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
Jennifer Cincinnati, OH
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Hebrews 12:12 NIV
Tammy
Maryville, MO
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NIV)
Shannon Olson, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Proverbs 15:19 (MSG)
The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
Melanie of Greenbrier,Tn
Psalm 19:8 (NIV)
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
Connie from Hendersonville – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Romans 12:1 NASB
Pat, Hilliard OH
2Timothy1:6-7 (NIV) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
Colossians 1:12 ESV
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Lori, Concordia, KS
Proverbs 23:18 NIV
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Laney from Tulsa, OK
“Foryou formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13,14 (NASB)
Stacey from Boulder, Colorado…
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 ESV
Nancy, Junction City, Ar.
“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” Psalm 9:1 NKJ
Morag, Bishop, CA
“God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4.19 (KJV)
Lisa Christopher, Olympia, WA
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.” (Psalm 19:10, NIV)
Ali – Clearwater, Florida
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
1 John 3:18
Stephanie from Carmichael, CA
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Psalm 147:3 (NIV): “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”/from Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) “He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted.”
I’d rather have Jesus—period, exclamation mark, hallelujah!!! /!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa
York, PA
God chose me to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV
Trish
Paintsville KY
And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
Tania, Graceville, 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. Philippians 3:13 NIV
Tonya from Eucha, OK “You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me in gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.” Psalms 33:11-12 HCS
Megan from San Diego
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 NIV
Ah, Lord God, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you. Jeremiah 32:17
Shannon, Buda, TX
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8
We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God ‘s purpose prevails. Proverbs 19:21 MSG
Kathy Carenza
New Port Richey Florida
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. -Isaiah 46:4
Patti, Clemmons, NC
” You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.”
HCSB – Psalm 32:7
Marsha, Knoxville, TN
“What can we say about this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 (GWT)
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV 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
Regina, Birmingham, AL
But be doers of the word,and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22, ESV
Marilyn from Missouri:
22
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
23
They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.
24
“The Lord is my portion says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV
Joan, Portage, MI
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
Ps 37:7. NLT
Be still in the presence of The Lord
And wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
Or fret about their wicked schemes.
Candy from St. Louis Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8, 9 NIV)
–Granite Shoals
Psalms 51.10 KJV
Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Stephanie from St. Catharines, ON
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Philipians 3:7,8 NIV
Anne; Marion, IN
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (KJV)
Karen from Martinsville, NJ
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the Cross.”
Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
Dallas, GA
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Heb. 10:24 NIV
I will lift up my eyes up to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made Heaven and Earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV
“O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
Psalm 130:7-8
ESV
Philippians 3:13 NLT
No, dear brothers and sister, I have not achieved it, but i focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
Nancy, Rhinelander, Wi
As for you, be calm and cool and steady
2Timothy 4:5 AMP.
Jodell, Frankfort, “Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.” Ephesians 5:10 MSG
Janie from Warner Robins, GA
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Psalm 148:1-4 NIV
Louisville, KY
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV. Fear not for I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I help you, I will hip hold you with My righteous right hand.
Frisco, TX
Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Romans 12:16 Holman
Kathy, Danvers
Hebrews 10:39 HCSB
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.