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
Tiffany E, Nampa, ID via Kona, HI –
Psalm 139:11 NLT – I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
Annette, San Diego
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
thanks so much for walking us through the process of memorizing scripture this has really helped me, just think all these years and I never had a clue how to go about doing it what a blessing
Diana Anderson, Greenville, KY “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”
Ephesians 1:4 NLT
Stephanie, Stow, OH
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Stacy – Hinckley, England
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his pomise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3v9 ESV
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Jeanni, Westland
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139: 17-18 KJV
Jill from Houma, LA
People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.
Proverbs 21:2 NLT
DeAnne W. Bothell, WA
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He refreshes my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea though I walk in through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You rep are a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me al the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Ps 23:1-6 NKJV
D’Anne, Loganville, 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
Casey, San Antonio, 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 ruler of all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NET)
Kim, Grove City, Oh
Matt. 7:7 NIV
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Olivia Hart, Puyallup WA
The Lord is righteous within her, He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.
Zephania 3:5 (ESV)
Julie from Granbury, TX
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NKJV)
“The LORD will fight for you;you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Waylene, Loma Linda: Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. Ps 130:7 KJV
Debbie, Fairfax, VA
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV)
Lynn, Pittsburgh
Dark am I, yet lovely… Songs 1:5 NIV
Jen Lee, Ames, Iowa: 11 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)
jenny
white hall, ar
therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. let nothing move you. always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (niv)
Rebecca, Tacoma, WA – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is ne law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
Melanie, Armuchee, GA
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Laura from Dalton, GA
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalms 46:10 ESV)
Sarah Doll, Chattanooga, TN
Revelation 3:20 ESV “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me.”
Deut. 34:7 NIV
Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
Jodi, DFW. 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
Lisa from Cary, NC
“Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me.”
Ps: 42:8 (NLT)
Paula, Russell KY
Gal 5:1, NIV. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Sarah Baggett, Colorado Springs, CO
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 W – Austin, TX
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Phil 1:27
Robyn from Kitchener, Canada
Psalm 103:1-2 (NLT)
“Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.”
Jen, Katy, TX
“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.” Pslm. 126:3 NIV
Jennifer in Cincinnati, OH
Hebrews 12:13 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Ashley Pointer from Spring, Texas
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Debbie, Rochester, MN
We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This One who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.
1 John 1:1-2 NLT
Cottonwood, 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 (NET)
Christine, SLC
John 15:8, ESV
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Tyler, Texas
2 Corinthians 5:9
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.”
Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Shirley Barry, Mooresville, 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
Michelle, Minot, ND
In quietness and trust shall be your strength.
Isaiah 15:30
Christy from Hahira, GA
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)
Lichelle Austin NIV
Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Stephanie
Ontario, Canada
2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
New Living Translation
Tammie from Ferris, TX
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Leslie
Wisner, La.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Marsha Gray, Jefferson, ME
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe,even if you were told.
Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)
Paula, OKC, OK: “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. I Chronicles 29:11 NIV