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
Mary, VB, VA
“The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11b, NL
Matt 22:37. You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Debbie B.
Norman, OK
Romans 12:10
(MSG)
Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Hi Beth, Lyndsee,
I think I boo-booed. I posted my verse for June 1st, but when I went to record it in my notebook… it was blank under May 15th. Should I just re-post one for the 15th? How does it work? I’m a newbie.
Blessings, Sandy
Stephanie
Canton, NY
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Susan – Maynard, MA
Psalm 22:4 – NIV
In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
Kerre, Chattanooga,TN. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV
3Trust in the LORD and do good
that you may dwell in the land* and live secure.c
4Find your delight in the LORD
who will give you your heart’s desire. Psalm 37:3-4. Nab
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. (Psalm 25:10 NIV)
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21. NIV
Mandy, Waco, TX
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:5 (NIV)
Ruth, goose creek, South Carolina
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
I charge in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. – 2 Timothy 4: 1-2 NIV
You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 18:13 NIV
Cathie – Jacksonville Florida
As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you.
Psalm 71:14 The NET
Champaign, IL
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NASB)
Cherilyn M., Colfax NC
“The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalms 29:11 NKJV
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
Angela, Houston, TX: Philippians 1:27a (NIV84) Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Terra from Owasso, OK
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 NLT
Jen in Exton,PA
Romans 7:3 (Ampl)
Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.
Mariposa – Albuquerque New Mexico
The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. Pslm. 126:3 NIV
Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NIV)
Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.
Rhonda, Foley, Alabama
Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah. 33:3. ESV
Morgan – Bolivar, MO
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 122:1 NKJV
Marilyn Gadsden, Al
Above all guard your heart for it is the well spring of life. Proverb 4:23
Jamie, Coupeville, WA
Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being build up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and oveflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7, NASB
Heather K. Mosinee, WI
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
I think that I forgot to post this…
Send forth your light and your truth,let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Psalm 43:3 NIV
Mickey, Blue Springs, MO
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another, — or maybe both.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 NLT
Tracee, Morristown, TN
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful. Colossians 4:2 CEV
Vickie Henderson
Russellville Ar
HCSB
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Angie, Belleville. ISA 55:6 (MSG)
Seek God while he is here to be found, pray to h while he’s close at hand.
Gail Jones
Decatur TX
Psalm 51:11 NIV
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Jovin, Houston TX
“I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24B
Heather – Greenfield, IN
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares The Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
Andrea – Michigan
1 John 2:28 (NIV) And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Acts 20:32
Now I am putting you in the care of God and the message about his grace. It is able to give you strength and it will give you the blessings God has for all his holy people.
Waylene, Loma Linda: My soul waiteth for the Lore more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the orning. Ps. 130:6 KJV
Laura from Dalton, GA
“But the Lord is faithful, He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (II Thess. 3:3 ESV)
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is
gift of God.
Jen, Katy, TX
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven because she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47 NAS
Tammie from Ferris, TX
God is our refuge and strenth, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 ESV
Laura Griffiths, Auburn, AL Ephesians 4:29
“Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever) come out of your mouth, but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it,” (amplified version)
Kim D., Lakeland, FL
“When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
Rachel Sweatt
Canyon, TX
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV)
April Jackson
Pittsburgh, PA
“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
Pat, Littlefield, Tx…….”Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:20 NIV
Kristi, Alexandria VA. Psalm 1:6 NIV- For The Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked leads to destruction
Kristi, Alexandria VA- Psalm 16:1-2NIV. Keep me safe, my God for you are my refuge. I say to The Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”