March 1st! Time for a new verse!

I totally forgot to tell you the verse I was working on the last part of Feb. Oops! It was John 6:29 - Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent,"

I'm staying in that vein of obedience and keeping in step with the Spirit. Learning what my work is - trusting and keeping in step with the lover of my soul. That bring me to my next verse. The last half of Isaiah 28:16 says this:

Whoever believes will not be in haste.

I first read this over at Ann Voskamp's blog. If you follow me on twitter, you already know that I'm a big fan of hers. She is also the one that inspired the One Thousand Gifts posts -a dare to live life fully.  Her post that mentions this verse spoke to my heart. You can read it here.

Not being in haste. Not rushing ahead. That's a big one for me! I am an achiever, so short term accomplished goals make me feel very successful! Too often I miss the beauty and gift of the moment because I'm trying to check off what's next on my list. Believing in Him and not rushing ahead. He knows where I am and speaks to me through his Word, equiping me to be what he as called me to be! How awesome is our God!?

How about you? What are you tucking away in your heart? What is God speaking to you? Be encouraged today, He knows where you are and has a word for you too!

It's the 1st

We are settling in for what is evidently the snow storm of the century! Hopefully I'll have some fun pictures tomorrow. We have nowhere to go and nothing to do. We have lots of toilet paper and chocolate, so we are all set according to the locals.

However, it's time to start working on my next verse. I gotta tell ya, it is incredible to see all the women that are tucking God's word in their heart this year. It's so encouraging to read the lists and lists of great verses that women are hiding away. You can check it out here.

My next verse I'm working on is Isaiah 30:15 out of the New Living Translation which says this:

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. 

Quietness is the main operative word for me here. I'm really sensing the Lord wanting some control over my mouth. But returning to Him and resting in Him strongly speak to me as well. What a blessing that HE is the one who does the saving, I only need to rest in Him. What an awesome God!

How about you? What are your memorizing? What's God speaking to you?

It's the 15!

Wow! Hard to believe the month is half over already. Some fun new details have happened with the group of women memorizing scripture online together.  First, and most amazing, over 8,000 women have logged on to post their verses!!! That is unreal to me! So exciting to know so many women are tucking God's word in their hearts.

Second, and so fun, are these spirals that have been printed up and available to purchase here to write our verses in.

Aren't they the cutest? The are only $3 too!! How great is that? Next they have also made a free iphone/ipad app. So great! You can grab it here.  And lastly, Mike is going to memorize with me! I'm so excited about that. He has several verses picked out already. I love it!

Ok, so here is my next verse:

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.  Isaiah 64:4

I feel like God has told me to rest in him during this time of healing and given me peace about it. So, I am resting and waiting for Him. Learning to go at His pace and keep in step with Him.  I'm so thankful for His grace and faithfulness.

How about you? Whatcha memorizing?

A key and a new verse

(Sorry about the crazy spacing in this post...I can't make Blogger cooperate!)

I have confessed to you before how much I identify with the older brother in the story of the prodigal son and, here I am once again. Still pulling back layers, discovering who I am. Discovering who my Father is.  Trying to move further from obligation and into celebration.

So we enter the story yet again. And the place we come in does not give us much insight to how these boys were raised. All we know is that at the time we come on the scene, neither son is happy with where they are in life.  One son thinks that there is a lot more extravagant life worth living “out there”, and the other son thinks life isn’t worth much extravagant living at all.

In the blessings of being a firstborn son, I have to wonder what brought his heart to this painfully lonely place.  Did his dad put too much pressure on him to perform? Was there constant comparison for the younger son to have to live up to that brought about a sense of pride? Was the social privilege and responsibility of being the heir to his father’s wealth proving to be more than he wanted to deal with?  Did his father bear the daunting task of raising these kids with no clue of what he was doing outside of repeating his own upbringing and making every manor of mistake?  (Oh how my heart aches and relates to this thought!)  

We don’t know. Scripture doesn’t say. All we know is that this relationship, from the son’s perspective, with his father, is strained.

What is it that is missing? What more could this firstborn want? What else could this older brother conceivably need? What is the missing element that will move this performance ridden, obligation fulfilling, self pitying and self entitled son to life...and joy...and freedom...and A PARTY?  

I feel like the Lord is showing me, the hidden key is gratitude. I recently began participating in the One Thousand Gifts concept and it is even now changing my heart. I am beginning to grasp why Paul says so clearly that he has learned to be content in all things.  It is a choice.

An ungrateful heart is fallow ground for discontentment. 

Discontentment makes it very easy to believe the lie that the enemy is constantly whispering into our soul. “God is holding out on you. There is something more,”  he says. 

It’s the lie he whispered to Eve in the garden.  It’s the lie he whispered to Esau about some stew. It is the lie he whispered to Saul about his kingdom. It’s the lie he’s whispered to Jesus in the wilderness.  It’s the lie he’s whispered to countless others down through history including the Pharisees, the Sadducees, so many of the teachers and keepers of the law, and to this wounded, hard hearted older brother.  

It is the lie he has been deceiving me with for more years than I care to confess. 

And here, here is the truth that defeats it. Romans 8:32 says this: He did not spare His own son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

His own son. He gave Him up. And freely!

He is not holding out on you and He is not holding out on me. There is nothing that He hasn’t given us. Peter tells us He has given us everything for life and godliness and John tells us it is for an abundant life that He gave us His all.  

Freely. 

There is no cost. No demands or requirements. No dangling carrot of perfect performance.  No preset stipulation for complete acceptance.  No unspoken agenda of unreachable expectations. No birth order obligation that demands entitlement. Nothing.

All that is there is a father who has come out from the place of rejoicing and gratitude, pleading with those of us who share the heavy burdened, self barricaded heart of this beloved firstborn; 

“Come! Celebrate! You are with me all along and all that is mine is yours!”

So, I have a choice. Do I believe the murmuring, doubt casting lies of the enemy? 

Or do I believe in a continually demonstrative, extravagantly patient, unfailingly faithful, self sacrificing, maker of my soul, agape loving God who has been nothing but a safe place all along. 

A safe place all along for me as I’ve grown. A safe place all along for me as I’ve failed...again. A safe place all along where I’ve healed miraculously.  A safe place all along to be vulnerable and accepted. A safe place all along to ask for the things I need...and the things I want.  A safe place all along where I’ve known and experienced real love. 

Why wouldn’t I want to celebrate with Him?

What else could I possibly need that He hasn’t already given?

What choice is left but gratitude? 

How can I ever say thanks to Him?  

By believing Him. Gratefully. Continually. 

Want to join me in memorizing Romans 8:32? This one is going to tear down some strongholds. I’m ready to go inside and party!  

Continuing on

Anybody still memorizing scripture with me?  I know I kind of fell off the band wagon there for a bit, but I am still pressing on.

I have seen this verse a bunch lately and am thinking it's time to put this one to memory.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  Proverbs 4:23

I did a bible study this summer that used this as a baseline and I am starting a bible study this week that is using this verse again as a main thought.   I don't think that is coincidence.  I have also seen it a handful of other places so that's enough for me.  I'm excited to see what else the Lord has to show me about keeping my heart pure.

How about you? What verse are you working on? Has God been showing you something again and again?   I'd love to hear about it!

The last of Love

Well not the last of love per se, but the last of the the chunk of verses that I'm working on. It's time for a new verse and if you are memorizing with me, we are up to vs 7 of 1 Corinthians 13. We are gonna tag the first three words of vs 8 too to finish it off.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

Whew! That's an awful lot that love does! I'm so glad my Savior bears, believes, hopes and endures with and for me.

Thank you Jesus, that you are love. Teach me what it means to love others the way that you love me. You are a good God!

Still working on Love

It's time for the next verse to memorize. I'm almost done with the chunk of 1 Corinthians 13 I want ingrained in my thoughts. If you are memorizing along with me, we are on verse 6 which says this:

(Love) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Thank you Lord for your perfect love. Give me eyes to see truth and a heart that is quick to find joy there. Thank you for loving me first, God.

Continuing in the basics

In case there is anybody working on memorizing Scripture with me, it's time for another verse. I am continuing in 1 Corinthians 13. It's time for verse 5 now which says this:

(Love) It does not insist on it's own way, it is not irritable or resentful.

Ouch! Not selfish? Hmm I have some work to do! How about you? What verse are you working on? Experiencing any victory? Resisting the enemy? Being transformed in your mind? You can do it! It's time never wasted!

Lord Jesus, wash me fully in your love. May it fill and satisfy me and free me to give it away. Only in you and because of you do I not have to insist on my own way. Change me Jesus. May I experience and demonstrate your kind of love better, deeper and fuller. You are so good God.

Back to the Basics

Summer is passing me by! Lots going on and tons of fun happening as we are getting settled and plugged into our new chapter of life. In the meantime, it's time to engrain some more Scripture. I want to work on the love verses out of 1 Corinthians 13. I'm going to take it a verse at a time to really focus on the character of love.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

Jesus, I want to be hopelessly satisfied and lost in your affections. Thank you for describing yourself to us this way! I long to be a catalyst of your favor.

Resisting Still

The last couple of days, humility has been the concept constantly before me. It is an amazing dynamic that a person that wrestles with insecurity as much as I do also wrestles with pride as much as I do! Such a dichotomy.

It leads me to the verse I want in the forefront of my mind currently. John 3:30 says this:

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Enough said.

How about you? Anyone memorizing with me? What are you working on?

Resisting

Not long before we left FL, I had the chance to sit around the table with my pastor Jesse and we we discussed the theology of generations past verses today. He said something that locked in and resonated with me and I heard it again this week as I had an opportunity to chat with Dave, the pastor here at Trinity. This is what grabbed me:

Are we trying to transfer knowledge or working toward transformation?

The scriptures teach us that transformation comes from renewing our mind. I've confessed to you before a critical heart and I want to be transformed, so here is the new verse I gonna work on and expect change from.

Ephesians 4:29 says this: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

How about you? What verse can bring some revolution in your life? Want to join in memorizing with me?

Lord Jesus, your word is full of teachings that describe how the heart and the tongue are connected. I don't just want to know what you say, I want a radical turnover. Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me. Have your way in me Lord.

Resisting

I know I said that I was learning a verse every two weeks, but I told you about it mid way of the last verse. So, it's time for me to start a new one. If you are joining me, please feel free to jump in at your own pace. Before I tell you my new one, let me practice my first two on you and see if I got 'em:

She will have no fear of bad news; her heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord. Her heart is secure, she will not fear. In the end she will look in triumph on her foes. Psalm 112:7-8

When you eat or drink of do anything else, always do it to honor God. 2 Corinthians 10:31

(shoot, it's 1st Cor, not 2nd)

Now to the new verse for me. I knew this was my next verse for over a week, but I had a cool confirmation with it Sunday morning at Trinity. I'm going to memorize Galations 1:10 which says this: "Am I not trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. "

Over the last few weeks I have felt the

Lord speaking to me about my insecurities - note the lines dealing with fear in the first verse. I realized that I was very much after people's approval instead of resting in the acceptance and approval of the Lover of my soul. Remember, the whole point of me memorizing scripture right now is to resist the accuser as he whispers and shouts lies to me, and for me to put my confidence in my Redeemer and the truth he died for me to live in.

In the worship service yesterday, Dave started a series on the 10 commandments beginning with #10 - thou shall not covet. As he was breaking it down for us there were a couple of nuggets that stood out to me like glow in the dark neon signs:

- Coveting is not trusting in God's current provision.

- Covetousness is when we trust us more than we trust God.

Now, while Dave was referencing mostly material things, I knew the Lord was telling me that this applies for seeking affirmation and applause from people too. At the closing of every service, we are given several possible options as a next step to walk out our faith during the week. That's when the clincher came. One option was to read Luke 18:18-30, which Dave briefly discussed, and to ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I value more than Christ and His kingdom.

Whoa!

The reason that's such a ton of bricks for me is because I KNOW that His divine power has given me all I need. I KNOW that in Christ I am accepted. I KNOW that I am dearly and deeply loved. I KNOW that in Christ I am chosen. I KNOW that I have His approval. So then why am I valuing other people's praise more than the favor of my Saviour? I'm not sure but I'm ready to trade that need and change my desire. I'm ready to break through the lie that I need every one's approval. I'm ready to stop worrying if this or that person will like me. I'm ready to stop stressing over whether or not I'll be accepted by so-and-so.

This goes so hand in hand with the last half of my previous verse - "when you do anything else, always do it to honor God." So, here's the truth checker for me: am I doing ____ to win the approval of men or of God? Dang! Busting down 2 issues at a time - pride and insecurity! Only my loving Jehovah can call me out like that and offer such grace that brings healing and growth, not condemnation and shame. It's why I love Him so!

So, how about you? What verse are you working on to fight some lies with? What truth do you need fresh in your mind to be convinced of?

Lord Jesus, what a mess I am and how patient You are!! Thank you Jesus that we may approach You with boldness amidst our chaos. It is Your kindness Lord that leads us to repentance! Thank you for the privilege and relief of repentance. Jesus transform me by renewing my mind with the truth of Your great love and acceptance. How much more approval can I need than that of the Maker of heaven and earth?! You God, are matchless. I long for all I do to honor You alone.

Resist

Several nights ago Mike woke me up as I was stirring from a bad dream. I'm not a good enough writer to be able to explain the dream but it was very clear to me that the Lord was speaking the word "Resist" to me. I immediately wanted to email several pastor/teacher friends and ask them "What does it mean to resist?" and "How do you do that?" But just as fast as I was ready to grab Mike's iphone to send a note, I felt the Lord say to me "Hey, why don't you ask me?!"

So, I asked the Lord, "How do I resist? What does that look like?" The Holy Spirit took my mind to the scripture in James that says "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Then to the scripture when Jesus was tempted and answered back with the Holy Writ from the Old Testament and Satan fled. As I was laying in bed, now wide awake, I also thought about how the enemy of our souls appeared to Eve in the garden. It occurred to me a difference in her response to the father of lies and Jesus' response to him was that she gave in after the first try.

Here at Trinity, Dave, the pastor is in a sermon series entitled Come Alive steering us to the truth that the only way to be alive in Christ is to be "Word dependent and Spirit empowered". This is confirmation to me that I need to be memorizing The Word again. So I am going to work on a verse for two weeks and commit it to memory. This is especially powerful for me when I am dealing with a specific issue. To plant His truth in my heart for His Spirit to bring to my mind as needed brings victory in my daily life. I've grabbed a couple of verses already and I want to ask you if you'd like to join me.

A helpful technique I learned last year is to write them out on 3x5 spiral bound note cards. Something else I am adding to that this time is to text them to some friends for repetition sake and accountability. There are so many great benefits that come from tucking His words in my soul, but the thing that feels most pressing now is obedience.

The verse I am working on for a present struggle (and gaining victory in) is 1 Corinthians 10:31 "When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. (CEV)

So how about you? Wanna become "Word dependent, Spirit empowered" and "Resist" with me? Feel free to jump in at your own pace. There is never a moment wasted weaving the gospel into the fabric of our being. Come on, let's watch the devil flee together!