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
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:3
Anna from Indiana
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. Proverbs 31:21 (NIV)
Paula, Oklahoma City, OK
Luke 18:22 Jesus said to them, “One thing you lack; sell all you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” NASB
Linda Nelson, Shreveport, Louisiana
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NIV
Rhonda Butler, Jackson, Tennessee, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
Valerie Maddox – Humble, Texas
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Kimberley Marshall, Westland, MI
“No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”
Romans 8:37 NIV
Dr. Wilma Arant, Swartz, LA
“Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:7c-8 NLt
Lubbock,TX ” And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 NKJV
Emily C, Bothell WA
For my mom, who was just diagnosed with cancer
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.
Eph. 4:21 ESV
Mpls, MN
2 Corinthians 12:9 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (NIV)
Toms Brook, VA
‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’. 2 Corinthians 13: 14 (NLT)
Amy Libdan, Gettysburg PA
“For I have been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. Psalms 26:3
Sara Morris Alpharetta, GA
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sew or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NIV
Karla, Broomfield, CO
For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Psalm 61;5 NIV
by this we know that we abide in him and he in
us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
1John 4:13. ESV
Jennifer Kinsler
East TN
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10
KJV
Ruth, Providence
…but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 RSV
Cindy Wilbur
Clifton, VA
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” NIV
Lisa Lucik. Sugar Land, TX
Persecuted, but not abandoned;
Struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:9 NIV
Carolyn Deevers, Dardenne Prairie, MO
I Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Debbie Berman, Boyd, TX
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him, who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
Kathy leesville,la See then that you walk circumspectly not as fools,but as wise,redeeming the time,because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV
Elise, Cypress TX
Psalm 51:10 ESV
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me
Kaci; Atlanta, Ga
Be courageous, and He shall strengthen your heart, all of you who hope in the lord.
Psalm 31:24
Anita, Lawrenceville.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 ESV
Truly My soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Psalm 62:1 (KJV)
Kelly, Auburn Al – He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2 NIV
Julianne August, Orangeville, Ontario
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
South Bend, IN
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Psalms 1:1-2 NASB
Becky, Roswell, GA
“Blessed is the one who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting beside My doors.”
Proverbs 8:34, ESV
Malinda Guider, Chattanooga, TN-“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19-NLT
Gina
Naperville, IL
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord”
Jeremiah 30:17 NIV
Shelly Slagle, Mount Ulla NC
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
Cris
Virginia Beach , VA
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1 KJV
Sharon Crow, Winchester, VA
“And we know that for those who love God all thing work together for good, for those wh are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
Kathy, Danvers, MA
1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Lenora Grayson, Nixa, Missouri
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3 NLT
Gwyn Cummings, Rowlett, TX
Isaiah 25:4 NIV:
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall
Beth Keasler, Concord, NC
“… the sun will not harm you by day.
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm –
he will watch over your life;”
Psalm 121:6-7 NIV
Tucson, AZ
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against pwers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Robin, Leo, IN “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV
Tammy Ellis, Oneida,TN
John 20:29. KJV
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
emi, white house, tn:”In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” Ephesians 6:16 ESV
Cassie Oring, Murfreesboro, TN. “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
Jamie, Wichita, KS
Colossians 3:15 NIV:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Natalie, Bellingham, WA
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14 NIV
Mary Thomas
Lexington, KY
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their confidence and hope.”
-Jeremiah 17:7