*This post is coming to you a few days early as our staff travels with Beth, which you will read more about below.
Hey, Everybody! It’s May! We are making progress, Girls! By now you are getting some verses down in your bones. I was thrilled two weekends ago when we had our clandestine Siesta picture after the end of our Albuquerque Living Proof Live and a bunch of them brought their spirals. Talk about teacher’s pets! Here they are:
OK! I’ve done a little video – a really, really short one this time – where I say my verses to you while I’m on a walk in our woods so this stands as my official entry for Verse 9! I’m doing memory work right now out of Ephesians Chapter Four and it is so powerful. As you’ll hear in this segment, God seems to have a tremendous partiality to the number ONE.
Y’all, I love doing this with you. I love an SSMT year. You are so dear to us. By the time you’re submitting your verses, I’ll be speaking in London at Hillsong Colour Conference. Our whole LPM staff is coming and many of our volunteers. Melissa is with me and will be heading up a short tour with our volunteers after the Hillsong conference ends, giving emphasis to several figures in Christianity who had tremendous influence on Spiritual formation. We are looking extremely forward to it. Her suitcase weighed 10 whole pounds more than mine strictly from books. Made me grin. The girl is a book nerd if you’ll ever meet one. We were so sad Amanda couldn’t come on this trip but she needed to be home with her very busy family this round. We miss her like nobody’s business. Would all of you please pray for us as we labor in this gorgeous field of harvest? Please ask Jesus to pour out His Holy Spirit lavishly upon us and to give us such hearts of love for every person we serve.  When I say, ask Jesus to pour out His Spirit, I mean like GUSHES. FLOODS, TIDAL WAVES of Living Water. Understand what I’m saying? PRAY BIG. Get in there with your faith if you’d be willing and ask God to be enormously present among us here. Ask for many to be saved, many to be delivered from strongholds, healed, and made whole in Jesus. Ask for multitudes to awaken to the breadth and length and height and depth of the borderless love of Jesus. Thank you! I owe you a debt of love which I gladly, joyfully pay.
Ok, Girls! Hit it with those verses!
Whitney Holder, Wilmington, NC. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (â€Ephesians‬ â€3‬:â€17‬ NLT)
Karen, Dripping Springs, TX:
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3, NIV
Mindy; Morgantown, IN
Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” -Titus 2:7-8 NIV
Isaiah 61:2New International Version (NIV)
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Isaiah 61:2 in all English translations
Donna Reaves -Burleson,Tx.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (â€Philippians‬ â€2‬:â€13‬ NLT)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Denise Smith, Wilmington, NC
1 John 5: 14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
The Lord is near to the broken hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
NRSV
“And He [Jesus] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”
Hebrews 1:3-4 (NASB)
Leslie, Durham NC (as a part in a larger section I’m working on) “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.” Ps 18:35 (ESV)
Veronica Lemon, Temple, TX:
And He (Jesus) is the radiance of His (God the Father’s) glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name then they.
Hebrews 1:3-4 (NASB)
Carol, Salem, OR
“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 147:10-11 NLT
Pam Houston Buena Park, CA
“My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly will I therefore rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 KJV
Julie Medway Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders – he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.
Psalm 55:22 The Message
Tammy Disch, Garland, TX. For those God for new He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 829
Kathi Griffin from Macon, GA:
“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
Brandi Hunter. Memphis, TN.
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 107:20 NASB
reanna, cypress, ca
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 Niv
Angela Brown, Rogers AR
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act! Ps 37-4-5
Mary Fadel
Cordova, MD
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
Susan W Simpsonville, KY
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
Crystal, West Hartford, CT
“But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
Laura Graves, Charleston, SC
Deuteronomy 28:1 ESV
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”
Nancy, Westfield, IN,
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Tina, Zalma, MO Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
Lori, Louisville, KY
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life
Phil 2:14-16
Luanne Neely, Marshall, TX: “For our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12, NIV
Suzanne Kragt
Eden Prairie, MN
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NIV
Mary Ellen in Laurel, MT
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,” Coll. 2:13 NIV
Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 94:19 (LB)
Allison Brown, Hickory, NC
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…
Col. 3:23 NIV
Psalm 9:10 NIV Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
But I tell you,: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:44
NIV
Amanda, Calgary, Alberta
‘Pray diligently. Stay alert with your eyes wide open in gratitude.’
Colossians 2:4 The Message
Joy, Altadena, CA
I look up at the vast size of the mountains – from where will my help come in this troubling time of change?
Psalm 121:1 MSG
Whoops – That was a version I personalized and wasn’t the Message at all. Let’s try again.
Joy, Altadena, CA
I look up at the vast size of the mountains- from where will my help come in times of trouble?
Psalm 121:1 The Voice
Jacqueline davidson Sarnia Ontario
About Benjamin he said:
” Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for he shields Him all day long and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”….. Deuteronomy 33:12
Fran, Gainesville FL
The true light that gives light to everyman was coming into the world.
John 1: 9
Annette Harper, Richmond, TX Romans 13-9-10, NET
For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Sherri Huff, Mechanicsville, VA
“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
Brenda McGurk, Medina,Ohio
And the peace of God, Which transcends all
Understanding will guard your hearts and minds
In Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
Susan Tucson, Az
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone”.
Romans 12:18 NLT
Heather, Colorado Springs, Co He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever. Ps. 103:9 NIV
(Reedley, CA)
Col 3:13 (MSG) Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
How I need this!
Beverly, Lexington, KYM
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor,5:7 NIV
Becca, Monterey CA.
“may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,” ~ Ephesians 3:18 ESV
Karen Stark
Tallahassee, FL
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13 ESV
Sarah Miller, Melbourne, FL
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” 1 Chronicles‬ â€16‬:â€11-12‬, NIV
Debbie Weaver, Cumming, GA.
“Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded. Grieve mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NIV
Christine of Media, PA Colossians 3:2(esv) Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.