My Border Collie, Queen Esther, is just about as handy as a GPS if she’s been to the destination at least once. The closer we get to where we’re going, the more hyper she becomes. The backseat of my car may as well be a treadmill. In fact, if I’m on the phone, I usually have to hang up because the person on the other line becomes too distracted to talk.
What is that?
My dog. Sorry. She’s a little over excited.
Is she hurt?
No. She’s happy.
What does she want?
Out!
She jumps from window to window and commences – not to bark exactly – but to yelp. I constantly insist to Keith that I have the gift of interpretation for the tongue Queen Esther speaks and, when we’re coming up on our destination, I am absolutely sure of what she’s saying: Let me out of this car so I can run the rest of the way!
Right about now, you’re the Queen – the real kind and not the canine variety – and it’s the perfect time to start your happiest yelping. You can see from the view out of your window that we are almost to our destination and, after a whole lot of hard work, I hope everything in you is hyping up and hollering, Let me out so I can run the rest of the way!
Good grief, you’ve been fantastic. I cannot recall ever having a higher percentage finish out the year. I’d have to check past years to confirm that but I don’t remember ever having a more active group from start to finish. I wish you were sitting right here with me in my chilly den in front of this fire and we could talk face to face instead of line to line.
Our heater is out and it is just about as cold in Houston as it gets most winters. We’ve already had the repairman out for hours but he’s been unable to fix it and advised us to call our builder. He thinks it’s a malfunction in the unit. You have to write an email request to the builder for a repair and we haven’t heard back from them yet so it could be a frosty few days. I just worked out on my elliptical with a jacket on if that tells you anything. I don’t mind so much though, as long as it’s fixed pretty soon. It’s gorgeous outside and I love sitting by a fire anyway. The part I don’t like is that Jackson and Annabeth’s room at my house is like ice and they really can’t even play in it right now when they come over. No worries, though. I expect it to be repaired surely by the first few days of this week.
If you were here, I’d also serve you up some cinnamon rolls in about an hour. I made homemade rolls for our Thanksgiving feast and I almost always roll out cinnamon rolls with the leftover dough several days later. They’re rising right now under some lights in the only warm end of my house.
Some of you are observant enough to ask me if I pulled two of them off the one pan and ate them raw because of those 2 circles of flour. No, I didn’t – though I was tempted – but I did peel them off and put them on the second cookie sheet because the 3 rolls that wouldn’t fit on the first pan looked so lonely over there. My cold house is going to smell like heaven in a little while. Sometimes I make a thick butter icing but, really, I prefer a thinner glaze made of powdered sugar, vanilla and a tiny bit of half and half. Too much icing takes away from the homemade flavor of the rolls in my opinion.
The inevitable question I get at a time like this is, “Do you always eat like that?”
Lord have mercy, no. But, Girlfriend, it’s a holiday.
I could make you hot tea or coffee to go with yours, depending upon your preference, and we’d chat a while and then we’d trade our 23rd verses.
My selection came up in my devotional this morning and catapulted me into prayer. I’m actually memorizing the 2nd chapter of Colossians right now but sometimes the section I’m working on next is too awkward out of context to post as an SSMT verse. For instance, if Colossians 2:21 were next, imagine this as my SSMT selection: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” See? Awkward. So, if I’m in the middle of a long portion, I usually go off road for SSMT and select a verse that is more user friendly so that women who are drawing a blank on their choices can go with me on mine if they wish. Here goes:
Beth, Houston. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 ESV
The second half of it drew me into intercession. It does not say that the reason the Son of God appeared was to deny the works of the devil. It does not say that the Son of God appeared to downplay the works of the devil. It does not say that the Son of God appeared to decrease the works of the devil. It says He appeared to DESTROY the works of the devil.
So I started pinpointing some areas around my life and the lives of my family members and loved ones where the enemy is rearing up his ugly head. And with great joy and a sense of victory in my chest, I thanked Jesus for coming to destroy his works and asked Him to demonstrate that destruction right before our eyes in those areas. We know that “the ancient serpent, who is the devil” will not be completely bound until the Kingdom of the living Christ comes in its fullness and His throne is established right here on earth. At that time, the prayer we’ve prayed more than any other will finally be fulfilled: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
But, until then, we are meant to experience stunning victories where we see living, breathing evidences that the enemy has been overcome. We’re meant to give the devil a taste of what he will experience in the Kingdom when he is bound for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2)
Let’s not let him off the hook. Let’s remind our enemy every single day that he is not only defeated. His works are destroyed in Jesus’ great Name.
You, my dear sister, are a great privilege to serve. Walk strong with your God, young lady. Ask for a fiery faith to believe Him and for eyes to see His works manifested right here on this ailing planet. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Let’s toast to that.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 NIV (1984)
Lisa S, Plano TX
12.01.2013
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Kelei Liggett. Iowa Park, Tx. NIV EPH 3:20
NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS PIWER THAT IS AT WORKVWITHIN US…
Mickey, Blue Springs, MO
He has shown you, O mortal, 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.
(play fair, be kind, consult God)
Micah 6:8 NIV
A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me your ways, Lord,teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.
Georgine
Austin, Texas
Angie M – Macon, MS
No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29, HCSB
krystal ward
teague, tx
brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
Kathy French, Austin,
“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 104:33 NIV
Emily Byrd; Baton Rouge, LA
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (NASB)
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Mary
Woodway, Texas
“Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again-rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 NLT
Lisa, Wichita KS
Eph 2:14-15 NIV (for #23 & 24)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations . His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two thus making peace.
Joan, Redkey, IN
What time I am afraid; I will trust in Thee.
Psalm 56:3 (KJV)
Kami, Dallas, TX: “They (the righteous) have non fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” Ps. 112:7 NIV
Nancy, Redkey, IN
But Godliness with contentment is great gain.
I Timothy 6:6 (NIV)
Monica Pribe, Blacklick, Ohio. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper to be with you forever” John 14:15-16. ESV
Karina A.
Baton Rouge, La.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”
Psalm 23:5
NASB
Angela, Greenville Oh
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to town and said to the people, come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he be the Christ. John 4: 28-29 NIV
Carolyn R.
Houston, TX
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
Mandy
Waco, TX
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:25 NIV
“The heavens declare the glory of the Lord and the firmament shows forth his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 KJV Martha – Van Buren, Arkansas
Melissa J from Houston
Luke 2:14 (NIV)
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Ann, Cataula, GA
Ephesians 5:10 (NIV)
Find out what pleases the Lord.
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV84)
Anna, Little Elm, TX
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:8 (KJV)
Stacy, Greenfield, Indiana
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards our vineyards that are in bloom.
Song of Songs 2:15 NIV
Emilie Eaton, IN
Romans 5:8 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Trisha, Midland, TX
Matthew 5:38-42
You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Julene, Cowiche, WA
May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Lindsay, Albuquerque, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” 1 Peter 5:6 ESV
Kelsie, Albuquerque, “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” John 14:8 NIV
Alysa, Albuquerque, “The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.” Psalm 19:1 NIrV
Hannah, Baton Rouge, LA
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation, if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:6 NIV
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:9-11
Melissa Eaton
Anna, Tx
ESV Psalm 4:1
“Answer me when I call, O God my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress.”
Revelation 22:13 NIV
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Emily, Derby, KS
Ashley, Kingwood, ” You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-8 NET
I’ve been watching for the first SSMT post for 2014 cause I’m ready to jump on board, and this will be my first year, but I haven’t seen it? Just making sure I’m not missing something in my newbie ignorance. 😀 When do we begin?
Hi Daina, we only do SSMT every other year, so 2014 is our off year. But God-willing we’ll jump back in again 2015. BUT, don’t let that discourage you or keep you from memorizing this year! Find a group of girls to be accountable with and have at it, Sister.
Prov 18:19 HCSB “An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.”
Amy, Bowling Green, Kentucky
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Rhonda Jackson of Godfrey, Illinois – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. – Psalm 23:5 KJV
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV