Hey, Everybody! I am jotting this post several days in advance because I’ll be at a Living Proof Live in Atlanta, Georgia the day this goes up. In fact, if you read this before 11:15 CST (12:15 Atlanta time) on Saturday, we’d be incredibly blessed if you’d pray for our remaining time to be so flooded with the presence of God that we can hardly bear the glory.
I’m so proud of you for making it this far in our Scripture memory process! Sisters, you have worked hard. Let yourself feel the holy nod of God. He has tremendous joy in seeing His children esteem His Word highly enough to store it like treasures in the vault of their hearts. We’ve arrived at a milestone of sorts in this journey. June is tremendously significant for our team because this is the month we come to the halfway marker. Once we get into July and August we have less memorization in front of us than we have behind us. That’s a big deal.
This time around I’m choosing a verse that I’ll be challenging the attendees to memorize at the Atlanta Living Proof Live. I’m not sure a verse could be more fitting for the pure act of praise. I love Scriptures that not only speak about God but speak straight to God. Get a load of this one:
Beth, Houston. O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
Any of us who memorize a fair amount of Scripture have certain go-to approaches that have helped us along. If you’ve got a method that is working, by all means, go with it! But, if you’re interested in memorizing the same verse and would like some suggestions about how to tackle it, I’ll share what works for me. Keep in mind that the methods of Blonder Than She Pays To Be could be madness to someone else so take this or leave it depending on your learning style.
With any verse, I start looking almost immediately for how I can reason out the word order. The first thing I’m going to notice in 1 Chronicles 29:11 is that there are 6 rapid-fire descriptions of God in the first sentence. In this verse, I’d reason that it’s fitting for the word “great” to be first among the descriptions because many of us are accustomed to using the terminology that God (or the Lord, in this case) is great. It’s an easy, accessible word. The next three descriptions all begin with “M”: mighty, majestic, magnificent. As I prepare for Atlanta, I’ll be saying those three words over and over in that order so that they’ll get ingrained in my thinking. They have an amplifying rhythm to them, too, because the first one (mighty) is two syllables, the second one (majestic) is three syllables, and the third one (magnificent) is four syllables. Does that help at all with the word order and how they roll off your tongue? Say them until you feel the syllables build and you might latch onto them pretty quickly.
After the beginning “G” (great) and the 3 “M’s”, we have another “G.” This time it stands for “glorious.” That’s a word I love to say so I’m hoping I can remember it pretty easily. G-M-M-M-G. Are you beginning to catch on? (I think I just heard somebody yell “NO!” Was that you?? I tried to warn you that I can make things harder than they have to be. Laughing. You might need to be the one telling your sisters here how to tackle a wordy verse. Just give me an “E” for effort here and maybe an “A” for affection. I do so seriously love you.)
The last of the 6 descriptions is “sovereign.” To me, that’s always the final word on anything that has to do with God. If I’m confused or I can’t fit in my brain why this happened or why God approached a particular thing a particular way, I finally come to a measure of peace by stating this biblical truth: He is sovereign over all things. In the exact words of 1 Chronicles 29:11, “over all the sky and earth.” I love visual language and that, Sister, is plenty visual. Span the galaxies in the universe with your imagination then put your scope on our planet and zero in. (I know I’m really pushing it right now with some of you but the way I’d keep it straight that “sky” comes before “earth” is that it starts with an “S” like “sovereign” right before it. If I’m getting on your last nerve, never mind.)
Then put the finishing touches on the verse with this: You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all!
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not expecting that we’d have it down pat in the brief amount of time it’s taken us to walk through those few paragraphs but what about 15 days? That’s how long we’d have to get those words steeped into our souls. Could we get them down over the course of two weeks? Yes, ma’am, I do believe we can! And, if not word-for-word, just think how much we’ve meditated on descriptions of our God! That is time NEVER wasted. Let’s ask God to give us the supernatural unction to accomplish this memorization and remind Him how much glory He could receive from our being able to extol His preeminence like that over and over while we’re…
praying…
driving…
walking through our neighborhoods…
on our treadmills…
rocking our babies…
getting chemotherapy…
getting physical therapy…
sitting with an elderly loved one…
healing from a heartbreak…
or so happy that we need some way to tell Him how marvelous we think He is before we burst.
Of course, most of you have your own Scripture selections and I have just put you through the wringer for nothing! So, whether you’re sharing 1 Chronicles 29:11 or bringing your own verse to the table, let’s see them! I’m blessed almost out of my bleached blond mind to get to do this with you, Sister. You are a tremendous joy to me.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Audrey, Ohio
Ephesians 6:13 TNIV
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, TO STAND.
(emphasis mine)
Rachel D., Meridian, “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (2 Timothy 1:7 HCSB)
Kimberly in Madison, ME: “O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, NET
“See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. (Isaiah 41:11 NLT)
Lindsey Buchanan, St. Augustine, FL “Be joyful always”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV
. O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
“Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:30, 31 NASB
Amy from Frisco, Texas
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10, ESV
Kristi, Gardner, KS
Colossians 3:15 NLT
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Katie Euken
Muscatine, IA
“For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 HCSB
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things
work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
Leanne from Eden Prairie, MN
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. (Psalms 139:5 NLT)
Tammy/Siloam NC —– Romans 8:31b If God is for us, who can be against us. (NIV)
Tarah DeClue; Bolivar, MO
“The Lord is good a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”
Nahum 1:7 NIV
Tori DeClue; Bolivar, MO
“God is within her, she will not fall.”
Psalm 46:5
NIV
Richelle, Kingston, TN
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Joy from Lubbock, TX
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Hebrews 13:15 NIV
Gina DeClue; Bolivar, MO
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”
Job 19:25 NIV
Jenny, Elida, OH “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 (NIV)
Heather, from Mckinney, TX “Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me and know my anxious thoughts;” NASB
Laura, Little Rock. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:2 (NIV)
Ruth Hency; Oran, MO
“If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV
“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord even as we put our
hope in you.” Psalm 33:22 NIV
Erin- Denison, TX
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG)
Tina, Zalma, My thoughts are completely different from yours says the Lord and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (NLT) Isaiah 55:8 & 9
Alyson; Longmont, CO
Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. (Proverbs 11:17 NLT)
Angela Talley, Murfreesboro TN
Galatians 5:22-23ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law.
Cindy K, Rock Hill, SC
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV 2011)
Laurie, Chester
“O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.
NET Bible
Ann. Centerville. . By His divine power God has given us everything we need to lead a Godly life . We have received all of this by coming to know him by the one ho called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence . 2 Peter 1:3. NLT
Holly
Longmont, CO
Your kindness will reward you,
but your cruelty will destroy you.
Proverbs 11:17 NLT
Jennifer from Liberty, NC
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
Proverbs 12:1 NLT
I Thess. 5:20-21
Don’t despise instruction, exhortations or warning. Test all things. Hold on to what is good.
Job 5:8-9 NIV
But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my case before Him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Hilary from Langley, Canada:
“You discern my going out and my lying down.
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it
completely O Lord.” Psalm 139:3-4 (NIV)
Dawn, South Bend ,IN
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. Mark 4:22 NIV
Alice Champagne, Marietta, GA Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NLT)
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11 NIV)
Christina, Fort Worth
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 146:1, 2 NIV
Jonna, Malibu, CA
O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Prov. 11:2 (NIV)
Sharleen says:
For you O Lord will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield. NKJ
Ashley from Bean Station, Tn: Worship The Lord with gladness. Come before Him singing with joy. Psalms 100:2 NLT
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 NIV
Psalms 96:11 (MSG)
Light-seeds are planted in the
souls of God’s people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good
heart-soil.
Wendy Couper Peterborough , Ontario Canada
O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
Holly Burlington, IA You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:9 NIV)
Margaret from The Villages, FL
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
(Psalm 86:4 NIV)
Carla, LaFayette,Al.
Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5