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)Â
Let’s toast to that.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Vicki, Lubbock, TX
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph. 6:13 NIV
Leigh, Woodway, TX
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)
Barb of Crown Point, IN
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Julie, Hawaii
My God shall supply all your need accordrng to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 4:19
Donna from Bartlett
Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.
Andrea, from Spring Branch, Texas
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
Melina
OKC, OK
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
—2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NKJV
Kathy, Danvers
Psalm 13:5-6 NIV
But I trust in Your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in Your salvation.
I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for He has been good to me.
Fran, Eden Prairie, MN
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT
Susan, Tallahassee, Fla.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Tajuana ~ Texas
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold
of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
Beth, Story City, IA
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
2 Peter 1:2, NKJ
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people.” Luke 2:10 NKJV
Emily Mechanicsville, VA
Cynthia, Missouri
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. Phillipians 1:22 ESV
Jamie, Crossett:
“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 NIV
Crystal from Phoenix
Isaiah 9:7 NIV
Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Andrea, Louisville
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.”
Psalms 134:2
Marcia, Portland OR – 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
Thank you Beth.
Cindy,
Brooklyn, NYC
I will say, ‘My dear children of Israel, keep in mind the road you took when you were carried off. Mark off in your minds the landmarks. Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back. Return, my dear children of Israel. Return to these cities of yours. ” Jeremiah 31:21 NET
Sandy, Deming, NM
I am the Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and the end. Rev 22:13 ESV
Hilary, Columbus, GA
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Connie, Mountain House, CA- But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord ’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103:17-18 (NIV)
Jane,
Cuba, Missouri
I John 3:8 NIV
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Sherilyn, Warsaw, IN
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)
Pam in Texas
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he
will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Dana Nance
Blue Ridge, TX
He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
Deuteronomy 10:21 NIV
Katie, Amarillo. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Jane Williams, Van Buren, AR
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Zechariah 8:23b (NAS)
Jude 24 TNIV
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorius presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore, Amen.
Psalm 40:8
I desire to do your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart.
Rita Brown
Midland, TX
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders You have done,
the things You planned for us.
None can compare with You;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5 NIV
Julie. Hanford, ca. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder . Write them deep within your heart . Proverbs 3:3 NLT
Sheryl Blake, Niles, MI
“God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them.” Romans 11:29 NCV
Ally, Houston, TX.
Psalm 100:1-2 – “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” ESV
Karessa, Peoria, IL: “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12 NIV
Sue M in Grand Rapids, Mi
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 ESV
Sara P. Middleburg, FL.
Proverbs 19:13-NLT
A foolish child is calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.
Kirby from Parsons, KS
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV
Natalie from Frisco, TX
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV
Linda Gammon, Blue Springs, MO
2 Thessalonians 3:4 ESV
4. And we have confidence in the Lord about you,
that you are doing and will do the things that we command.
Donna D, Sarnia, Ontario
“Send forth Your light and Your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to the place where You dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my joy and my delight.
I will praise You with the harp,
O God, my God.”
Psalm 43:3-4
Michelle W
Boynton Beach, FL
Thus says the Lord:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV
Kelly Snodgrass
Rogersville, TN
Phillipians 2:14 NET
Do everything without grumbling or arguing
Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure
1 John, 3:3
Anita, Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance,”
Romans 5: 3 ESV
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts. ESV
Stacie
Livonia, MI
John 12:24 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you,
“unless a grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies,
it remains alone;
but if it dies,
it produces much grain”.
Sheila, Beckley, WV How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Psalm 133:1
Psalm 51:12 ESV
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.