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
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
Nancy, Lufkin, TX. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Angela, Louisville, KY
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 NASB
Mindy from Austin, “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies,from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Psalm 31:15-16, NIV
Amber ~ Clarksville, TN
Clothes yourselves with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:4 NLT
Kerri- Lakeland, FL
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. -Psalms 37:7 NIV
Katie, Amarillo. “Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.” Psalm 86:4 NIV
Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. I Peter 3:15 HCSB
Ann, Ventura, CA
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” ~Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Wendy Wilson, NC
“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)
Jenny Tyler, Texas
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner
worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 1:27a NIV
Nikki from McGregor, Texas. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” Psalm 18:30-31, NIV.
Kelly, The Hills, Tx. “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them,; He rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:19-20 NIV
Meredith
Menlo Park, CA
And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”
1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)
Angel Bowman
Murfreesboro, TN
“But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.” Galatians 5:22-23 GW
Rhonda J., Normal, IL
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Barb Wisconsin
The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Ps. 34:10 ESV
Shannon, Bethesda: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV
Kim, Cincinnati OH
Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 HCSB
Laura H, O’Fallon, MO: He replied “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know; I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25 NIV
Carolyn, Terrace BC Canada
Psalm 48:14 (NIV)
For this God is our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide even to the end.
Peggy Durante, Cheyenne, WY
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
Misty, Midlothian, TX
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Kristin, Trinidad CO
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:7-8 KJV
Jennifer Pearson: Nesbit, MS
You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “A nd A braham believed G od , and it was reckoned to him as righteousness ,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:22-26 NASB)
Karen, Wyoming
Exodus 14:14 (NIV) “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Kim Eshelman Lewisburg, PA
Do not gloat over me my enemy. Though I have fallen I will rise though I sit in darkness, The LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8
Jennifer, Lancaster PA
Psalm 107:19 NLT
“Lord Help” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.
Chester, VA: “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” Psalm 6:9 (NIV)
Lindsay, Albuquerque, NM “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV
Kelsie, Albuquerque, NM “I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” Psalm 16:8 NASB
Alysa, Albuquerque, NM “But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.” Job 28:12-13 NKJV
Lori: Vivian, LA
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Prov 15:1 NKJV
Visalia, CA
This is my command- Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or be discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!
Joshua 1:9 NLT
Gearing up for double mastectomy on the 29th.
Littlestown, PA: “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name.”
Philippians 2:9 (ESV)
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
From Grantville, PA
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Pat
Crawfordsville, IN
Laura Berg in Carlsbad, CA
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
Dana from Clarksville -yikes I let time get away from me!
Proverbs 22:3 NLT
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Terri from Plano, TX
1Peter 5:7 NIV “Cast all your anxiety on J
Him because He cares for you” (May 1, 2013)
Exodus 14:14 NIV “The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still ” (May 15, 2013)
Nicole, Littleton, CO (soon to be Severance, CO)
Nahum 1:7 (NKJV)
“”The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.”
Patsi from Porter, Tx
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; [8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
mitzi from brandon, ms
Open my eyes so I can see what You show me of your miracle-wonders_wonderful things in Your law. I am a stranger on earth; give me clear directions. My soul is consumed with longing for Your laws at all times. Your statutes are my delight, they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:18-20,24 NIV/Msg
Matthew 7:7 (English Standard Version)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Lorie, Centreville, VA
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Janet
Edmond, OK
“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 NLT
SO Sorry to be so late! Busy life is winding down now, PTL!
Cheryl in Fairhope, AL – “But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)
Deuteronomy 33:12
About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”
Julie
Holland, Michigan
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 HCSB