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
Shelley, Brigham City, UT
John 8:32 ESV
“and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Jaclyn, Houston. “But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 ESV
Valerie Chamberlain; Austin, Texas.
“This is comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:50 ESV
Jaclyn, Houston. 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 (This is my August 1st verse…I missed posting it)
Nancy from Atlanta GA. Matthew 11:28. Then Jesus said,”Come to me, all of you who are weary and and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. NLT
Stacie Kilgore, Lee’s Summit, MO
Galatians 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV)
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire by hell.
James 3:6 (NKJV)
Miriam, Columbia, SC
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field. Psalm 103:15 (ESV)
Joy Mast
Matthews, NC
Romans 5:5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy. So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.
Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV
Rene’ Pingel, Cape Girardeau, MO
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Leslie, Cedar Grove, NC
“Son of man let all my words sink deep into your own heart first.
Listen to them carefully for yourself.” Ezekiel 3:10 NLT
Sherri, Indian Trail, NC
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Carol Stainbrook, Kimberling City, MO
“Human, the LORD has told you what goodness is. This is what He wants from you: Be fair to other people, love kindness and loyalty, and humbly obey your God.” Micah 6:8 (ERV)
Terri Sickles, Richmond, MO
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
James 3:10. ESV
Gina Hollis
Canton, Ga
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'”
Isaiah 52:7 NIV
Lauralee Courtney
Austin, TX
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
Elizabeth Miller, Cullman, AL
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 NIV
Laura Hall
Kyle,Texas
“among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Eph 2:3 (ESV)
Cambridge, MN
Romans 12:18 NIV
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
LeAnn Nichols; Spring, TX
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
anissa mcguire Claremore, ok Isaiah 53:11
“After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.”
Holly Cox, Greenwood, SC
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!””
Luke 1:45 NIV
Evansville, IN
” O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord” Psalm 139: 1-4 (NIV)
(Getting caught up- those are my verses for July 15, Aug. 1&15.)
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. Isaiah 6:6 ESV
Becky, Vicksburg, MS
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV).
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.
1 James 6
NIV
“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My Hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
Isa. 49:16 NASV
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:7-8 ESV
Tami, Louisiana
“Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7) NIV
Jennifer, Fort Worth
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20, NKJV
Chris Robertson from Fort Wayne, IN
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV
Emily- Warsaw, In
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 CEV
bethany, Pensacola FL
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4 (esv)
Loralie, Wahpeton, ND,“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
Stacy
Deltona, FL
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Jan
Hawkinsville, GA
Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Seek first the kingdom of God and all things will be added to you Matthew 6:33
Laura Decatur, IL
Psalm 19:7 NKJV
The law of the LORD is perfect converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Tammy Smith
Grayson La. 71435
James 1:6
“But when you ask , you must believe and not doubt , because the one who doubts is like the wave of the sea , blown and tossed by the wind .
Pattie Holland, MI
Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.
Debbie Turner Chavers
Murfreesboro,Tennessee
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 KJV
Audrey, Ohio
Matthew 5:11-12 TNIV
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Tammy Smith
Grayson La.71435
James 1:6
“But when you ask , you must believe and not doubt ,
Because the one who doubts is like the wave of the sea ,
Blown and tossed by the wind “
Paula from Maine
“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”
Psalm 31:19 NIV
Martha McElhaney Ooltewah, TN Ephesians 6:10 HCSB
Finally, be strengthened by the LORD and by His vast strength.
Jennifer, Chattanooga, TN;
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
Liz Scherer
Fort Worth, TX
“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
Lori Haller Easton MD; “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”. Psalm 121:2 (HCSB)
Charlotte, NC
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”
Psalm 55:22 (NIV)