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
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message
from Tempe, AZ
1 John 5:3. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. NIV
Rachelle, Cedar Park, TX: Rejoice Always, 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Beth Coker Medford, OR ‘And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.’ I Peter 5:10 ESV
Pat S., Lago Vista, TX
“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
Jennifer, Rosemount, MN
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” — Psalm 62:5
Renee Hall, Jacksonville, FL
“so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,” Col. 1:10 NIV
Kirsten Pierce, Boones Mill, VA. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV.
Naomi – Colorado Springs “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” 1 Corinthians 15:10a ESV
Susan, Knoxville, TN
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25 NIV
Valerie Gordon, Columbus, GA
But that is not the way you learned Christ! Ephesians 4:20 ESV
Jana Troy, KS KJV
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God that He may exalt you in due time. ”
I Peter 5:6
Beth, Sumter, SC
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. — Proverbs 21:23
Ali C. Pleasanton, CA- 12So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.13″Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Matthew 7:12-14 (ESV)
Diane from RSM, CA
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Prov. 19:21 NIV
Good morning Ladies,
I just want to let you know what a beautiful blessing memorizing scripture has been this year. Over this past weekend I was hiking in the John Muir wilderness in the Eastern Sierras. I got separated from my party, took a wrong turn, and was stuck in the wilderness for 2 1/2 hrs. Boy, I can tell you that I was repeating many of those verses over and over. Thankfully, I finally found the trail and was reunited with my group.Amen!
WOW, Diane! Way to go, using the time to repeat what you have tucked in your heart, instead of spinning in fear!
Jennifer Watson, Ruston, LA
Micah 6:8 (NASV): He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Kristinia, Metairie, LA
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Vanessa Canter, Johnson City, TN
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Calgary, Alberta
James 1:1 ESV
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
Debbie Hernandez, Atascocita, Texas “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.” Eph. 4:29 (NIV)
Vicki Bolton, Lubbock, TX
Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to Him.
Psalm 28:7b MSG
Lynette, Nashville, TN
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV)
Terry, Odessa, FL
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”
Hebrews 6 19-20, NIV
Elaine Brady, Jefferson, GA
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, NIV
Carol Crabtree, Farmers Branch, TX
I Timothy 6:6, NKJV
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Carolyn, Conroe, TX
Finishing up my Romans 8:31-39 passage.
“nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:39 (NASB)
Dawn, Pottsville, AR, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Gail, Atascadero CA
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Proverbs 4:18 NIV
Heather Morgan
Waxahachie, TX
Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young.
*we leave this week to take my oldest daughter to college…1200 miles form home. Jesus loves her more than I do! He WILL hold her close to His heart…
Gail-Tyler,TX
“You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:3 NKJV
Kayley Hibbert — Camp Point, IL
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
Caroline Baze, Broken Arrow, OK
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain”. Heb. 6:19 NIV
Jen Ferguson, Cedar Park, TX
“For all have sinned and called short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23, NLT
Lisa, Granville, Ohio
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 NIV
Pamela C. Guins, Taylorsville, NC
Joshua 1:9 (NIV) “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.”
Maggie, Atlanta, GA
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NIV
Roseanne, Tacoma, WA
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers, or slaves to much wine. They are to
teach what is good, and so train the young women to
love their husbands and children, to be self controlled,
pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Titus 2:3-5 ESV
Leah Eller, San Antonio TX – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whateve is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV
Sarah Jackson from Pasadena, TX
Before a word is on my tongue,
You know it completely, oh Lord.
Psalm 139:4 NIV
Joy Lunsford, Troy, AL
Isaiah 41:10New International Version (NIV)
10 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.
Pineville, LA
Psalm 119:11(NIV)
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Hailey Boone, Wilmington, NC. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17 NASB
Downtown Tonya Brown from Watauga, TX:
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:5-6 NLT
Kim, Euless, TX
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14
Dawn Moore. Buford,GA
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”
Psalm 33:18-19 NIV
Nicole Blake, Severance, CO
“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)
Karen Todd Beech Island, SC
when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Ephesians 4:21
Connie, Tyler, Tx. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV
Jeanne Warner Robins, GA
1 Peter 5:6 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, at the right time he will life you up in honor.
Julie McGirk, Prescott, AZ “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”