Ephesians 1:18 NLT
keena, festus
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” colossians 3:8 NKJV
Sherri, Albuquerque “The Lord will with hold no good thing from those who do what is right” Psalm 84:11b NLT
Sarah, Rockwall TX
Precious in the sight of the Lord are thedeath of His saints.
NIV 84. Psalm 116:15
Leigh, Woodway, TX
Psalm 143:8-10 (NIV)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Debbie, Georgia- May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 15:13 NIV
Jeremiah 26:14 (NKJV)
“As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right”
Jeri Cook Missouri City, TX
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Saige, Shreveport, LA
“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” – Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
Jenni in Birmingham, AL
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:30 (CJB)
Debbie from Universal City, Texas
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart,” Psalm 32:11 (NKJV)
Lori Lehrmann ~ Port Arthur, TX
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. ~Philippians 1:9-11
Sarah from Brownwood
Psalm 31:14-15a. NLT
But I am trusting you O Lord
Saying
You are my God,
My future is in your hands.
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory if God.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Psalm 141:2 NIV
May my prayers be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Pam, Corydon, Indiana
“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10
NLT
Mary, Spring TX
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.’
Psalm 25:1 (NIV)
Kim, Warrensburg MO
James 2:12-13 (NLT)
12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
Carolyn, Rocksprings, TX
I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows;you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Psalm 61: 4-5 (NIV)
Jen (Prosper, TX)
All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD!
He is your helper and your shield.
Psalm 115:11 NLT
Linda, Little Rock, AR “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Bless are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:6-8 ESV
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
Nancy, St Petersburg Fl
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes,establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 NIV
Jackie, Mobile, AL.
“..I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophesies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
– I Timothy 1:18-19 NIV
College Station, TX.
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. (Hebrews 6:10 NLT)
Jeannette, Land O Lakes, FL
Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
1 peter 3:17 NIV
Tina from Ohio
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. Psalm 103:7 NKJV
Carrie-Cary, NC: “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
Deanna, Akron OH
Proverbs 31:10&11 KJV
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Sarah from Pueblo West, CO
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
NIV
Wanda
North Canton, Ohio
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12 NIV
(A little late- but better than never!)
Brandi, Windsor, CO.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV
Brenda C. Lee’s Summit, MO “Therefore, since we are surrounded by wuch a grwat cloud of witnesses, let is throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverancance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1NIV84
Romona, Rosewood Heights,
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (NIV)
Julia, Springfield, TN
Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Karin Smith
Pittsburgh, PA
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33. NIV
Kimberly, Fresno, CA
“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)
Gillian, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
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 may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 NIV
Nelda Adkins, Houston, TX
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
Donna Marina Ca,
He redeems your life from the pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion
Psalm 103:4 NASB
Kelly from Sherman, TX. “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven.” John 3:27 HCSB
Rebecca, Springfield, OH
“But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”~Joshua 6:19 NKJV
Larci, Urbandale, Iowa: “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will triumph.” (Isaiah 50:7) NLT
Sharon in Van, TX
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10 NIV
Is. 60:10 Names of God Bible
Foreigners will build your walls, and their kings will serve you. In my anger I struck you, but in my favor I have compassion on you.