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
Marilyn — Seattle, WA
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;”
Ephesians 4:22 NIV
Kayla Davisson, Fort Wayne, IN
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
1 Peter 1:23, NIV
Santa Clarita, CA: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom 5:8, NIV
“Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone which offends you. remember, the Lord forgave you, as you must forgive others ” Col 3:13 NLT
Waconia, MN
Psalm 37: 4-6
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Bonnie Webb Cibolo,Tx Isiah 65:24 NLT
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:30 NIV
Suzy Adams, Wheelersburg, OH -For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:30 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Brenda Lenz, Georgetown, TX – “Just as The Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” – John 15:9 (NASB)
Jill- Plano TX
Jeremiah 1:10The Message (MSG)
Your job is to pull up and tear down,
take apart and demolish,
And then start over,
building and planting.”
Amy M, Fifty Lakes MN
That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:6 (ESV)
Janet Poore, Paola, KS
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. ” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Alice, Chesapeake VA
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Leslie Warnick
Oakland MD
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Boaz, AL
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
leslie G-Warner robins, GA
Psalm 139:23 NIV
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Kelsey Chance, Shawnee, KS
“A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?”
James 3:11 NET
Betty Clark Ann Arbor MI Colossians 1:15 ” Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. ” NLT
Patricia McNeily, Miamisburg, Ohiio
Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Gina, Olathe KS – Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of the Lord is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the idea and thoughts of the heart.”
Marcy, Eagle Bridge, NY
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.” Psalm 42:1 (NIV)
Laura K, Spearfish, SD
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Gail Hinshaw, Summerville, Oregon
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 15:16. NKJV
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Phillipians 3:17 NKJV
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:4 NIV
“When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now.’”
Hosea 2:7 NLT
Mandy Blake – Proctor, WV
Psalm 43:3
“Send forth your light and your truth,
Let them guide me;
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.”
Chaundel, Lake Forest, CA
“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 4:29 NIV)
Patrice Mcmurtrey, Crestwood KY
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11 NIV
Roswell, GA
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. Colossians 1:9-11 (NKJV)
Rebecca, Murfreesboro, TN
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John1:16 ESV
Vanessa from Calgary, Canada
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage Psalm 84:5
Gail Irwin, Thousand Oaks, CA
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. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)
Sherron Watkins, Houston, Texas
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
Wanda Calderwood
Crofton, Maryland
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 NKJV
Ashley Reed, Cedar Park, TX – “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.” ~Phil. 3: 12-15 – HCSB (Continuing to memorize the letter of Philippians)
Michelle Rademacher – Aurora, IL
“The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, ‘I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings?’ ”
Isaiah 19:11 (ESV)
Mary Beacham, Birmingham Al
“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Proverbs 27:19 NIV
Holly H., Frisco, TX
“Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 8:34-35, ESV
Heather, Hempstead, TX
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1(NLT)
Christine, Greenville, SC
1 Peter 3:3-4, “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on jewelry, or beautiful clothes, or hair arrangement. Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God.” (TLB)
Jana Fields, Wills Point, TX
I John 4:4 NIV
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Sarah Rumfield
Tomball, Tx
For the eyes of the Lord range through out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him
2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Suzy Zumbro. Anchorage, AK
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Westerville, Ohio
Therefore, 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 NIV
Billie Naples, FL “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”Genesis 2:18
Louise – Irvine, CA – Psalm 8:9 NIV – O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Selena Rosetti, wiggins ms. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)