*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!
Heather Evans, Bryan, TX.
“Even youths grow tired and weary; and young men stumble and fall;”
Isaiah 40:30(NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
Amy, Milford, NH
Ps 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Sally Reed, Bellaire, Texas. 2 Corinthians 12:9. NIV. But he said to me, âMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.â Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christâs power may rest on me.
Debbie Turner Chavers, Murfreesboro,TN
They shall not labour in vain,nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:23,24 KJV
Erica, Lancaster, PA
John 15:8 NIV
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
TJ Williams, Clinton, OK
Do all things without grumbling or disputing.
Philippians 2:14 (ESV)
Fort Wayne, IN
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23,24 (ESV)
Claudia, Franklin, TN. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” Psalm 100:4 (Be thankful and say so!)
Susan Sarver, St. George, UT
“The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 HCSB
Kristy Holland, Shelby, NC
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does” James 1:23-25 NIV
Susan Atkinson, Arkadelphia, AR
In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. Ps. 25:1 NIV
Kristi Brushton, NY Consider it all joy, my (sister), when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, James 1: 2-3 NASB
Sue, Kalamazoo, MI
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5 (NLT)
Amy, Milford, NH
I want to CHANGE mine to
Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
From Tishomingo, OK
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
WendyC – Cheyenne, WY.
By yourself youâre unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isnât easily snapped.Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG)
Berni, Albuquerque
“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your
works and consider what your hands have done.” Selah
Psalm 143:5 NIV
Pineville, LA
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Sarah Stephenson, Auburn, AL; “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do.” Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV
Anita Pattison
Kendallville, IN
“For I hold you by your right hand- I, the Lord your God. And I say to ou, don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
Isaiah 41:13- NLT
Sally Morton, Canon City, CO
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10 (NIV)
Susan Chung, Long Island, NY
Philippians 2:14-16 NIV
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life….
Phoenix, AZ. Colossians 3:2-3. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. NIV.
Andrea*B Jefferson City, MO
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” NIV
Debbie, Decatur Il Psalm 37:23-24 NIV
The LORDskes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
Alesha Culp, Creswell, OR
But he said to me, âMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.â 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
Jamie Wagner, Billings MT:
“I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed – I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:11-13)
Janet in Wagoner, OK
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Heb 10:23-24 ESV
Lisa Rogers, Valley Center, Ks Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (âPhilippians⏠â2âŹ:â3-4⏠NIV)
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NRSV)
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”
Karen from Fort Dodge Iowa. I missed the April 15th verse so I am listing 2 verses this time. Thanks! “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you are called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”
Psalm 51:10-12 NLT
Janice MacNealy ~ Bethesda, Ohio
“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV)
North Richland Hills, Texas
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2Tim. 1:7 NIV
Sally Bradford, Mayfield, KY …but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3, NIV
Karen from Unionville, PA
James 5:16b (NIV)
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Tess
Cartersville, Ga
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (âColossians⏠â4âŹ:â5⏠ESV)
Diane, Hemet, Ca
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:4 NKJ
Karlys, Laplace, LA
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Colossians 3:9 ESV
Patty Vandaveer; Lake Jackson, TX
Psalm 121:3-4 “He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector if Israel does not slumber or sleep.” HCSB
Lori Collins, Columbus, GA:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39King James Version (KJV)
Lakeforest, CA
Psalm 37:23-24
A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand.” HCSB
“But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.”
Psalm 71:14 and 17
Carla, Pierre, SD
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Nicola Evans Oceanside Ca
Luke 4:4(NKJV)4 But Jesus answered him, saying,[a] âIt is written, âMan shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.ââ[b]
Linda Lee, Canton, GA
Psalm 91:1 “He who abides in the shadow of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Kim Emmerich
Dickinson, ND
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:10 ESV
Shan Copeland, Salina, KS
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 2 Timothy 2:7 CEB
Hebrews 10:31. NIV
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.