I cannot believe my eyes! Verse 17! And you, my dear sisters, have outdone yourselves. You are still numbering 2000+ this far into the year so it looks like our hard-working team is going to finish 2013 STRONG. I pray that even today you would feel a great rush of God’s sublime pleasure over you.
You’ll notice by the date on this post that I published it late Saturday night. Our handsome nephew is spending the night with us and he’s sleeping in the area of our house where we get the best internet connection. I thought maybe he might be a bit more blessed if I did not wake him up first thing Sunday morning and need in his room with my laptop.
My selection this time around comes from my morning devotional yesterday. I have loved this verse for so long and, this many years from the first time I saw it, the tears still burned in my eyes over the beauty of it.
Few things strike awe in our wondering, wandering hearts like waking up all the sudden to a fresh revelation that God is right there in that place. And has been all along.
To shake up the look of our SSMT post this time around, I believe I’ll share my verse with you in pictures. This should be an extremely familiar sight to you at this point:
In case you need to see the verse a little closer up:
I love to look up a verse in a number of different translations. I was touched by each one I found for Genesis 28:16 and I’m memorizing it out of the NET. But I was completely captivated by how The Message worded what Jacob whispered. Isn’t it beautiful?
Incredible. Wonderful. Holy.
God, we love You. We long for You. We want to see you revealed and perhaps most of all in the places we least expect to find You. Awaken us to Your Presence. Hear the song of our souls even when our lives betray it.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.*
OK, Sisters, I’ve shared my verse with you. Now you share your verses with me!
*Lyrics from the great hymn, Crown Him with Many Crowns
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)
Amy Hawk, Hood River, OR:
“The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy… and you will be changed into a different person.” 1 Samuel 10.6, NIV
Betty, Austin, Texas Psalm 25:17, NIV
The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
Kathy, Shattuck, OK
Psalm 139:16 (NIV)”your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Alyssa Mochen
Rio Rancho, MM
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT
Tara, Greensboro, NC
The Lord is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!
Deuteronomy 31:8
NET
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
God “appointed” me before I was born in the sense that he has a plan and purpose for me.
Sometimes I believe this divine plan cannot be resisted. As in Romans 9:18, God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. By this view, I have no choice. I can’t help but do what God intended for my life.
Other times, I have thought that although God has a specific purpose for me, he also gave me the freedom to either accept or reject his purposes. As in Romans 10:13, Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
The debate in my mind will undoubtedly continue. Just like Jeremiah, though I have tried to back out of what God has wanted me to do since birth, and Lord have I put up a fight, I couldn’t back down now if I tried!
Jeremiah 20:9
If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in…indeed, I cannot!
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Halelujah! Be blessed sweet soul sisters!
Julie, Texarkana- “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5 ESV)
Cheryl Barker, Coffeyville, KS
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 NIV84
Jan, Rockwall, TX
The fool says in his heart, “There is no GOD.”
Psalm 14:1. NIV
Megan from Potlatch, Idaho says: When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16 (NIV)
Rebecca Alburn
Salem, OR
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5 NIV
Lacy, Eugene, OR “Then Jacob woke up and thought, ‘surely the LORD is in this place, but I did not realize it!” Genesis 28:16 The NET Bible
Marie from Post Falls, Idaho –
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
– Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)
Sarah, Christina and Esther May: Wenatchee, WA
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
James 3:17 NIV
Patty, Granite Bay, CA “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1 NIV
Stephanie, Irvine, CA
“Create in me a pure heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10, NIV)
Tshaka; Belgium
I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart.
Psalm 40:8 NLT
Courtney, Chicora. “Then Jacob woke up and thought, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, but I did not realize it!” Genesis 28:16 The Net Bible
Holly Burlington,IA Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15 NIV)
Leslie, Central Asia
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11, ESV
Laura, Houston:
Psalm 89:15 KJV
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
Coral in Jacksonville, Florida
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.
Paula, o’Fallon. In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. Ephesians 2:22 RcV
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Ps 32:10. NKJV
Ashley from Durban, South Africa
“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God, is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16 ESV
Barb, Medina, Ohio
So that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of
Jesus Christ
1 Pet 1:7 ESV
So glad to get this blog entry just in the nick of time! Just minutes away from flying and would have missed this whole day.
Psalm 40:1-3, New Century Version
I waited patiently for the Lord.
He turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the sticky mud.
He stood me on a rock
and made my feet steady.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many people will see this and worship him.
Then they will trust the Lord.
Jackie UK
Genesis 28 verse 16 The Message
Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said ‘”God is in this place -truly and I didn’t even know it!”
He was terrified. He whispered in awe, “Incredible. Wonderful. Holy!”
“This is God’s House. This is the Gate of Heaven.”
Sharon, St. Louis Jeremiah 17:7 (NET) My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me
Elaine ~ Powder Springs ~ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17 ESV
Lyn Steriti
Littleton NH
For He who believes in Me, as the scripture said from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38 NASB
Donna, Odessa, FL
Ephesians 4:1,2
Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.
Linda
Ney from Gahanna, Ohio
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast
is the sum of them.
Psalm 139:17 NIV
Richelle, Kingston, TN
Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! Psalm 31:16 (ESV)
Deb in Windsor, CT:
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” – Psalm 54:4, NIV
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
(Therefore we also,) since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
Marlyn, Amarillo, TX:”Submit therefore to God,. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:7-8a ESV
“On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3, NASB).
Peggy, Corpus Christi, TX
Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB)
Keri Lee Robbins, Las Vegas, NV
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:13-17 NKJV)
Psalm 51:6 ESV
Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Sarah Miller, New Palestine, IN
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin –
Romans 6:6 NIV
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Kay Martin
Tupelo, MS
Kim from Mansfield. Psalm 116:1,2 NLT I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!
Elaine, Littleton, CO
Deuteronomy 30:19,20 (NIV)
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Wendy, Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NASB
Katie Brown
Greenfield, IN
Romans 6:23NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Debbie Nicholson
Gulfport, MS
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV