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
Jennifer, Cullman, AL
“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.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Desiree, Calgary, Alberta
One generation shall praise Thy works to another,
And shall declare Thy mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4 NASB
Kim; Poplar Bluff, MO. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” Psalm 145:17 (NIV)
Melinda
Wichita, KS
Psalm 13:5-6
But I trust in your unfailing love;
My heart rejoices in your salvation;
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.
Thank you for this verse!
Melanie Miller, Nampa, ID
Lamentations 3:24 NIV
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Vickie; Poplar Bluff, MO. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)
Kelly, Auburn, Al. – He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart, he gently leads those that have young. Psalm 32:8
Ellen Kitt, MA
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)
Joni, Clarinda
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. 1 Cor. 6:12-13
Bette,
Danville,PA The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 KJV
Karen, Norfolk, VA: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 (NIV)
Shelley, Fort Walton Beach, FL
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
Holly Barrett, Spruce Pine NC (formerly Charlotte, and then Colorado Springs!)
” When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Phyllis, Irvine, ‘In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV
Vicki ~ Smithwick/Marble Falls, TX
“Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 ESV
Cindy~ Tulsa ~Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Col. 3:15 NIV
Lindsey Buchanan, St. Augustine, FL
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him alone.” Psalm 62:1 NIV
Kandi from Tallahassee, Florida
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:5
Ashley, Fort Worth, TX
For to 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.
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Malachi 3:10-11 ESV
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.
Melissa,Greensburg, KY. – “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” – I Samuel 2:2, KJV
Amy from Shorewood IL
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)
“There is one body and one Spirit -just as you were called to one hope when you were called.” Eph 4:4
Sue, Texarkana, TX 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” NIV
Rene’, Cape Girardeau, MO
Be joyful always; Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Emily
Platte City, MO
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)
Toni, Argyle, TX
In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. Ephesians 1:8b-10, NASB
Mary, Lexington Park, MD
By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you,and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
Ephesians 1:18-19 AMP
Brenda, Greenville sc
Ps 139:15 NIV
My frame was to hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. when I was wove together in the depths of the earth.
Susan B., Chapin, SC
John 1:18 NLT
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Brenda, Greenville SC
Ps. 139:16 NIV
Your eyes saw my unformed body. Al the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Brenda, Greenville SC
Ps. 139:17 NIV
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them.
Carolyn, St Catharine’s, ON
Then he said to me, prophecy to the breath; prophecy son of man, and say to it, this is what the Soverign Lord says: Come breathe, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live. Ezekiel 37:9 (NIV)
Could you please tell me what the Scripture memory team is and how does one participate?
Debbie
Georgetown Tx
Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. (Romans 12:12 HCSB)
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.
Connie, Chariton, James 2:19 NKJV You believe that there is on God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! James 2:19
Misty Sanders, North Charleston, SC
“Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor His mercy from me!”
Psalm 66:20 NKJV
Conyers, GA
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.
Laura, Houston:
Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV)
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”
Ashley Sullens
Kings Mountain, NC
Matthew 10:26 (NASB)
Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
GJ
Hawkinsville, GA
I Peter 3:8 (ESV)
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Diane Largo, Fl
Psalm 18:1-3 NKJV
I will love You, O Lord, my Strength.
The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress and my Deliverer;
my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust,
my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.
Leslie Young
Wisner, La.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope.”
Psalm 130:5 ESV
Redfield, AR
[17] Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 (KJV)
Susan Miles, Jonesboro, Arkansas
1 John 3:19-20, esv
By this we shall know that we are of the Truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.
Wendy
Vero Beach
“I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,”
Proverbs 8:20 (NIV)
Kim B from Idabel, OK – “Finally brothers, 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 these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Kelly from Denver…
However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Philippians 3:16
NASB
Karen Beech Island, SC
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His Shoulders. And HIs name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV