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!Ā You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11Ā 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 fittingĀ 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
Ange & Keke, Idaho: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NIV
The LORD will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Ps 121:7-8 NIV
Nancy
Columbus IN
You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16: 11 NAS
Dawn, Mt. Olive, NC
Psalm 63:1 NIV
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you, my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Leanne Swanson, Billings, MT
Psalm 103:17 NIV
“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children”
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4 NASB
Judy, Taylors, SC
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)
Cathy from Loxahatchee, Florida
Proverbs 31:26 NIV
She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Becky, Chattanooga, TN
“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
Trish West Linn, Oregon
“it is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32 NIV
Cathy, Dallas
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.ā (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6: 10 (NIV)
Debbie B.
Norman, OK
John 15:12
(MSG)
This is my command: love one another the way I loved you.
Karen, from Dallas, TX,
You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.
Psalm 60:3-4 NIV
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45 (ESV)
Dorinda, O’Fallon, MO. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:28-29 NIV
“Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31 ESV)
Robin, Phoenix
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. (Proverbs 29:25 MSG)
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
Michelle P., Cypress, 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 Chron 29:11 NET
Deanna – Frisco, Tx
Psalm 145:8 (NIV)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.Ā
The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are saved. Proverbs 18:10 NIV
Kristin V from Greenwood, IN: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ 2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV
“If we died with him, we will also live with him;
If we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
If we are faithless; he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.”
Lindsey from Temecula, CA
” I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him”
Colossians 2:4-6 (NIV)
Tracy, Edgewood, KY – 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. 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT)
Becky, Fairfax, VA:
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
The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NIV
Laura, Minneapolis.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV
Sarah, Elkhart, IN. Philippians 4:6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and minds in Christ Jesus.
Paige in Lincoln, NE
Psalm 5:3 NIV
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Joelle, Abilene, TX
“The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:26 (NIV)
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2
Deneen – Pittsburgh, PA
“Honor the Lord with your wealth,with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV
Psalm 34:18 NIV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Kelley, Des Moines WA – Col. 1:29 To this end I labor, struggling with all this energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Valerie ~ Oklahoma
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those of a crushed spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 NIV
We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 HCSB
Holly Novak, Amarillo TX
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6 NIV)
Jeanette- Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. NIV
Gay
Round Rock, Tx.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer .
Romans 12:12 NIV
Sandi, Drayden, MD
“For we are Godās masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Kendra Husband, Charlotte, NC
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Fredericksburg, VA
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
Sara, Dallas. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (ESV).
Ā Alison, Norman, OK
āI know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, āWho is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?ā
It is Iāand I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things too wonderful for me.” Job 42:2,3 NLT
Michelle from Waterloo, ON, Canada
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; My God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 NIV
Donna marina, Ca
Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV
Trust in The Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.