*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!
Gloria, cypress, TX – ” I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4 NIV
Rachel
Little Rock, AR
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thess 5:16-18
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
Kristetta, Pineville, LA Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 NIV
Emily Emberson Wichita ks
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:28 niv
Valerie Mathura in Newnan, Georgia
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, (Psalm 150:3).
Amy from Everett, WA
Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]…
Philippians 3:8 (AMP)
Lucinda Culver, Wichita, KS
“But the humble will inherit the land,
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”
Ps. 37:11. NASB
Susan Clements, Seale, AL
” Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Kathy V, Norwalk IA
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV)
Lyn, Tulsa, Ok
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV)
Lisa Walton, Port Saint Lucie,Fl
” and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaish 61:3 NIV
Jean Crawford – Boring, OR
Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. Isaiah 61:7/NIV
Vicki M. Greeley, CO
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Mary Fanara – Independence, MO
For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. – Galatians 1:10 HCSB
Francine, Burnet, TX
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Psalm 16:8 ” I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (NIV)
Anna Elkhart IN
God does not give you a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind
2nd Timothy 1:17
Psalm 16:8 (NIV) “I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Kerry from Houston, TX
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 NASB
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-5 NIV
Revelation 21:7 NIV
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Sonya Ryder, Baton Rouge, LA — “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Karen from Powell, Ohio
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Leah, Raleigh, NC – “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But those whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” -Matthew 10:32-33 NIV
Michelle, Alberta, Canada
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
– Isaiah 32:17 NIV
Jill Smith, Eugene, OR
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him and He will do it. Ps 37:3-5
Leah, Raleigh, NC – “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” -Matthew 10:39 NIV
Apryl, Raliegh, NC- “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Beth
Broadview Hts, OH
Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV)
18 …may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Leah, Raleigh, NC:
“And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” -Luke 12:38 NKJV
Ramona Gellick
Medina, Ohio
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Muriel in Ontario Eph. 3:17b,18,19a (NIV)
And I pray that you. . . may have power. . . to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14 (NIV)
Nicole S, Oviedo FL, Psalm 143:8 NIV, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you i entrust my life.”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding
in all your ways acknowledge him
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-5 NIV
Angela, Cullman, AL
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)
Sarah Kukshtel, Warner Robins, GA
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Lindsay, Cumberland Furnace, TN
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)
Debra Morel, Houston, Texas
9. “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” – Isaiah 46: 9-10 (NIV)
Alesha
Charlotte, NC
“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”
Psalm 103:8 NKJV
Kokomo,Indiana
Jeremiah 31: 25
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
Penny
Mansfield, OH
So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? Luke 6:46 NLT
Carrie. Atlanta, GA. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NIV
Kristi – Clovis, CA
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11
Laura Han Tyler,TX “Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:4 ESV
The Lords Light penetrates the human spirit exposing every hidden motive.
Proverbs 20.27
Becky, Roswell, GA
“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”
Philippians 3:3, ESV
Allison Crook
Albuquerque, NM
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me— The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.”
Isaiah 30:15 (MSG)
liz gladstone oregon
Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.