Hey Sweet Things! I’m putting this post up an evening early so I don’t have to be up and working at 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning off. Smiling. Thank you for understanding! Don’t stress if the comments aren’t moderated right away. We take it a little slower on weekends so nobody’s working nonstop.
I wish I had a way to add some great celebratory music to this post. You are officially halfway! Doesn’t that feel fabulous? Oh, come on, now. Let yourself feel it. Great job, Sisters! It’s not easy. We know we can do the second half because we have already done the first.  And we’ll do this next half exactly the same way: through the unction of the Holy Spirit. Just keep choosing Scriptures that are speaking to you in your exact season and need and they’ll come alive in the marrow of your bones.
I feel like I’ve been talking to you all day because I think of you while writing the lessons for the Bible study underway. We have hashed some things out in the Scriptures today, Sister. You just couldn’t hear them. I’ll just be glad when some of you are sitting on the other side of that page talking back. When I was at the taping for Children of the Day in May, we explained to the group that it would be a whole calendar year before the study comes out. The process takes a long time, especially because it involves both written work and video. We also have to dodge around a travel schedule that is set in calendar-stone a good bit in advance. But, in the twinkling of an eye, another month has already passed. The very last of the manuscript is due in December so you’ll not waste a prayer on me between now and then. I don’t get to write every week because I am on the road more often this time of year so each day I get to sit with my Bible open to 1st and 2nd Thessalonians is a gift. And a brain cracker at times.
You and I have plenty to do before next May, however! I so hope many of you are doing the Gideon Bible study this summer with us that our gifted sister, Priscilla Shirer wrote. It’s tremendously powerful. I saw one of you give her a shout-out today on Twitter with the hashtag #Siestaville at the end of it. It made me so happy. God has graced us with such anointed messengers at this hour in the Body of Christ, men and women alike. Hasn’t He? It has been my privilege to study under a number of them with you and to hear about many others from you. Our discipleship worlds are so much bigger when we’re willing to come together. Otherwise, we sit tight in all our own little corners and have no idea how many people God has gifted to serve the Body. We cheat ourselves when we separate ourselves.
OK, Sisters, are you ready to log in your 12th verses? I’m choosing mine from a sermon Curtis’s good friend, Jerrell Altic, brought in Curtis’s absence last Sunday at our church. His primary text was Mark 1 but he tied in a verse that really jumped out at me. I love the Book of Philemon and have taught out of it several times in the last two years but that’s the beauty of living words. A Scripture will suddenly pop off the page that had somehow been veiled from our recognition before. I’d been so taken with phrases like “yet for love’s sake” in verse 9 that I’d missed the treasure of V.6, and who couldn’t get distracted by a verse like the 15th? “For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever.” I bet some of you have a pretty slack-jawing testimony of that very concept under your own roof.
But when Jerrell referenced this verse, I knew it was my choice for our 12th round of SSMT. In fact, don’t tell but I jotted it immediately on the yellow notes app of my iPhone, took a screen shot and made it my screen saver right then. Sometimes a “now” word is like RIGHT NOW. Here it goes:
Beth, Houston. “I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.” Philemon 1:6 The NET Bible
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I want God to deepen my understanding of every blessing that belongs to me in Christ while I’m here plowing into some stubborn earthly soil with sweat sopping my forehead. Don’t you? I’m so thankful to be blessed but wouldn’t fleshing it out be a whole different prospect if we came to understand the depth and breadth of many of those blessings? To stand on them, act on them, pray from them, teach from them, love from them, and serve through them? Now we’re talking.
Colossians 2:2-3 gives a glimpse into the grandeur involved as the Apostle Paul prays “that their (and our) hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Look at that again: “the riches of full assurance of understanding.” We can’t soon wrap our minds around all that encompasses but we can instantly and actively start praying for God to deepen our understanding of the blessings that belongs to us in the One who embodies every divine and hidden treasure.
I’m making these prayers mine and I am looking for God to answer them. He wouldn’t dictate a prayer right there on the pages of the New Testament that He had no intention of responding to.
I love working through some verses and concepts with you, Sisters. You are so dear to me. Thank you for spending a little time around here and committing to something challenging in the midst of many priorities. I pray that every part of your life is invaded by the Word of God coursing through your brain. May God bring your harvest forth 100-fold.
It’s your turn, Sisters! Give me a hint about what Christ is doing in you right now through the selections of your verses. You are so loved.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Emma – Adelaide, South Australia
‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?’
Luke 12:25 NIV
Menomonee Falls, WI
The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days.
Deut 33:25 NIV
But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things You have done.
Psalm 73:28 NET
April Jackson – Pittsburgh, PA
Philemon v.15
Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-
Kim, Cincinnati
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
James 3:18 HGSB
Cindy, Brooklyn Park, MN
“Jeaus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”. (Matt 19:26 NIV)
Rhonda, Foley, AL. Psalm 51:10. NIV.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Molly Gainesville, GA
“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
I Thessalonians 2:7-8 NIV
Paula from Denver,CO
Psalm 19:14. NIV
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.
Dana, Pace, FL
I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.
2 Samuel 24:24 NIV
Psalms 118:17
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD
Gloria
Cleveland,OH
Behold how good & how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1 nKJ
Holly; Ramona, CA; “One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NASB)
Angie Marlow – Orlando, FL
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. Ps. 130:5 (NASB)
The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. Psalm 145:9 NLT
Sarah from Jay, OK
If you are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with You.” Exodus 33:13 (NIV)
Stephanie
KC, MO
Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I’ll wait for him.”
Whitney – Twin Falls, ID
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
STACY, CHAPIN, SC
BLESSED ARE THOSE POOR IN SPIRIT BECAUSE THEIRS IS THE
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. MAT 5:3 NIV
Dawn from Jasper, IN
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Isreal, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.'” Mark 12:29 NIV
Kelei. Iowa Park. Proverbs 25:24
“Better to live on the corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” NIV
Kristi, Charlotte, NC
“I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.”
Philemon 1:6 NET
Charlsie in Austin, TX
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do and he will bless you for it.
1 Peter 3:9 NLT
Charlotte, Easley SC “The LORD is good and right; He points sinners to the right way.” Psalm 25:8 NCV
Mei, Easley SC:
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Romans 4:13 NIV
Ryan – Moore, OK
Psalm 51:12 ESV
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you!
Lexington, KY
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. II Timothy 1:7 NIV
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1: 21, 22 KJV
Mandee from Gilbert, AZ
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV84
Jennifer
Story City, IA
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children – “.
— Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)
Sandy, Glendale OR Psalms 121:2 (KJV)
My help comes from the the LORD which made heaven and earth.
Mary Ellen ~ Trenton, GA ~ “The Spirit of The Lord will come upon you in power…and you will be changed into a different person.” 1 Samuel 10:6 NIV
“But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.” Psalm 73:28 (NET)
Rey from Charlotte, NC
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (NIV)
Lisa “behind once again” in WV
#11 “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)
#12 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible” Mark 10:27 (NKJV)
Janet, Lenoir, NC: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Kim
Amarillo, TX
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 NLT
Pat Tayes – Cookeville, TN
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Champaign, IL
Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
1 Peter 3:9
“I waited patiently for the Lord and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit out of the muddy clay and set my feet on a rock making my steps secure.”
Psalms 40:1-2 NIV
Ola, Woodbridge
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12
Sherry Youngblood Jay, OK
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9(NIV)
Pat W,Green Bank, WV
I’d rather be true to His holy name
Ephesians 1:11-12 – The Message
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.
Shelli, Karalee & Katelyn; Royse City, TX: But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17
Sarah, San Diego.
“Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.” Luke 1:45
“Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your hearts as long as you live.Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9
Lydia, Nampa, ID–
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NIV84)
Stephanie from Carmichael, CA
“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
Colossians 3:18 (NIV)