*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!
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:3-4 NIV
Philippians 3:13 NLT
I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing;
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ is calling us.
Gale, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2Thessalonians 2:3 (NIV)
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love
Karen Riekeman
Coffeyville, KS
Romans 8:34 (ESV)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that who is raised – who is at the right hand of God, who is indeed interceding for us.
Linda Proffitt, Louisville, KY
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 ESV)
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Amy, Murfreesboro, TN
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Corinthians 4:8, NIV
Crista, Forest, VA
“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
In the midst of a trial do not be discouraged by what you see but cling to His promise.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Eileen, Lancaster, PA
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Tim 1:7 (NIV)
Kimberly Barrett, Camden, Arkansas
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15, NIV
Megan S.–Kansas City, KS
Ephesians 3:16 NIV
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Katie Mitchell Louisville, KY
“How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”
Psalm 31:19 NLT
Jodi
Thibodaux, La
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV)
Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you’ll receive them, and you shall have them.
Mark 11:24
Kelly, Starr,SC
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)
Proverbs 23:4 “Do not wear yourself out to becone rich, be wise enough to restrain yourself.” NET
Vicki Graham, Corinth, TX
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 ESV)
Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgement, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Job37:23 KJV
Lynda Martin – Jacksonville, AR
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.” Psalm 29:2
Allison Rains… Benton, LA
“Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, obey His commands, hold fast to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” ~Joshua 22:5~
Valerie Chamberlain, Austin, Texas “God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up. God brings poverty and God brings wealth; he lowers, he also lifts up. He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, Restoring dignity and respect to their lives- a place in the sun!” 1 Samuel 2:6-8a MSG
Jodee Walker, Mountain View, WY (still working on a series of verses) “It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful.” 1 Corinthians 13:5
Ingrid, Omemee, Ontario, Canada
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Phil. 2:13
Shelly Higgins, Pikeville, Tn.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)
18 Remember ye not the former things,
neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing;
now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35 NIV)
Karen, Clarksville, “You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5 HCSB
Mary Wood, Fort Worth, TX
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Linda, Bartelso, IL. “May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height” Ephesians 3:18 NKJV
Agnes Romer
Tulsa, Oklahoma
For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV)
Lisa Pauls
Lake Jackson, TX
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 3:16 NIV
melody, Florence, KY – Romans 15:13 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. NIV
so I went down to the potters House in there I saw him working at the wheel. Jer.18:3 KJV
Allison Ashton – Houston, Texas
“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble thy wilt revive me, though shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerth me: thy mercy, O Lord endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:6-8 (KJV)
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:30-32
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, Ephesians 1:18 NIV
Kassi Rushing, Ridgeland, MS – Isaiah 43:18 NIV
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Sandy Costello, Oak Grove, LA
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19, KJV
Robbyn Hanstad, Frisco, Texas
1 Cor. 15:58 (NIV) “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Vanessa from Calgary, AB
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul and live. Deuteronomy 30:6
Pam Jackson, Blue Springs, MO. “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth” Ephesians 3:18 ESV
Bethany Mowat, Evart, Michigan From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 KJV
Sara Middleton, Kingsville, TX “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)
Tara. Rockwall Texas
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lotd is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.
Psalm 27:1
Alice H, Dallas, TX: “Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NKJV
Lisa Cummings, Joaquin, TX
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:14 KJV
Wanda
North Canton, Ohio
And do not
forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Jennifer, Fort Worth
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” 1 Cor. 13:4 (NKJV)