Hey sweet siestas!
How much fun is this? Can we all just stop for a minute and thank our beloved leader, Bible teacher and yes, friend, for spurring us on in this world of scripture memory? I fail every time on my own. We need our people to conquer this task, don’t we? I’m good for a couple of months and then I flat out quit and blame it on something other than myself. But, I won’t quit if I have y’all! I’m thankful for this community. I’m thankful for the accountability. Memorizing scripture has transformed my heart and mind…the Word is living, and we have the privilege to breathe it in when we open those sacred pages and be changed from the inside out.
Something that I have done as I have memorized scripture is to write a brief synopsis of why I chose the verse on the back of the index card. I also date it. At the end of the year, it’s so powerful to go back and read a mini-journal of God’s faithfulness and the journey you’ve taken together that particular year. Go back and do that if you haven’t done it already. I’ll bet it won’t take you long to recall why you picked a particular verse. It will be a sweet gift to read through at the end of 2015.
Ok, my name is Fran Thomas and I’ve been married to Chip for 21 years! That’s crazy to me! I swear I’m still 30-something. We have 3 teenage boys. That’s another kind of crazy! Our oldest is 18. (Insert tears of high school graduation, starting college and hoping you can cook and do laundry on your own) It’s nuts, y’all. Savor the moments, mommas. It flies.
We are living life in Jackson, TN, and I love our community of people here. I work at Union University, teach college girls on Sunday mornings, sing in the choir, and serve with our jail ministry at Englewood Baptist Church. I am also a partner in a non-profit ministry with my two best friends, Christy and Robyn, that we founded called “More than a Mission Trip.” Our heart is missions in every form and fashion. Our heart is for the lost, the saved who are lost, God’s precious people at the ends of the earth and those who are around the corner. Our desire is to encourage other women to serve God locally and globally…there is no better time than NOW to love, obey and serve Him with all we have! We can’t question or delay what God clearly calls us to do.
So how appropriate for me to choose a verse that has me in a season of being scared to death of what God has called me to do. Would this be the Christian “pot calling the kettle black” or what? I like safe and comfy just like you do. It’s predictable and doesn’t make my stomach hurt. I know the scriptural promises from Him, but there is simply something terrifying about taking new steps with Him after a season of predictability. *sigh*
So, we press on, sisters. We believe Him and take Him at His word. I’m doing this even with the butterflies alive and churning about! Unfortunately, I think I have an unbelief issue right now, but I’m choosing to believe Him for this season because He is able! He is faithful… Me? Not so much. He never fails. NEVER.
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
I don’t want to doubt or be tossed around because of my unbelief. I want my feet to be steady and secure in Him, His voice, and His direction. I really want to believe Him and trust Him even with these butterflies during this new season. I don’t just want to say, “Yes, Lord I believe you,” but it only be a temporary belief or trust. We’ll start strong and then fade, don’t we?
Lord, help my unbelief.
It’s easy to say, “Sure, I’ll get out of the boat, and walk toward Jesus,” but it’s a whole other thing to actually put the feet into motion, isn’t it? Let’s not be tossed around, sisters. Let’s walk by faith and take Him at His Word. Let’s choose to believe Him girls!! Declare it even when we don’t feel it. We’ll begin to believe what we know and speak over that situation. Let’s declare the Truth that we are hiding in our hearts.
Y’all are such a blast! Hang in there and march on strong and steady because we are MORE than conquerors! We CAN do this because He WILL show us the way! He will NOT leave us! He WILL show Himself faithful! He has good plans for this season! He will NOT harm us! And on and on and on the promises go. Declare them. Believe them.
It’s such an honor to journey alongside you. I will be your biggest fan and cheer you on like nobody’s business. Fix those pretty eyes on Jesus and let’s run our race well. I’m praying for us all. I desperately need Jesus and His Word.
Love y’all,
Fran
Becca Williams – Irvine, Ca
Isaiah 61:2 NIV
“…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,”
Beth Lewis, Story City, Iowa
“keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Jude 21, NKJ
Cheryl Cannon – Concord, NC
“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
John 16.8 NLT
Deb, Becker, MN
I’m at Living Proof in Milwaukee this weekend. My verse HAS to be…
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Rom 11:33 ESV
Beverly Reeder, Columbus , Ms.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,as working for the Lord,not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as reward. Colossians 3:23-24
Punky Tolson, Dallas, TX “…so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5, NET
Leah Cullen – Ramona, CA
“What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”
Psalms 84:5-7 NLT
Joanie, Richmond, VA
“He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1 (NIV)
Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 139:16
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written; which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.” KJV
Woodburn, IN
I John 5:14 (NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God:that if we ask anything according to His
Will, He hears us.
Psalm 62:2 Amplified
” He only is my Rock and Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved”
Brodie
Weatherford, TX
Col.3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Reanna Cypress CA 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ESV
Nancy Terwilliger, Lebanon, Tn.
For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous and godly way in the present age while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11-13 HCSB
Delba
Dorsey,MS
“But when you ask God you must believe. Don’t doubt Him. Whoever doubts is like a wave on the sea,that is blown up and down by the wind.” James 1:6 ERV
He is above all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, Colossians 1:11 NIV
North Richland Hills, Texas
This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NLT
Cher Goeder, Toledo, OH. III Johm 14 NIV
“I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”
April Hughes, Escondido, Ca. “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” Ephesians 3:16 ESV
Mindy, Morgantown, IN
Lamentations 3:26 (NIV84)
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:26
Beverly. Hsv AL. Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
Kristen, Paramount, CA
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
Colossians 3:1 NLT
Elizabeth Hughes, Berrien Springs, MI, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the savior of the world.” 1 John 4:13-14ESV.
Helen Roseberry, Riverside, CA,
[“20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—”]
“21 assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus,”
Ephesians 4:21 ESV
Adria A. Jackson TN
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
Beth Hurst, Ypsilanti, MI
” So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Maddy Clemens, Los Angeles
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Amanda Porter. Kansas City, Missouri. “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
Addy Cianciotto
“As it is said, Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” -Hebrews 3:15 hcsb
Jan in Fulshear
Prov. 12:16 The Message
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly: The prudent quietly shrug off insults.
Kim G., Colonial Heights, VA
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
Ephesians 6:10 ESV
Mary Witte, Grand Rapids, MN
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zeph 3:17 NKJV
Billie, Franklin, TN
…forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Kem Green, Des Moines, IA
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
Elizabeth Marchman Blue Ridge, GA
And aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 esv
jackie siple Rockledge FL
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
Lora Faircloth, Fayetteville, NC
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
Stephanie Bankhead, Amarillo TX
“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful songs,”
Psalm 63:5 ESV
Deborah Flora Sawyer, KS
March on my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b NIV
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the lord.
Psalm 31:24
NRSV
Tara Moffatt- Rockwall, Tx
Behold God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. For YAH the Lord is my strength and my song.
Isaiah 12:2
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians4:5 KJV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8 NIV
Shannon Quesenberry, Springfield, MO. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11-13
From Tishomingo, OK
But I trust in Your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in Your salvation.
Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
Allison – Houston, Texas
Job 38:7-8
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
Katie Baine, Clarksville, TN Ephesians 4:4 NIV “there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”
Katie L. Houston, TX – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)