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
Deana Johnson from Visalia, California: ” Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 niv
Emma Mierta Davison, Michigan
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all thses things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV
Only let each person lead the life[a] that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 1 Cor 7:17 esv.
College station. Tx
Susan, Houston, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:8 ESV
Gerry Warkentine from Costa Mesa, Ca.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear has not heard
; neither has it entered into the heart of man, what God has ready for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
Ally, Houston tx
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”
Psalm 90:12 HCSB
“Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For He is the One who gives me confidence.” Psalm 62:5 NET
nancy-LPM
Houston, tx
Nancy Coffey
Barboursville WV
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life,
prosperity and honor.”
Proverbs 21:21 NIV
Laura from Aurora, MO
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
Liz Allen, Wooster, OH
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”
-Romas 8:19, ESV
Hendersonville, TN
“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I Praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
Debbie B., Marietta GA
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless
Shelley
Lebanon, TN
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Psalm 141:3, NIV
Amalia Smith
Lumberton Tx
For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11 N.I.V.
Dione H., Moore, OK – While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
Hebrews 13:2 NLT
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Hebrews 13:2 NLT
Vicki, Wilmington NC
Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16c
NKJV
Lydia Thrift, Gadsden, Alabama
“”And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”–Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV
Peggy Hodge, Monroe, LA
“He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:2-3 (NKJV)
Sherilyn, Warsaw, IN
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nahum 1:7, ESV
Britt Felix, Tucson, AZ
Romans 12:3 NIV
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Nicola Evans Oceanside CA.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Pam Bryant – Kountze,Tx.
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.
Psalm 25:4 NKJV
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3 NIV
Clifton, VA (NIV) 1 Peter 3:15 – Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
carol mueller lincoln ,nebraska
John 13:16 “Truly, truly I say to you,a slave is not greater than his master, nor the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” NASB
Sumrall, MS
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 ESV
Psalm 19:14 NASB
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north. Deuteronomy 2:3 MEV
(from Lysa TerKeurst’s _Made to Crave_)
Sandee Tseng, Santa Monica CA
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
Psalm 73:26 ” My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” NIV
Deb Hansard, E Tennessee
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV
I was out of town over the weekend, and had no access to the internet. I hope this verse is still acceptable.
Yes, of course Debbie!
Brenda, Ottawa, Canada
For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from evil.
2 Thess. 3:2b – 3 RSV
Karin
Medina,MN
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.”
Philippians 1:9&10
NIV
Peggy Hale
Mauriceville, Texas
Continuing with Psalm 103:18
“__with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”
Rachel H., North Alabama,
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV
Nice choice! I started this passage in April, after having tried to memorize it all several different times. It’s working this time, and I have most of it memorized through v. 18 now!
Melany E., Van Alstyne, TX
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshed others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
Deanna, Harwood, MD
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault.'” Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)
Jean Crawford – Boring, OR
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18/NIV
Teri Smith Portland, Oregon
Philippians 1:9–11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruits of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Krista Ripley WV
Kjv John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Nicole – Wideman, AR
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8 NKJV
Kathy Land, Shattuck, OK
Psalm 145:15 (NIV) “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.”
2 Cor 15:58 NIV
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Julie Strock, Lakewood, CO
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Carla, Pierre, SD
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 NIV
Nancy A -Versailles, Ky
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law
Rom 13:10 -NIV
Susan W
Simpsonville, KY
What time I am afraid, I will trust in God. Psalm 56:3
Michelle, Alberta, Canada
“houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied,”
– Deuteronomy 6:11 (NIV)