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
Kacee Storrs, CT
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:63 NIV
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in Heaven.
Matt 10:33 (NIV)
Darlene, Mt. Airy, MD
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Ephesians 6:17 NASB
Teri, Aledo, Texas
“[love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)
Inez Barnes
Hamburg, AR
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Take control of what I say Oh LORD
and guard my lips
Laura
San Antonio, TX
*please forgive me if I’m posting this twice, I’ve been memorizing but can’t remember if I posted or not
James 2:24-3:2
You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgement. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
Making your righteousness shine like the dawn, our justice like the noonday. Ps 37:6. Holman
Sam
Rowley, IA
2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV
While we do not look at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
When people’s live please the Lord even their enemies are at peace with them. Proverbs 16:7 (NLT)
Amy, Fort Collins, CO
(Philippians 2:14) NIV
Do everything without complaining or arguing.
Patti from Ft. Worth, TX
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3:6 ESV
Betsy from Maryville, TN
1 Peter1:10 (NASB) As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
Connie, Plano, TX, says “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares The Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Hannah from Bolingbrook,IL
Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 NLT
Tara from Bolingbrook,IL
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21, ESV
Elizabeth from Searcy, Arkansas
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Scarlett Flynn in Round Rock, TX
“Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.” (Psalm 43:3, NLT)
Watauga, TX
Isaiah 60:5 (The VOICE) “And when you see it, your face will glow; your heart will race and be filled with joy; For great ships will arrive with gifts from across the sea, and the wealth of nations will make their way to you.”
Rhonda, Anderson, IN
Proverbs 17:22 HCSB
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Kim, Huffman, Texas. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).
Stephanie
KC,MO
Lamentations 3:23
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness
Charlsie in Austin, TX
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Ryan – Moore, OK
Psalm 51:10 ESV
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me!
Lexington, KY
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. Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Mary Ellen ~ Trenton,GA ~ “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22
“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Ps 91:1-2 NIV
Sherry Youngblood Jay, OK
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
Juliana
Livermore, CA
Isaiah 26:8 NIV
Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts.
Almut, London, GB
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
Victoria, BC, Canada
Philippians 4:4 NIV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Leigh, Houston
Philippians 4:8 Good News Translation
In conclusion my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honorable.
Renee in Rural Hall, NC: “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 (ESV)
Becki, Battle Creek, MI
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins
2Peter 1:7-9
Tami, DS, LA
Isaiah 40:8 NASB
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.
Lori Todd, San Angelo, Texas
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; Phil 4:5 ESV
Deanna, Maytown AL
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Phil. 4:8 NIV
Vanessa from Anderson, SC: God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into radical life-change. Romans 2:4 (msg)
Lara Harris Spring Hill, TN
John 14:27 NIV
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Erica G, Denver
God will not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8
Lori
Bangor, Maine
He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!”
Psalms 46:10A (NET)
Alicia Riverton Utah
June 1
1 Corinthians 2:15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, ESV
Please forgive me if this is a repeat!!
Diana, Cincinnati, Ohio. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6 NIV
Linda, Westport
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
lindsay from tampa, florida
at the mountain the LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire.
deuteronomy 5:4 (NET)
Rachel Ravellette, Lafayette, Ind. — “Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies!” – Psalm 148:4, NIV
Liz
Norman, OK
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Psalm 8:9 NIV
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Angie, Houston, TX
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37