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
Psalms 56:3-4 (ESV)
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Melissa – Black Creek, 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 NET)
Stephaie, Shelbyville,IN. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ESV
Denise, Hernando Beach
…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10 NIV
Allison, Midland, 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 The NET Bible
Port Neches, TX
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” John 14:1 (NLT)
Shannon, Buda,, TX
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
Psalm 103:7
Karen(Wisconsin) He shall call upon Me,and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble;I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalm 91:15NKJV)
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
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalms 105.4 (NIV)
Angie Edwards
Severance, CO
Psalm 42:8
By day The Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me–a prayer to the God of my life. (NIV)
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Evansville, IN
“Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21 NIV I also like the CEV version- “Surrender to God All Powerful! You will find peace and prosperity.”
Meredith,CA:
I Chronicles 29:11 NET Bible – excited to memorize a verse praising the Lord. Thank you Beth for this suggestion.
Amy from Noble, OK
I Chronicles 29:11 (NET)
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.
Tonia …better late than never…Booker
Matthew 4:19 NKJ
Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men
meridian, idaho
Sarah Phillips
Wilmington, DE
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 NLT
Patty Pierce
SEarcy AR
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be self-controlled and alert , your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Joanne, Callahan
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalms 23:1 (KJV)
Olivia, Tennessee
Be but doers of the word, not hearers only, decieving yourselves. James 1:22 NKJV
Stephanie, Austin, He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:19 NIV
Amy, Chattanooga, TN. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22, NKJV
Paola, Pinellas Park.Florida
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14
Kristi, Scottsdale, AZ
Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)
Tonya, Searcy,AR
Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3 NCV
Susan H.
Lady Lake, FL
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:2 NIV
Christy
Fayetteville, AR
If a man purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, made holy & useful to the Master & prepared into every good work.
2 Timothy 2:21 KJV
Cindy, Beaumont TX: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)
Stephanie, Lititz, PA
“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
Grace, age 5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NLT
Lora
Mooresburg
“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time.” Psalm 145:5 NASB
Michelle from Norman, OK “For the Lord is righteous, and He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face” Psalms 11:7 NASB
Carolyn, Terrace BC Canada
Psalm 27:8 NKJV
When you said, “seek my face,” my heart said to you,
“your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Melody, Cleburne, TX
“When I said ‘My foot is slipping’ your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation was joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:18, 19
Becky
Westerville, Ohio
“However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”
Deut. 23:5 NIV
Ellen, Houston. ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. ♡NIV)
From Kemptville, On, Canada
“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear, though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” Psalm 27:3 (NIV)
k. joy from Lancaster, PA
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49
Cindy
Flemingsburg, KY
O Lord you are great, mighty, magnificent, glorious and sovereign over all the sky and earth. You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all.
I Chronicles 29:11
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer: he enables me to stand on the heights. Psalm 18:32-33 NIV
Psalm 139:11 NIV
If i say Surely the darkness will hide me and the light becomes night around me.
Michael Ann from Irvine, CA
John 14:21
New International Version (NIV)
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Kelli, Apex NC
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is The Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Dueteronomy 31:6
Beth, Robinson, TX
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV
Tori, Robinson,TX
“If you obey the commands of The Lord your God and walk in His ways, The Lord will establish you as His holy people as He swore He would do.”
Deuteronomy 28:9 NLT
Landry, Georgetown, TX
Psalm 118:1 NIV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Mitzi from Long Beach
“For I know the plans I have for you” – this is the Lord’s declaration- “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Rene’ , Edmond, OK
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God
by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.
Hebrews 12:28 NLT
Jenny, Fishers, IN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
rebecca oliver mobile al
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his spirt as proof that we live in him and he in us.
1 john 4:12-13
Sheri
Portland, Oregon
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
James 5:7 NIV84