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
Nikki L, Littleton, CO
“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to The Lord, for He is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
ESV Psalms 118:28-29
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).
Diana—San Patricio, TX. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Psalm 116:1 (NIV)
Heather—Corpus Christi, TX. “…as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” I Peter 3:6 (NKJV)
Janet, Lenoir, NC: You must be blameless before the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 18:13
NIV!
Michele, Pearland, TX
Psalm 22:5 NASB
“To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
Norka – Mississauga, ON, Canada
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Olive branch, ms
Because of the Lord ’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. (Lamentations 3:22 HCSB)
Suzanne Morton, Decatur, Texas
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Lisa Stimpson, Munford, Tn.
I will hear what God The Lord will say; for he will speak peace to his people, to His godly ones;but let them not turn back to folly.
Psalm 85:8. NKJV
Jamie, Crossett,
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3 NASB
o, my Lord, my God in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, vending it in pieces, with none to deliver
psalm 7:1-2
Patty, Shelton, WA
“You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.”
Psalm 77:14, New Living Translation
Kelley, La Verne. Romans 12:21 do not be overcome by evil but over come evil with good. ESV
Laurin, Harrisburg, NC “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12b-13 NIV
Elizabeth, Bolivar, MO
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:6 (NIV)
Micah 7:7 ESV
‘But as for me, I will look to the LORD. I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me’
Mary Grace Harris, Bolivar Missouri,
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones
Proverbs 17:22
Yvonne
Louiville, KY
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Sadie
Louisville, KY
Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Andrea Gardendale
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV
Christie from Plano, Texas
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21 ESV)
Annette- Reno, NV
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Dorian from Grimes, IA
” Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed bythe renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
Sharon
Glennville. GA
I John 4:16 NIV
And so we know and rely on
the love God has for us.
God is love.
Whoever lives in love
lives in God,
and God in him.
Claire, Bangkok:
“Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the law [and it’s condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs in a tree (is crucified).” – Gal 3:13 AMP
Shaminder,
Toronto,ON
The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7
NKJV
Megan–Kansas City, KS
James 4:5 ESV
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ~ 2 Cor 4:1-2 (NIV)
Pamela, Missouri
Joy G., Platte City, MO
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies and God of all comfort,
Who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4, NKJV
Betty Stephens, Austin, Texas Psalm 25:10 NIV:
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Cindy B,Alton NH, Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. ESV
Jaclyn, Round Rock, TX
Set your minds in things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2. NIV
Jana from Austin:
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
Andrea- Woodstock, GA
“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.”
NIV Philippians 3:12
Karen~Greer,SC…Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Teresah, Redmond Oregon
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Sooo Late….
Pam Campbellsburg, In. Psalm 63;3 Because your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall Praise You
NSFL NKJV
Liz, Costa Mesa, CA
Colossians 3:12-13 NASB
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”
Katera, Kentwood, LA
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of Your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they shall say to me, What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
and God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:13 & 14
Greta, Greenville
So when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time. Luke 4:13, NET
Jolene, Suwanee, GA
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1 NIV
Lynne J., Gainesville VA
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1 KJV
Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Michele, Naperville, Illinois – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
– Philippians 4:6 NIV
Beth Mt. Carmel, IL
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2Cor 9:8 NIV
Amy
Middletown, DE
I Peter 1:4(NIV) – For by these He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Gena, Texarkana, AR.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Beverly, Prosper, TX
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand it completely. (NASB)
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and the truth is not in us” 1 John 1:10
Beth Herring
Oak Grove, Louisiana
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Cor 7:10 NIV