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
Elizabeth from Whitesboro, TX
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”
2 Samuel 22:33 (NIV)
Angie W., Federal Way, WA and Ennis, MT
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him,” psalm 37:7 ESV
Julie in Carlsbad, CA “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)
Alesha Culp, Creswell, OR
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
—James 4:7 (ESV)
Jen Wellman, Camp Hill, PA
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Jenny Schultz, Valrico, FL
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”
Psalms 27:14 (NLT)
Diane – Spring, Texas:
“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) ESV
Rachel huff Mechanicsville, VA NIV Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Bobbie, Radium Springs NM
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:18 NKJV
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m seeking him!”
Psalm 27:8 (MSG)
Angie Martens, Charlotte, NC
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)
Tammy in Mt Pleasant, SC
“They are to stand every morning to thank and to praise the Lord, and likewise at evening,”
1 Chronicles 23:30 NASB
Gwen, earth TX
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV
Deena, Colleyville, TX
Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!
Nehemiah 4:20 NIV
I love, love, love this! Thank you, God, for always rallying for me.
Sylvia S.
Collinsville, IL
Romans 8:28 (NASB)
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Christy from Holland, MI
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Lucinda Culver, Wichita KS
But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish-like smoke they vanish away.
Psalm 37:20. NASB
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:57 ESV
Lexington, KY
I am so late! !
“For the Lord loves justice, he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever.” Psalm 37:28 ESV
Kelly B from Jefferson City, MO:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)
Cindy S. Walker, Clear Lake area of Houston, TX, “Do you not know that in a race all the runner run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” ~ 1 Cor. 9:24 1984 NIV
Molly P, Portland OR. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Lisa Jones, St. Louis,Mo.
Praise The Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
Lorraine, Ketchikan Alaska
Genesis 1:27
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them.
NASB
Lori~Mountain View, WY
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:7 NKJV
Cherri, Smyrna, GA: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
Psalms 37:23 NLT
Lori McCormick
Shakopee MN
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 HCSB
Stephanie Hamburg Ar. Ephesians 4:24 NLT
Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
Pam Houston, Buena Park, CA.
“When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal; I did not understand You. Yet I always stay close to You, and You hold me by the hand.” Psalms 73:21-23 GNB
Lucille Goins, New Bloomfield Mo
James 1:6 NKJV
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Carol Lawrence, Poplar Bluff, MO
Jude verse 16 ESV
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
RaeLeen in Bloomington Indiana:
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth & the evil that is so prevalent & humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:21 (NIV)
Kathryn Anderson Jacksonville, Fl Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Barrett, Plano TX
Nehemiah said “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
NIV
Elizabeth Thompson, Florence, AL “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
Romans 12:16 NASB
Bel Air, MD Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say:“The Lord is my helper;I will not fear.What can man do to me?” NKJV
Kim Davis
Bristol, TN
But all things should be done decently and in order. (1 Cor 14:40 ESV)
Ashley Williams
Macungie, PA
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires”
Roman 8:5 NIV
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NLT)
MB, Cypress, TX
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
Eccl 3:6-7
MB, Cypress,TX
…no eye has seen
no ear has heard
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love Him.
I cor 2:9 NLT
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:25-26 ESV)
Jan Marken Buena Vista, CO
Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD & His strength; seek His face continually. Ps. 105:3-4 NASB
Jen, West Palm Beach FL
Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV
” 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
“And whatever you do, no matter what it is, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in dependence on Him, His Person; giving thanks to God the Father through Him”
Sandra, Anchorage, Alaska
Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes to steal,kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
for the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of ghe heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV