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
Imelda Hunt, Toledo,OH.
And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [a]span of his life? Matthew 6:27 (AMP)
Proverbs 17:6 NLT
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
Jennifer Wilson – Brentwood, CA
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 (NIV)
“Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:7 (ESV)
Amy Mc Ateer-Jones, Weddington NC11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
1Chron 16:11
Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forevermore.Heb.13:8 Esv
Terry in Louisa, VA
John 8:12 NIV
I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Dee Ann from Henderson, TX
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:16 ESV
So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12
Plano, TX
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I tying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Michele, Columbiana, AL
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for
“love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
Christina D. – Decatur
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.” -Job 13:15
Dena K from Columbus, OH:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
Judy – Huntsville AL – HE gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29.
Beaumont, Texas
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. Romans 6:5 NAB
Clancie Speck, Elizabethtown, KY
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5: 11-12,NIV(1984)
Lisa P. Las Vegas
1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
Instead, it should be that your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s strength.
Dee Shera – Jacksonville, Florida
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3 (NIV)
In doing this , you will heap burning coals on his head, and The Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:22
NIV
Leslie Dorrough Longview, tx
Callie, Nashville, TN: “Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw Him, she fell at His feet. ‘Lord,’she said, ‘if You had been here, my brother would not have died!'” John 11:32 GNT
Sara Weick Jonesboro,AR
Psalms 34:8 NLT
Taste and see that the lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Kelly Sonderby San Clemente, CA
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
James 1:17 NLT
Madelin, Thousand Oaks, CA
“The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.”
Psalm 28:7 (AMP)
Sandy Woffard, Rio Rancho, NM
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV
Mildred from Montserrat.
And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 (NET)
Layne Hall, Columbus MS: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Philippians 2:14,15 NIV
I sought the Lord and He answerd me and delivered me from ALLfear.
Ps34v4
cathy in Tx
“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
Psalms 55:22 NLT
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others’ faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
Jill Miller; Akron, IN: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” James 1:1 NIV
Mary McKinley Scottsboro, AL But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 KJV
kari Turner
Charlottesville, VA
“I give thanks to Him Who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able [for this], Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry.”
1 Timothy 1:12 AMP
Psalm 121:7-8 NKJV
“The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
Pam Coleman
DeLeon Springs, Florida
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshed others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
Tanya, Raleigh, NC
“Martha, Martha you are worried and distracted by many things. One thing is necessary.” Luke 10:41-42 ceb
Sunni Sutphin Mt Airy NC 1 Peter 5:2 NIV Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Michelle, Hart, MI
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, ” declares the Lord.
Leah
Fort Worth, TX
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:17-18 KJV
Jana, Quitaque, TX
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:16-18 NIV
Candice from Houston, Texas – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 NIV
Tammy, McKinney, TX
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11
Sherry Stewart, Winston-Salem, NC
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:14-15
ESV
Amy B.
Montezuma, IN
Rejoice always, (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV)
Leah Kirksey, Camden, Arkansas
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 NKJV
Stephanie Reynolds, Austin, TX, For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9, NIV
Julie Gresham Jackson, MS
Isaiah 49:29 NIV “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Bonnie from Bellaire says
I will give them singleness of heart and action so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. Jer 32:39 NIV84
Houston, TX – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV