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
Jackie Pope, Covington, IN, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” James 3:18 NKJV
Jackie Pope – Correction – James 3:17 not 3:18. Sorry!
Cherie – Pocatello, ID “Oh that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence…From ages past no one has heard, no ear perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait on him.” (Isaiah 64:1,4 NRSV)
Suzy Myers
Bay Springs, MS
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 KJV
Jen, Houston
“The One one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)
Vicki Knott, Greenwood, SC
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2: 6-7 (NIV)
Trinna, Covington, LA, “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6b NIV84
Bethany, Spring, TX
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their 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…”
Colossians 2:1-2, ESV
Salt Lake City, UT – Revelation 1:16
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
Brandi K, Cape Girardeau MO
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Colossians 3:2 NIV
“He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19 NIV
Linda,
Fort Collins, CO
Hilary from Langley, Canada, (posted from Romania), says:
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies,
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this? John 11:25-26 (NIV84)
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41&42 ESV
Niki Carroll; Shelby, NC: “‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.'” Luke 1: 25 (NIV)
Becky, Oklahoma City
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.
I John 3:8 ESV
Paula, OKC, OK: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:9&10 NIV
Mariposa Sivage, Albuquerque New Mexico
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. John 15:7 NIV
Suzanne, Birmingham: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
Cindy
Flemingsburg, KY
O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
Jeremiah 32:17
Brenda, Collinston, La.
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17 NLT
Susan, Houston, I have already posted 32 verses, so I’m spending the month of December reviewing.
Blair from Harrisburg, NC
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Kathleen, Austin
Proverbs 11:2 NIV
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Patrice, Elm Grove, WI
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:6 NKJV
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
****Thank you so much for the yummy pecan pie. It was enjoyed by all….especially me!
Sarah Sykes, Arkadelphia, AR
Psalms 130:5 NIV
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Neeley from Auburn, AL
Philippians 2:10- NIV
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”
Leah, KCMO
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop has failed and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls , yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in The Lord “. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)NIV
Chelsey from Amarillo, TX
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Margie Rodriguez,
San Angelo, Texas
Ephesians 6:4
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Ronda from Tennessee:
“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
Dina Garcia, Anaheim, CA
“You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.” Psalm 16:11 GNT
De Anna
Greenville SC
John 1:16 NIV
16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Praise His name!! Grace and more GRACE!!!
Cindy, Biloxi, MS:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a child is given; and the government will be on his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Lisa S. in Montgomery, TX
Psalms 34:4 NIV
I sought The Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Lori D., Georgetown, TX
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. 2 Sam. 22:31 (NIV)
Amanda from Platte City
October:
1 Peter 1:15 (NIV)
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do
November:
Though you have not seen him, you love him.
1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
John 14:18 (NIV)
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
December:
Psalm 68:5 (NIV)
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Ronda, Tulsa OK: “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 NIV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy road and thy staff they comfort me.” Ps 23:4 KJV
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT
Beth,Troy
“The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11(NLT)
Judy Heindl, Cottageville WV
Psalm 106:1 KJV “Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD< for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Brenda, Jordan, MN “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
Marie from Post Falls, Idaho –
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
– Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)
Karen H., Stephenville, TX
Romans 12:20 (NASB)
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him,
and if he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
1 Chron 29:11
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Judy says: “But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.” James 5:12 NLT
Lori, Flower Mound, TX
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV