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
Jennifer, Littlefield TX
Train yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7b,8 (NIV)
Tiffany, Salisbury MD
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Phillipians 4:13
NIV
Shannon Kissimmee, Florida
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
<3
Scarlett Temple from Social Circle, Ga.
2 Timothy 1:7, NIV ’84
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline.”
Tracy, Tangent, OR
Col 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. NKJV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. Hebrews 11:1 NASB
Vickie, Spokane, WA.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesian 6:10 niv
Melissa
Grand Junction, CO
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil. 2:3 NIV
Heather G
Fredericksburg, VA
Psalm 86:12 NLT
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
Wendi
Kathleen, GA
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
Mary, Shreveport
Don’t worry about anything; but instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7. NLT
Amy, Miamisburg, OH
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
Nicole Roman///Dallas
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:25-26 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
Keaton Lovell McCurtain OK
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)
Pam, Springfield MO
“No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.” Psalm 25:3 NIV
Beth from Niamey
Colossians 3:13
NIV
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Christa from AZ
Romans 12:11-12
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
11 Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. 12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.
Susan, Berryville, VA
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32 NKJV
Cheryl, Houston. “Therefore, be clear minded and self- controlled so that you can pray above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” (NIV) 1 Pt 4:7-8
Mimi Versailles,Ky
Candy from St Louis, MO
Habakkuk 2:3 NIV
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)
Faye – Ocala
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23. NLT
Cathy, Russellville
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Mimi Versailles, Ky
Carolyn from Nashville, Tennessee
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
James 1:19 NIV
Michelle, New Richmond: The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 ESV
Mimi Versailles, Ky
“No eye has seen,no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Suzanne, Birmingham: “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 afraid?” Psalms 27:1 NIV
Katie, Biloxi
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36 NIV)
D’Anna Nowack
Kilgore, Texas
2 Corinthians 3:18
New International Version (NIV)
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Brenda from Southern Maryland
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
Talia, Cincinnati Ohio
We know how much God loves us and we have put our trust in his love. God is love and all who live in love, live in God and God lives in them
1 John 4:16 NLT
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:23 NIV
Susan ~ Kearney, NE ~ 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
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.
P.S. I love, love, love your explanation of how you learn your verse…similar to me and makes my teacher heart jump with joy!!! I always go in phrases, too…see above!!!
Sheila from Florida
O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as ruler of all.
1 Chronicles 29:11 NET
Judy, Virginia
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Jacie from Amarillo, Texas
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Eph 3:21 NIV
My small group will be doing the same verse as Beth this time…
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
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38 NIV
Kristi, Greenville, TX
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as The One who is over all things.”
I Chronicles 29:11, NLT
Kate, Millville, Canada
Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (HCSB)
Deanna – Safford, AZ
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV)
Chris
Canton, NC
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
Melina
Oklahoma City, OK
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
—Colossians 2:6–7 NKJV
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me –
Everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
Phil 4:9 NLT
Val, Ann Arbor, MI
Show me ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalms 25:4-5
Missie, Marble Falls, TX
“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 145:1-3
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (proverbs 3:5 NIV)