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
Tina, Columbus Ohio
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV
Indianapolis, Indiana
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NIV)
Alyssa Mochen
Rio Rancho, NM
So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that burns things up. Hebrews 12:28-29 NCV
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” ~Colossians 2:7 NLT
Sarah, Christina and Esther May: Wenatchee, WA
“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?”
James 4:5 NIV
Michelle Baylerian, Waukesha, Wi
I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Psalm 143:6 NLT
Sue ~ Hartland
II Corinthians3:18 NASB
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
“Above all my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” no, or you will be condemned. James 5:12(NIV)
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Tx
Isaiah 54:17 NASB
“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
Let the word of Christ dwell richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God.
Col. 3:16 NASB
Paula, O’Fallon. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, Ephesians 3:14 RcV
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Habakkuk 3:2/NIV
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Tammy Mielke
Apple Valley, MN
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Sherry
Indianapolis
Isaiah 9:6, (NIV)
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on HIS shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Marilyn, Amatillo, TX:”I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope”. Psalm 130:5 ESV
Melissa
Delta, CO
“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 NIV
Jeri of Missouri City, TX
2 Timothy 1:12
New King James Version (NKJV)
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Tiffany, Summerville, SC “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11 NIV
Rhonda
Gilmer
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. (Philemon 1:24 NKJV)
(memorizing the book – which is why this one seems a little odd 🙂 )
Angie
Albertville AL
But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, “They hated Me without a cause.” John 15:25 NASB
P.S. I know what you mean about awkward. Memorizing John 15 🙂
Beth from Niamey
NIV
Romans 8:4
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Vicki, Grapevine, TX
Rejoice always ~ I Thessalonians 5:16 NIV
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11 NLT
Beth, Toronto: “When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a saviour and defender, and he will rescue them.” Isaiah 19:20 NIV
Janet Jarmula Ronkonkoma, NY
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on to the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19 NIV
Melissa Emma, Scarborough, ME: “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT
Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4-16 NIV
Psalm 86:15 NLT, “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Dawn, Raleigh, NC
You are blessed when you are content with just who you are- no more, no less.
Matt 5-5 MSG
No, O people, The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8. NLT
Lori in Pine Island, MN
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:10 NIV84
Cassia from Spring, TX: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:10 NIV
Suzanne Bailey, Harrisville
I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits,
and in His Word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5 NIV
Hannah, Perry, MI
“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.”
Isaiah 11:1, NLT
Karen, Dover, NH “Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Isreal.” Joshua 24:23 (NIV)
Shiffra Vicksburg, MI
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:1
Durant, OK
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 NIV
Psalm 138:8a NASB
The Lord will accomplish what concerns me
Colette, Mesa, AZ.
“Let ALL the earth fear The Lord;
let ALL the people of the world revere Him.”
Psalm 33:8 NIV
Elizabeth Meagher Mechanicsville, VA
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10, NIV
Sandy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Proverbs 28:26 NIV
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Barb, Medina
He has showed 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 6:9 NIV
Ganise, Canada : Hosea 10:12 (NIV) ” It is time to seek the Lord”
Sheila, Bethesda, MD. As a father has compassion on his children, so The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:13-14 (NIV84)
Amanda Porter.
Lubbock, Texas.
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NLT).
Tracey from Shawnee, Kansas
Luke 1:68-69 (NET)
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.
Gay
Round Rock, Tx
“He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome works your eyes have seen.”
Deuteronomy 10:21 HCSB
Terri Frasure from South Lebanon, Ohio
“Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for although the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16-17
(HCSB)
Ohio
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
1 John 2:17 NIV
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.