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
” Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 NKJV
Phyllis, Irvine, CA
“When you were dead in your sins and in the circumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us;He has take it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV)
Alicia, OKC
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13 NIV
OOPS, ESV….
Teresa from Apex, North Carolina
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Rita Ledbetter Cottonwood, AZ
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
Annette- Reno, NV
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 NIV
Shannon, Tyler, Tx
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28, NASB
Connie, Pickerington. 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
Brenda, Collinston, La.
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. Psalm 62 NLT
May 15-31, 2013
Romans 8:5-6, NLT
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting the sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
June 1-15, 2013
Romans 8:7-9, NLT
For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)
Shelly Hough
Gordon, Texas
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
Megan from Houston “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Philippians 2:14 NASB
Cindy B., West Palm Beach, FL
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NIV
Caroline, Rio, WI
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
Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned? Proverbs 6:27 NLT
NM, Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you says, “This is the way, walk in it.”
Kathy, Festus MO So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. (James 5:16 NET)
Kim Rushville, Ohio
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:7-8 NIV
Sandie from Red Deer, Alberta
“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world can not give. So don’t be troubled or afraid”. John 15:27 NLT
Kathy: Birmingham, AL
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presents your requests to God.
Toni Sidler
Argyle, TX
And whom He predestined, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified, and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:30
Nancy Engberg from Minneapolis
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
Deuteronomy 10:17
NIV
Lisa, Simsboro, LA
“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me.” Psalms 139:11 NIV
Jean – Franklinton NC
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
~ Romans 12:12, NLT
Heather from Hayden, AL: Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3. NIV
Barb, Kentwood MI – Do not remember the sins
Of my youth and my rebellious ways; according
To your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
Psalm 25:7 NIV
Christy L., Royal Palm Beach, FL
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Linda, Stanley, WI
Cyndy, Columbia, SD
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Linda, Stanley, WI
Yours, O 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, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. I Chron 29:11
Heather from Atlanta, GA:
Proverbs 28:26 (NIV)
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
Val
Snohomish, WA
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalms 3:3 ESV
Susanna, California
Romans 15:13 NET Bible (©2006)
Now may the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you believe in him,
so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ps 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (NIV84)
Pam Houston, Buena Park, CA
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,'”
Psalms 139:11 NASB
Katy
Mount Juliet, TN
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth.”
Joey Lynn, Las Vegas, NV
Psalm 16:9 (NIV)
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
Nancy, Versailles, KY
Another “odd” one in my quest to memorize psalm 71
“For my enemies speak against me; those who want to kill me conspire together.” psalm 71:10 NIV
(1) O LORD, I will always sing of your constant love;I will proclaim your faithfulness forever. (2) I know that your love will last for all time, that your faithfulness is as permanent as the sky.
-Psalms 89:1-2 (GNT)
Sarah, Dallas
Sibley, Louisiana
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 KJV
Jennifer, Medford OR
Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9 (NASB)
Andria from Northern Virginia:
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
NIV
Leigh, Woodway, TX
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Â Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
Tracy A from Saskatoon SK, 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 (NET)
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James3:13 NLT
Kim, Warrensburg MO
James 2:14-17(NLT)
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Katie R., Atlanta, GA
Psalm 16:8 (NIV)
I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
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
Nancy from Evansville, IN writes,
To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:4 NIV