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
Kelly W., Fowler,CA
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Catherine S. ~ Grants Pass, OR
“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)
Melissa from Flemington, NJ. I John 4:17-19, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” KJV.
Marsha Fort Smith
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. His praise endures forever.
Psalm 111:10. NAB
Janell~Frisco, TX Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2a NET
Tomi, Des Moines. The LORD is indeed going before you–he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged! Deuteronomy 31:8 NET
Beverly, Pearland, TX
Psalm 25:15 NIV
My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only He will release my feet from the snare.
Jan
Bemus Point, NY
Isaiah 64:1 (NIV)
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you!
Marilyn, Amarillo, TX: “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God”. Proverbs 30:7-9 ESV
Jacie from Amarillo:
“Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do.”
Psalm 1:1 New Century Version
Cathy, Dallas
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer. Ps. 19:14
Sherry Pearcy
Meeker, OK
Psalm 63:5 NLT
“You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.”
Deena from Amarillo:
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” Malachi 4:2 NLT
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8 (NIV)
Ruth, Shawnee, KS
Philippians 4:8 (NLT) —
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Laura, Minneapolis, MN.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” Titus 2:11, ESV
Joelle, Abilene, TX
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
(Psalm 32:8 NIV)
Nona from Poplar Bluff
“From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 NIV
Pat, Hot Springs, AR
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 KJV
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;
And they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:2 KJV
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Imogene, Austin, TX 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing.
Correction:
Imogene, Austin,TX
1 Thess. 5:11 NIV
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Alexis, Salem OR
“Have mercy on me O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your compassion blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. ”
Psalm 51:1-2 NLT
Alicia
League City, TX
Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:14 NLT
Kate – Houston, TX
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. – Proverbs 31:25 (ESV)
Julie- Cincinnati, OH-
Psalm 51:17 NLT
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Ellen Forrester, Spring, TX
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
Lindsay, Sugar Land: Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. (Psalm 127:1 NIV)
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7 NLT
Cindy from Uvalde, TX
“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 KJV
Liz, Bloomfield: “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17, NIV ’11).
Nicole, Portland OR
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
Siesta Summer Bible study?! So excited! Priscilla Shirer’s new Gideon study maybe?! Oh I can hardly wait to find out!
But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:17 NIV
Marybeth in Oxford, PA: I got behind at the beginning of May so I am sharing memory verses 9 & 10!! ” Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
Ashley Sullens
Kings Mountain, NC
Psalm 27:7 (NASB)
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me.
Hannah from Albuquerque
He will swallow up death forever,
and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears
from all faces,
and the reproach of his people
he will take away from all the earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 25:8 ESV
Shirley from Rockwall, Texas
In everything give thanks, for this is the the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
Pam Bryant
Kounzte, Tx.
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You.
Psalm 58:3 NKJV
Jill from Houma, LA
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Colossians 3:23 ESV
Jane from Calgary, Alberta
Ephesians 5:4 (NIV) “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life
He who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Prov. 13:3
(ESV)
Jill
Winter Haven, FL
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.”
Colossians 3:9 NKJV
Robyn The Woodlands, TX
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Cherie Pocatello, ID – “3 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” (1 Cor 13:3, The Message)
Cathy – Richmond, VA
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who thru faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:5-6 NIV
Michelle from Chesapeake, VA:
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (NLT)
I am finally caught up with the verses I have memorized. I had not had a chance to get on the computer to put them on the website. I hope to keep up now. :O)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage… For the LORD your God is with you… Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Alyssa Mochen
Rio Rancho, MM
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV
“Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.” –Psalm 105:4 Maddie from Flagstaff
Diane E. from Charleston, IL
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NRSV
Shannon, Starkville, MS
In everything give thanks, for this is the the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV