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
Victoria – Salt Lake City, UT 2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus]. That is why it is through him that we utter our amen to God for his glory.”
Pat W. green bank, wv.
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
Dana, Shawnee, KS
Proverbs 3:13 (AMP)
Happy (blessed) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God’s Word and life’s experiences],
Hannah | Oklahoma City, OK
Mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2:13b, NKJV
From DFW
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV)
Carol, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery!
“The Godly are able to be generous with their gifts.”
Psalm 37:26 (NIV)
Isn’t this SO true. Even in our giving ONLY God empowers us to be able to do so and generously!!! Amen to that!!!
Paula from Denver, Co
Psalm 143:8 N.I.V.
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 I lift up
my soul to you.
Allison Dalke, Edmond, Oklahoma
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 NIV
Almut, London, England
Dt 30,19 (Message)
I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.
Christy
Fayetteville,AR
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Kelly, Chesterfield, MO- James 1-2:3, NIV
James 2:3
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say,”Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man,”You stand there,” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High.
Psalm 107:11 (NIV)
Stephanie
Pawleys Island, sc
Come close toGod and God will come close to you. James 4:8 NLT
Fairview, TN You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Jennifer, San Antonio Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)
Cameron, Maumee, Ohio
Blessed is the man who preserves under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised for those who love Him. James 1:12
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.
Natalie, Houston
**picked my verse but I think I forgot to post 🙁
The Lord your God is in your midst;
He is a warrior who can deliver.
He takes great delight in you;
He renews you by His love;
He shouts for joy over you.
Zephaniah 3:17 NET
Deb, Pelzer, SC
2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV) “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
Tara in Fort Worth
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9 ESV
Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
“For I am about to do someting new. See I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway thru the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Katie Swaney (McDonough, GA) – Let us then approach God’s 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)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, Colossians 2:13 (NIV84)
Angie, Aberdeen, SD: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Col. 3: 12-13 (ESV)
Donna, Fort Wayne,IN,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (Ephesians 1:19 NASB)
Chelsia, Waverly MN
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
~Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
Carla lee
Corryton,Tenn.
Phil.3:8 NIV
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
(sorry so late–been ill)
Paula, Atlanta Tx
Even there Your hand shall lead me.
And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:10
Sara from Garden City KS:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 NIV)
Melissa, Sulphur, LA
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Psalm 119:10 (NIV)
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Amen!!!)
Vicki, Corpus Christi,Tx
Ps 92:4 For You, LORD, have made me glad through
Your work. I will triumph in the works
of Your hand. NKJV
Laura, Clay Center, KS
Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afreaid?
Wendy
Vero Beach
“Pray also for me,
that whenever I open my mouth,
words may be given me
so that I will fearlessly make known
the mystery of the gospel,”
Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)
“Many are the plans in man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Diane from Wedgefield, SC – So be very careful to love the Lord your God. Joshua 23:11 NIV 2011
“The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.”
1 John 2:9 NASB
Kerry from Houston, TX.
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 Tim. 1:12b (NASB)
Annabel, Whitewater, KS,
A man’s wisdom makes him patient. He will be honored if he forgives someone who sins against him. Prov. 19:11, NIrV
Leah, Houston, TX
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (NIV 1984)
Mound City, KS
God is not a god of disorder but of peace.
I Cor 14:33 (NIV)
John 15:6 NIV
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Stacy from McDonough, GA
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV
For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness
2 Peter 1:5-6
Habakkuk 2:14
New International Version (NIV)
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Syneva – Topeka, Kansas
Emma, Adelaide, South Australia
‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’
James 1:22 NIV
Linda from Mishawaka ,In says
For I am watching over my word to perform it
Jer. 1:12 b. ESV
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11 (EST)