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
Conyers, GA
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
Pam, Tryon, NC
“The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Cindy Cannon, Brighton, IL
Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men (women) of courage, be strong. I Cor 16:13 (NIV)
Beth Evans
Kingfisher, OK
“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
http://bible.com/111/eph.5.15-16.niv
Kathy , Austin ps 35:27
Let them shout for joy, who favor my vindication and let them say continually, “the Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant”.
Molly-Overland Park, KS “1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalms 116:1-2 ESV
Kim in St. Charles, IL
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:13 KJV
Kassandra Butte, ND
Ephesians 6:14 NLT
Stand you’re ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
Beth Crocker, Madison, WI “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 NIV
Beverly
Midlothian, VA
Psalm 46:2 ESV
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Linda Lorring, Reno, NV
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
Malorie Elrod, Sharpsburg Ga- For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14 NIV)
Jamie Raborn from Ooltewah, TN
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Diane Ellison from Littleton, CO
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Dianne Wade
Maineville, Ohio
Ephesianes 6 :16 niv
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one.
Shannon, Shelby, MT
“The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side. 7 The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.”
Psalm 121:6-7
Psalm 121:5-6 HCSB
Linda W. from Tomball, TX;
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 ESV
Michelle Wynne, Spokane ,WA
Continuing from vs 5….Philippians 2:11 “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.” ESV
Diane in Lenexa,KS
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
Cedartown, GA
Psalm147:4 NIV
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Susan Canham, Bismarck ND
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
-Ephesians 4:31 NKJV
Cara, Oswego, IL. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
Vicki from Grapevine TX
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:16 NIV
MH, San Mateo, CA
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
2 Corinthians 8:2 NIV
Stephanie Volkmer, Tulsa Ok.
*set a guard, o Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3, nkjv)
Charlotte Skadal, Houston, Texas
“Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me!” Psalm 66:20 (NASB)
Julie, new braunfels
Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right but spiritual exercise is much more important and a tonic for all you do. 1 Tim 4:7
Ephesians 4:32. NIV
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.
Karen Anderson Minot, ND
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
Yvonne Gearing – Kingman, AZ
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:9-10 NLT
Jen Massara – Albany, OR
I tell you, her sins – and they are many – have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.
Luke 7:47a NLT
Adina Berkner Pittsburgh,PA
Your eyes saw me when I was formless, all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
Psalm 139:16 HCSB
Michele Gibbons, Waterloo, Ontario
Yours is the day, yours also the night;
you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth;
you have made summer and winter.
Psalm 74:16-17 ESV
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~Ephesians 6:16 ESV
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18
Connie, London, England
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV)
Wendy Tunison Caldwell, Idaho
Open my eyes that I may behold the wondrous things out of your law.
Psalm 119:18
Linda Hammett from Wake Forest, NC says:
” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Psalms 126:3 (NIV)
New Braunfels, TX NASB
Psalm 42:8
The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime and His song will be with me in the night. A prayer to the God of my life.
Colleen, Mae Sot, Thailand
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:6
Susie, Harrisburg, PA
All the believers were one in heart and mind.
~ Acts 4:32 NIV
Anne Stinnette, Koror, Palau: “But God being rich in mercy, because of HIs great love with which He loved us,” Eph. 2:4 NASB
Heather Louisville, KY
” they are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.”
Psalm 92:13
Harmony, Moncton, NB, Canada. James 1:4 NIV
[4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Cynthia Gainesville,Ga
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance in what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Mary, Frisco TX,
“because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:13 NIV
Lori Johnson Auburn, MA. Ephesians 3:17b-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Nathalie Van Hoorebeke, Birmingham, UK
God chose what is low and despised in this world,
even things that are not,
to bring to nothing things that are,
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1Cor1:28,29 ESV
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 KJV
Barbara Slaven
Loudon, Tennessee
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV