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
2 Corinthians 1:15 NLT “Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing.”
“Accept one another, then, just as God accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Fort Worth, TX “In my trouble I cried to the Lord, And He answered me.” Psalm 120:1 NASB
Sue from Wolfeboro, NH;
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
With the world changing so fast I take comfort in that verse!
Joanie, Richmond, VA
“But if you do not forgive,
neither will your Father in heaven
forgive your failings and shortcomings.”
Mark 11:26 (AMP)
Anna, Tx
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again i will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. the Lord s at hand;”
Philippians 4:4&5 ESV
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
-2 Samuel 22:31
Verse #15
Terri Tripp from Winchester, VA
“She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
Proverbs 31:25-26 NIV
Anne, Athens, Greece – Psalm 143:10 – NLT –
Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
Ada, MI
Nehemiah 9:15 (NIV)
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise…
NIV Nederland, Texas Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the Lord hates,seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes,a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Bethany Mowat, Evart , Michigan Through and with God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries. Psalm 108:13 AMP
Andy Spray – Centrevile, VA 20120
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)
Angi, Pelham, AL
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:6
Leslie Thibodeau
Union, KY
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and deliverers them.
(NKJV)
Sara from Round Rock, TX
Romanos 12:14
Bendigan a quienes los persigan; bendigan y no maldigan.
Rhonda – Houston
In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me. Psalm 86:7 ESV
Kirby Ray from Parsons, KS. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 NIV
Pat
Crawfordsville, IN
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rick and My Redeemer Psalms 19:14. NASV
Debbie, Marion, IN. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you” James 4:7 NIV
Debbie/Sherwood, OR
I am going to share both of my September verses today because I cannot remember if I actually shared at the beginning of the month <3
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And You can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Matthew 28:19 NIV
[19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Jennifer Tunstall, Pasadena, TX
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
—Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Kearney NE
“God made this sinless Man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with Him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.” 1 Corinthians 5:21 CJB
Rene’, Mineola, TX
Nehemiah 2:20 (NASB)
“So I answered them and said to them,’The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.'”
Jan, Buena Vista, CO
Heb. 2:18 (NIV)
“Because HE himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Janette. Estes Park, CO
Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
Do not fear for I am with you, do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold you with my righteous right hand.
Ramona Gellick
Medina, Ohio
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Many are the plans in a person’s heart; But it’s the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Monica Pribe, Blacklick, OH “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 ESV
Rebecca, Winston Salem, NC
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28, NIV
Reply
Gwen McVey, Longview, Tx -But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Cor 2:9
……….”if you holt to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’ John 8:31 NIV
……….”if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’ John 8:31 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
Grand Saline, TX We Love Because He First Loved us 1 John 4:19
Sherry from Independence, Oregon:
But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” (Psalm 68:3 NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NLT) “How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things.”
Beth from Sumter:
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. -Psalm 63:5
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
Stephanie Jo
Crane OR
1Corthians 3:10 NIV
By the grace God has given me I laid a foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it. But each on should be careful how he builds.
Anne, Athens, Greece
Proverbs 2:6 NLT – For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge & understanding.
“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.”
Psalm 120:1
Teresa Wilson. Starkville, MS.
Psalm 91:10
No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.
Sarah L., Houston
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15 NIV
Terri G, Corinth, TX
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
Psalm 90:16 NIV
Sheri New Atlanta, TX
…A false witness who speaks lies, and who sows discord among the brethren.
Proverbs 6:19 NKJV
Ashley Kurtz, Kingwood, TX
“And God will exalt you in due time if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NET
Natalie,Frisco,TX
“My heart has heard you say, come and talk with me and my heart responds, Lord I am coming.”
Psalm 27:8 NLT
Missy S, Charlotte, NC
“Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” ~ Proverbs 16:32 (NLT)