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
1st Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
NIV
Psalm 139:3-4
You discern my going out and my lying down; Your are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
Suzanne, Birmingham: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” Phil 1:27a NIV
Karen – Leeds, AL
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 ESV
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5 NIV
Paddy Plattsburgh NY
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die;
Eccl 3:1-2
Paddy Plattsburgh (again)
The Eccl 3:1-2 verse is from the NKJV
Joy Nelson, Muskogee OK
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26 NIV)
Mindy – McDonough, GA
To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Barb, Urbandale, IA For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 (NAS)
Natalie, Blue Springs, MO
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
Psalm 138:8a (Holman Christian Standard)
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.
Port Neches, TX
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Colossians 3:23, 24 (NLT)
Kerry, St. Louis, MO
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139: 23-24
Heidi ~ Oak Harbor, WA
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
GREAT is Your faithfulness.
Lam. 3:22-23 ESV
Norma
Leander, TX
Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:4,5
Tiffany Tennant
Muskogee, OK
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalms 116:1, 2 NLT)
Gina, Waynesville, NC
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Romans 3:22 (NLT)
JoLee, Arlington, TX – Romans 8:9 NIV “You, however, are controlled NOT by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.”
Caryn, Grand Prairie, TX
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”
1 Corinthians 1:26 (NIV84)
Karen…oconomowoc,wis….
Because he has set His love upon Me,therefore I will deliver him;I will set him on high because he has known My name. Psalm 91:14( NKJV)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him……
(Psalms 37:7a ESV)
But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.
Isaiah 40:31 (Good News Bible)
Hebrews 13:8. NKJ
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Malachi 3:6 NKJ
6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change
Jamie, Oakfield, ME
Psalm 2:4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Teri S.
Gadsden, AL
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed; miracles that cannot be counted. Job 9:10 NIV
Pam, Apple Valley, MN
He is your constant source of stability.
Isaiah 33:6a NET
Sheri
Milwaukee, WI
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who tea ch will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”
James 3:1,2
Erin- Denison, TX
“You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know Me, believe Me and remain steadfast to Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I,even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.”
Isaiah 43:10-11 (AMP)
Marianne from Carrollton, Texas-
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV)
“I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NIV
Elaine Brady, Jefferson, GA
By Faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the first born would not touch the first born of Israel. By faith the people pass through the Red Sea on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell. after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Hebrews 11:28-30
Candis, South Bend IN,
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh will not be hurt of the second death. Rev. 2:11 KJV.
Natalie, Olympia WA
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:19-21
Marilyn Brown, Albuquerque
He(GOD)did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.
Josh.4:24 NIV
@ Jay, OK
“He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!” Psalm 113:9 (HCSB)
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area
“Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?”
1 Cor. 6:7b (NIV)
Denise,Davis,IL.-“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”-Psalm 118:29 NASB
Kyndra, Houston, TX
Psalm 9:1, “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of all your wonders.” NIV
Sara Koumrian Downey CA
Psalms 27:13 NLT
“Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’S goodness while I am here in the land of the living”
Kristin, Archbold, OH
“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)
Cynthia, Missouri
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment. Phillipians 1:9 ESV
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Romans 8:14 NLT
Vicki
Longview, WA
Jaclyn W, Tacoma
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
Alyssa, Dallas, TX.
“And the Lord will guide you continually satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” ~Isaiah 58:11, ESV
” Because he loves me says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name ”
Psalm 91, V 14 NKJ
Tanya, from West Monroe, La: Philippians 3:8 NIV
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I hae lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Jennifer, Tomball, TX Eph 1:20 NIV “. . . he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms . . . “
Rachel from Sedley, Virginia:
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
~Judges 6:12 (NIV)
Kathleen, Tallahassee, FL:
“For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of
Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet.”
Psalm 8:5-6 (NKJV)
Selina, Barbourville, KY.
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
Hebrews 11:25 KJV