Memorization Monday - 2/10/14

I didn't have a verse for this week.  Nothing jumped out at me throughout my reading last week and the sermon used a verse that I already knew.  I grabbed the "Verse of the Day" on my youversion app.  (If you don't have a youversion app, I highly recommend downloading it.  It's an awesome FREE (both monetarily and ad-free) app.)

anyway ... my verse this week is 2 Corinthians 5:15

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

This is the crux of our faith.  Christ died for ALL of us.  And now, we live FOR HIM, not for us.  It's all about the death and resurrection.

Are you memorizing or studying anything right now?  Please feel free to share it here.

Memorization Monday

A day late on this one due to a sans-technology 3-day weekend with family. This week's verse is what our current sermon series is based on.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

What are you memorizing this week?

Memorization Monday - 1/27/14

This week's verse is a classic Psalm.  I like how it reminds of us God's greatness and why we should praise and honor Him.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Psalm 145:3, 5 

 

 What are you memorizing or reading or studying?  What have you read lately that's made you stop and think or praise the Lord?

Memorization Monday - 1/20/14

This week's passage comes straight out of our sermon from yesterday.  The sermon was on living out God's calling for our lives.  In addition to the points Pastor Mike made during the sermon, I am reminded of a saying I originally heard in college, "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called."

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 What are you memorizing this week?  Or at minimum, what passage(s) are you studying?  Tweet or G+ your memory verses with #memorizationmonday.  Or leave a comment here.

Memorization Monday - 1 John 2:15-17

The memory verse this week comes from my daily reading.  A good reminder where we need to focus our attention and energy.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17

Do you have a verse you are memorizing this week?  Share it here in the comments.  Or tweet it using #memorizationmonday.  

Happy Memorizing.

Memorization Monday

New Year, new hopes. Trying again to memorize scripture.  

This week's is from our sermon series.

Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Memorization Monday - 4/8/13

Welcome to Memorization Monday.

Please join me in memorizing scripture. Every Monday I'll post my new memory verse.  You can memorize this one with me, or post your own verse from your own scripture reading.  Share with me in the comments what verse you're learning this week.

This week's verse comes from yesterday's sermon.  

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

http://bible.us/111/rom.5.1.niv

I liked this verse for the word justified.  Justified, here, means made completely new as if our sin never happened.  Our faith in Christ erased our sin completely as if we never sinned in the beginning.  Consequently we have full access to God anytime we want.

If you join me, please add my link button found at the bottom.

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40 Verses in 40 Days - a recap

I did it.  I completed my journey of memorizing 40 verses in 40 days.

There were days I had to carve out time to memorize the verse because I was busy.

There were days the verse came easy.

There were days I didn't get the verse memorized.  So I had to do it the next day.

There were days I had so much free time while waiting and standing in line that I could've memorized 2 or 3 verses but instead reviewed.

There were days I didn't have time to review my verses.

But I read my bible daily

I found a verse every day.  Some days they were verses on a list I've been wanting to memorize.  Or part of the chapter I memorized.  Some days they were right out of my reading.  The week leading up to Easter I followed the Holy Week devotions that our pastor created and all my verses were from there.

This was an interesting journey/project.  I learned some new verses that are neat.  I have some new encouraging verses in my head.  I have some new "this is my faith" verses.  And those are great reasons to memorize scripture.  ABSOLUTELY!!!  But mostly, because I added a new verse EVERY DAY and had to review previous verses, it kept me so wrapped up in God's word that my sanity was totally kept in check. I felt calmer about things that should have had me outraged.  I felt closer to God.  And that ... my friend ... was the point of this.

They say it takes 21 times to make a habit.  I did this 40 days.  When I woke up Monday morning and finished reading my bible I felt something missing when I didn't pick a memory verse.

I will continue.  I LOVE it.  I really do.

I think I'm going to work on memorizing 2-3 a week.  Daily was a bit more than I could handle.  But weekly just isn't enough to keep me interested and working on it.

Watch for the return of Memorization Monday.

What happened to Memorization Monday?

It's been several weeks since I've done a Memorization Monday.  You may be wondering what happened to it.  So am I.

I converted my paper verse cards to an electronic flash card app for my phone.  I've been working on my verses that way.  I didn't realize how many I was rusty on.  So I'm trying to get all those down before I add more to my list.  Many are older verses that I memorized in college.  They are good verses and I'm remembering my reasons for memorizing them.  It's been an interesting journey, doing that.

I'll leave you with a verse that I memorized when I was about 8 and in a church musical called The Music Machine.  We are currently doing a sermon series based on this scripture, so I wanted to share it with my readers.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Too often the last phrase is left off.  I think it's a very important phrase, which applies directly to the 4 verses preceding the "fruit of the spirit."

Gal 5:18-21

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we live by the Spirit, and let the Holy Spirit lead and direct us, we will have amazing benefits such as peace, and joy.  And patience .. which I am constantly told is a virtue, and not one easy to learn.  When we live by the flesh, we are OF the world.  and speaking from personal experience in many of those flesh states, it is a very dark, dirty, and scary place to remain.  I much prefer to live in the Spirit.

Memorization Monday

Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

I thought this was a great reminder. I resembles Psalm 119:9,11 also.

Memorization Monday

This week's memory verse is from my daily reading.  I'm reading through the bible in one year with a reading plan passed out by my pastor.  I've attempted to read through the bible in one year many times, and this is the longest that I've been able to stick with it.  I'm currently in Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 8:18

But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

While this passage is specifically talking to the Israelites, who had a tendency to forget God and often walk away, it's a great reminder to us today that God brought us where we are and God has given us everything we have.  Don't forget who He is just because I'm content and life is going good.  And I want to add, nor should we blame Him when life gets a little rough.


While I'm on the topic of my daily reading, I'm also reading Psalms.  I just read Psalm 99 today.  For the last week or so, every couple Psalms starts off with "The Lord Reigns."  Then talks about why and how He reigns.  What a great way to start off my day.  The Lord Reigns!!  Worship Him.  Praise Him.  Honor Him.  Adore Him.  He is in charge.  He is the creator.  How neat.


One of my favorite songs that we sing in church is titled, "The Lord Reigns,"  by Gateway Music. I get it in my head every time I read one of these Psalms.  

The Lord Reigns, let the people shout
He reigns in righteousness
Let the heavens be glad
Let the earth rejoice

The Lord Reigns, let the people clap their hands
Angels shout, "the redeemed have come to dance."
To celebrate, to celebrate
He reigns

Link to Files and Cord Charts

Memorization Monday

Memorization Monday this week is from Luke 2.

^51b and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
 ⁵²And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

I put both verses in here because I think they are both important and special.  Now, as a mother of a 1 year-old and almost toddler, I have a greater understanding of this passage.  I pray verse 52 for Audrey, and for baby #2.    Verse 52 is my memory verse for the week.

Memorization Monday

By Friday last week I didn't yet have a memorization verse for the week. I decided that unless one struck me during the sermon I would just review this week since I'm feeling a little week on a couple verses. I didn't hear anything in the sermon, so I was prepared to just review this week.

Then I read my bible this morning and God revealed a verse to me. I guess God didn't want me to simply review this week.

Psalm 80:3
O God, restore us
And cause your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

The idea of this verse is mentioned three times in this chapter. I like the word picture that it creates. I think of God's face shining on me and what that would look like to the world. A spotlight in a dark room lights up a subject and all eyes are in that object. Its nearly impossible to not watch. How cool would it be to truly be lit
up by God's face?

I also think of being restored. A classic car is restored to original condition. it becomes like new. Dents hammered out. Engine rebuilt. new leather seats. Brand new tires. like the day it was rolled out of the factory. But the car still has a history. And we would too. Having learned from prior mistakes we have a greater and deeper understanding of God, man, life, etc. We aren't fresh, but our dings and debts have been repaired.

A friend recently wrote a song about returning to our walk with God when we first believed. How simple and precious we are. Full of vigor. we are new people when we first believe, totally in fire for God and His kingdom. I want to return to that!

Restore me, Oh God. Shine upon me so the world can see.

Memory Verse Monday

This week's verse again comes from the sermon, from a series titled Hope Floats. This week was on perseverance and resilience - waiting through a trial.

Lamentations 3:24-26
²⁴“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord

I really like how the Message Bible is worded:

²⁴ I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.
²⁵ God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
²⁶ It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.

God is it. He's the only one who can get me through this. I must look to God. I will wait for HIS answer. I will wait for HIS help. God will save me.

I looked at several different versions of this and I thought it was interesting that the words wait and hope were used interchangably. One version says wait in vs 24 while another version says hope. Then version A said hope in vs 25 and verson B says wait. They are synonymous in this context.

Waiting for the Lord is having Hope in Him.
Waiting for His response. Having the Hope that He will respond.

The Isrealites waited for the Lord to rescue them from Egypt. But they didn't wait patiently. They didn't understand God's timing and God's plan. Consequently, when they were taken to the promised land, they didn't enter. God didn't give them their land because they didn't wait patiently or quietly or silently. They didn't trust God. They didn't have Hope in Him.

One of my favorite hymns is one that is probably not well-known. It's one my mother had memorized, so when my sister and I were acting up, we would sing it. I've not yet met anyone else who knows this hymn.

My Hope Is in the Lord
Hymn lyrics and Music by Norman J. Clayton

Verse 1
My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Chorus
For me He died,
For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

Verse 2
No merit of my own
His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus’ righteousness.
Chorus

Verse 3
And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.
Chorus

Verse 4
His grace has planned it all,
’Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive
Chorus

Memory Verse Monday

Today's memorization Monday verse comes from the sermon from yesterday.  Another sermon from the series, Hope Floats.  This week we talked about Core Strength and how it is the center of all that we physically do.  God is our core spiritual strength and we can't do anything without Him.


Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and will not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation

Memory Verse Monday

Back with another addition of Memorization Monday.  The verse this week is from our sermon yesterday.  Our current series is on Hope.  I thought this passage was very poignant and deserved memorizing.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15
¹³It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Memorization Monday

This week is Holy Week. I've just read the conclusion to one of my
favorite bible stories ever! Its not so much the story, but what the
story means in the big picture of Christianity.
Joseph, one of twelve sons of Jacob, is sold to the Egyptians by his
brothers. This sets up the best story. In Egypt, after years in
service to the king then in prison, Joseph funds himself interpreting
the King's dreams and then overseeing a stockpile of food in
preparation for a famine. His family goes to Egypt to buy food. He
recognizes them. They all come out. Jacob dies. The family (12
brothers and wives and children who become the twelve tribes of
Israel) stays in Egypt. Then they become too big to the King and they
become slaves. Eventually God sends Moses to rescue them, but not
without a few plagues and hardening of Pharoh's heart first. The last
plague is the angel of death, which was avoided by sacrificing a lamb
and painting its blood on the doorposts. Thus was born the tradition
of the Passover lamb. A holiday that Jews take very seriously. Its
very meaningful. As it should be.
Thousands of years later Christ was crucified as our permanent Passover lamb.
I used to think that if the one little act by the brothers didn't
happen, the Jews never wouldve been slaves to Egypt. But we wouldn't
have our imagery and meaning of Christ as the Passover lamb and we
wouldn't understand or appreciate it. All of Jewish history would be
completely different. One small act by jealous boys and men set up
the greatest selfless act in all eternity!
Anyway ... At the end of the exodus story is the ten commandments.
Moses says, in Exodus 20:20,
Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to rest you, in order that
the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.
The Jewish people didn't know who God was. He didn't speak to them
the way He spoke to Jacob and Isaac and Abraham. This was really
their first personal encounter with God. All they had were stories
before. Now its real and personal. And God wants the best for them,
so He gave them rules to live by and a guideline for life. So that
they wouldn't sin and He could remain with them.
I get chills thinking of the importance of this story. I love it.
And in Holy Week its very meaningful as we prepare to remember
Christ's humble entry on a donkey into Jerusalem (yesterday ... Palm
Sunday), and the Last Supper celebration of Passover, Good Friday, and
ultimately Easter or Resurrection Sunday!
Thank you Lord for your Son.

Memorization Monday

This week's memory verse came from the sermon on Sunday. Our sermon series is titled The Final 24 and is about the last 24 hours of Christ. This week's sermon was on Christ's suffering. Instead of following the suffering narrative in Luke, which has been the outline the last few weeks, the speaker read Isaiah and discussed how to help the suffering.

Isaiah 53:5 reads:
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
       he was crushed for our iniquities;
       the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
       and by his wounds we are healed.

I love the picture this verse creates. Its very descriptive.

We have peace. We are saved. We have eternal life. And we receive these things for free. God's grace. Christ's suffering. Our salvation and eternity!

Whenever I read this passage in Isaiah I am reminded of a song by Carmen. A boxing match between Jesus and Satan. Jesus takes a beating and is knocked down; He's down for 9 seconds and then rises, catching Satan off guard and defeating death.

Memorization Monday

This week's verses are from my daily reading ... Although I really loved some passages from yesterday's sermon and had a hard time deciding what to memorize.

The passage is 3 verses long.

Psalm 36:10-12
O continue Your lovingkingness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come upon me,
And let not the head of the wicked drive me away.
There the doers of iniquity have fallen;
They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

I especially like the verse about pride. I tend to be a very proud person, especially when in the middle of an argument. I'm actively working on my own pride issues and think this verse is a great reminder of the damages of pride and other sinfulness and wickedness.

Memory Verse Monday

This week's memory verse comes from my daily bible reading.  

Acts 3:19 

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

I just really liked what this had to say.
No special story behind it.  Just really encouraging. Repent from my sins and get refreshed from God's presence in my life.