Weekly Memory Verse

It's Monday again!! I don't know where the week goes, but they certainly seem to fly by!! Here we are, the beginning of the week again and time for our new memory verse. Last week's memory verse:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path ..... Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

That was pretty easy since I knew it from before. For reflections on this verse, please go read @ Amazing Grace ~ Mazes, Messes, Miracles and be sure to share how you did & your thoughts on your blog & link here. 

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E.) Weekly Memory Verse format:

We were to memorize this verse, then come back next week and comment on how God spoke to you through this verse and then move on to a new verse. Each week while you are memorizing, allow God to speak to you personally & share a little of what you learn or receive on each verse the following week, when you type it by memory. It's fine to just be accountable and share your progress but it becomes more meaningful when we share about the verse together or apply it to ourselves of what we think.

We are moving into Week 13 with our memory work from "Embracing the Word". We have finished the Aces, Kings, & Queens of each suit so this week we start with the Jack of Spades. The new verse, is one that we all probably know:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

 John 3:16  (NASB)

Since many of you may already know this one, feel free to select a different verse. I'm going to do something a little different. I will be posting the entire set of jacks: spade, club, heart, diamond.

These are the ones that follow John 3:16 (week 13) so that you do not choose one of them.

Week 14(club) John 8:12

Week 15 (heart) Exodus 20:8

Week 16 (diamond) Matthew 22:37-39

What are your thoughts on this verse from Psalm 119:105? I really would like to read what you have thought about this week while memorizing this verse. 

Then next week let's share about John 3:16 or whichever verse you choose. Might I suggest 1 John 3:16 if you already know John 3:16. Trust me if you look at this one, you'll see why. It's a good companion.

If you're participating in the "Weekly Memory Verse", please post and then link up to Mr. Linky with your name & URL of that post.  Thank you!!!

HOW TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN

Beth received this in her email from Paula & passed it on to me! So we want to help you since it's spring time (just in case you have not seen this or don't know how)

How To Plant Your Garden 

First, you  Come to the garden alone,

While the dew

                     is still on

                                     the roses....

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, 

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: 



1. Peace of mind
               2. Peace of heart
                                3. Peace of  soul 
 
 
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: 

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness 
 

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: 

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another 
 

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS: 


1. Turnip for meetings
                  2. Turnip for service
                              3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: 


1. Thyme for each other
                  2.. Thyme for family
                              3. Thyme for friends 
 
 
WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE..   THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU  SOW.  NOT BAD, HUH?! 

Weekly Memory Verse

It's Monday again!! I don't know where the week goes, but they certainly seem to fly by!! Here we are, the beginning of the week again and time for our new memory verse.

Let's see how well I did with last week's verse:

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him......Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

Well, I have to admit that this was a fairly simple verse for me to memorize because I had already committed it to memory some time ago--just in the NIV version rather than the NASB.

In fact, I have a fascination with sheep and shepherds--relating them to myself and Jesus. I've done several posts in the past about this which you might want to stop by and read them here
and here.

Yes, we all have gone astray from time to time, each seeking our own way and not the Lord's way. But, did God just leave us there--leave us there in our state of sinfulness?

No, He sent Jesus Christ to us--the Lamb of God, His only Son--so that we may see and have a living example of God in the flesh.

Do you remember being a small child and doing something that you knew you weren't supposed to do--deliberately doing something that went against your parents (or someone else) specific instructions? I know that I do.

Do you remember the guilt that you felt after not obeying? I know that I do.

Now, I take my own guilt and imagine that multiplied times the sins of everyone in the world. I can't even begin to tell you how many sins that would be or the weight of all that guilt pressing upon me.

But, Jesus took all of this upon Himself by being sacrificed--crucified for us--taking the entire weight of all the sin of all mankind. Hanging on a cross--sinless Himself--yet He loved us enough to take our sin and literally stamp it "PAID IN FULL".

Our debt has been "paid in full" by one who had no debt--a debt we could never afford to pay ourselves.

Our sin all fell upon Jesus. He paid the price for our going astray--seeking our own way and not God's way.

Sheep are not the most intelligent of animals. That is why they need a shepherd--to guide them along, keep them safe from harm. I just recently learned an interesting fact about sheep from someone in my Small Group:

Sometimes there may be a sheep or two in a flock that is rebellious--just doesn't want to listen or follow the shepherd's direction no matter what. The shepherd, after trying many times to discipline and teach these sheep to follow his direction, then has no choice.

The shepherd will actually break one of the sheep's front legs so it can no longer be rebellious and go its own way. The sheep is disabled to the point that it cannot walk, cannot carry its own weight.

What happens to this sheep that can no longer be active, no longer rebellious, not able to care for itself due to its brokenness?

The shepherd puts the sheep across his back and carries it--just like our Lord carries us from time to time--those times when we feel lost, alone and helpless--broken.

I thank God today for carrying me many times--times when I felt that I couldn't find my way, times when I could only see the negative in a situation, times when I almost lost my hope.

God didn't leave me there--He met me where I was, picked me up and carried me.

And I have to ask you today--

Has God carried you sometimes? Have you thanked Him for carrying you and paying your debt in full?

Let's move on to next week's verse. Oh, it is very easy!! I just looked and we're going to be working on the Queen of Diamonds from the "Embracing the Word" cards:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.....Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

We'll again by using Mr. Linky. So, if you're participating in the "Weekly Memory Verse", please post and then link up!!

Beth

Thank You

I'm joining with Peggy for Super Sunday. If you get the chance today or sometime this week, stop by and visit her. You'll find that it is well worth your time.

Last night I was trying to pray. I say trying because I couldn't seem to form the thoughts that were in my mind into sentences.

I finally gave up on the "sentence feature" of my prayer and just started saying words to My Lord. I know that He knows all that is in my life, all that is in my heart and mind. I left it up to Him to form my single words and phrases into prayer.

Here's just some of the single words I offered to God:

job

stress

crying

don't want to go there

sleeplessness

no energy

anxiety

sleeping too much

children

disappointment

discouragement

sad

where

what

help

encourage

lift

empower me

strength

love

hope

carry me

carry me

carry me

thank you

Beth

Saturday Steps of Faith

Today I am joining Lisa at My Passionate Pursuit for "Saturday Steps of Faith". Please stop by and visit Lisa. Maybe you'd like to join in and share:

What are you believing God for today?

My life has been somewhat hectic lately--stress at work, stress at home, many things happening and occurring which could have the capability of leading me to a path where my peace and calmness are nearly gone.

I have lived this life of stress and feeling somewhat chaotic inside for too many years prior to coming to Christ to go back to this lifestyle. I need to maintain my joy in Him, my peace in Him, my hope in Him. I need to remember that God is in control of this situation, not me.

Today I am believing that God has placed everyone and everything that is occurring in my life at this given moment to fulfill His plans and purposes for them and me.

Beth

Weekly Memory Verse

We're beginning another week already!! Time goes by so fast sometimes!! I hope that everyone had a joyous Resurrection Day in our Lord!!

Last week's verse was one that I'm sure all of us basically knew already:

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins........Matthew 1:21

Interesting--yesterday was the day we celebrated our Savior's resurrection after He sacrificed Himself for me, for you, for all of us.

And our memory verse for last week was about the beginning of Jesus' time here on earth. This verse is actually an angel of the Lord appearing to Joseph in a dream. He had learned of Mary's pregnancy and was considering what to do. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him, he listened and obeyed.

I often wonder about Mary and Joseph's thoughts during this time--an angel presenting himself to them, telling them that she will be giving birth to the Son of God--what thoughts ran through through their minds. Joy? Surprise that she had been chosen by God for this miracle? Anxiety? Fear? Are we even capable of raising the Son of God as He wishes us to do?

And I often wonder if they knew--knew the extent of Jesus' ministry, what this would totally involve. As a mother myself, I can only wonder and imagine the thoughts going through their minds, but I'm sure there were many questions left unanswered.

Yet, they heard the Lord and they obeyed. As simple as that--hear and obey. How often do I miss the Lord's voice asking me to do something--something much smaller than the magnitude of Mary and Joseph's obedience--and I miss it due to the clamoring of all the voices from the world.

Today, I'm going to make a concentrated effort to listen for God's voice--for the small things that I may have missed in the past--maybe just a kind word to someone, maybe a helping hand.

But, I know that God speaks to us in many ways, and I wonder--how many times have I missed His call to me?

We'll move on to next week's verse which is the Queen of hearts from the "Embracing the Word" deck of cards:

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him....Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

We're again using Mr. Linky. So, if you are participating in the Weekly Memory Verse, remember to come back and link up. I'll be back after work today to visit you and see how you did with last week's verse.

Beth

Super Sunday

It is indeed a Super Sunday!! This is the day we honor our Lord and Savior for all that He has done!! Join Peggy this Sunday and celebrate!!

GospelGifs

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other,

"Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.

He has risen!

He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But Go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

Mark 16:1-7

And today and every day:



Let all creation testify and this life within me cry:



I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES!!

Beth

It's Friday

Bringing up Godly Teens

This is a subject close to my heart.

Both my children are in their teens.

Both are bombarded daily with the worlds version of what is and isn't acceptable with regard to sexuality, religion, and faith.

I feel like I'm failing them. I am but one small voice among many. And what I'm saying is way less fun in their eyes.

We will go away for the Easter weekend on our annual family Easter camp. While I'm extremely grateful that my teenagers are still happy to go camping with their parents I'd love to find a way to get the Easter message across to them without them shutting down on me.

When you are the only believer in your family it's pretty hard to voice your opinion. Scary even. I don't want them to roll their eyes at me and stop listening. But I don't know how to reach them. I need help.

Lord, please help me find the right moment and the right words to help my children open their heart to you. Please help them navigate the teenage years without compromising themselves and guide them into the wonderful young people you made them to be.

Weekly Memory Verse

It's Monday again (already?), so it's time for our Weekly Memory Verse. Let's see how well I did with last week's verse:

I am the LORD and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; I will gird you, though you have not known Me....Isaiah 45:5 (NASB)

Not too bad--I've again missed some punctuation, but the words are still there, and I remember the location of the verse, so the important issues are A-okay!!

Again, for this verse we need to back up a few verses, and God is again dealing with the Israelites.

This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him,
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:

I will go before you
and will level the mountains,
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars or iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stores in secret places,
so that you may know that
I am the LORD,
the God of Israel,
who summons you by name.

For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not
acknowledged me

Isaiah 45:1-5 (NIV)

Again, the Israelites have gone their own way, and God has appointed Cyrus to lead them--away from their many idols--even though Cyrus does not know Him--is himself an idol worshipper.

As I look at these verses and read all that God says He is going to do for Cyrus--Cyrus who does not know Him or even acknowledge Him, I stand in awe.

These verses bring me right back to the time when I was far from God--yes, I knew of Him--but I did not have an intimate relationship with Him, I did not acknowledge Him as the ruler of my life, my King, the Lord and Creator of all.

And yet, during these times--very difficult times--times of discord, violence, circumstances that I was trying to control that I had absolutely no control over--God was there for me.

He was providing the practical things I needed daily for me and my children, giving me the strength I needed to carry on each and every day.

The most important thing He did during this time was to draw me closer to Him through someone who DID have an intimate relationship with Him. He spoke to her, and she obeyed.

Yes, I still find it amazing that the many things that I considered to be "coincidence" I now look at as "God at work", and I still remember things that I have forgotten and have an "Ah ha moment".

That is God girding us--giving us strength, knocking down the barriers, moving those mountains--even when we are far from Him and do not acknowledge Him as the leader of our lives.

He is there--always there--through the calm and through the storm. We just need to look to Him and He will provide us with our strength to carry on through difficult times.

It's difficult to praise God for storms in our lives, but He uses these times as growing times, times when He is drawing us closer and closer to Him--until we lean fully on Him in complete surrender.

I know many people who do not acknowledge God, and yet I still see Him working in their lives. I've started pointing these instances out to them--"That is God providing for you", "This is how God is showing that He loves you", "This is God giving you His mercy, grace and forgiveness through the sacrifice of His own Son".

How about you? Do you know someone who is far from God--doesn't acknowledge Him? Wouldn't you love to see that person come to Jesus, accept Him and receive salvation and eternal life?

Do you know someone who is worshipping something or someone in their lives other than God? We all have done this--worship something or someone else. Sometimes we even go back there, and then say, "Oh, why did I do this? This is not the answer. This is not the hope and joy of my life. This is not filling that empty hole."

And we return to God, seek His forgiveness and He welcomes us back into His arms, loving His children unconditionally.

I can think of no better season that this week--the week we recognize as the death and resurrection of our Savior--to invite someone else into this relationship with God.

Is God calling you to reach out to someone--invite them into His Kingdom--the only place where we are fully loved and accepted--just as we are.

Come as you are--all your fears and failures. God will take care of the rest.

So now, we move on to next week's verse which is the Queen of Clubs from the "Embracing the Word" cards:

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.......Matthew 1:21 (NASB)

We're again using Mr. Linky, so if you are participating (I would love to be able to come home and see a lot of people memorizing Scripture!) please remember to link up and I'll be back after work to visit!!

Beth

Super Sunday

Peggy is still on her "blogging hiatus" until next Sunday, so I'm again filling in for her. She'll be back next Sunday--Resurrection Day--with what will be I'm sure a VERY Super Sunday as we honor the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord.

Today I'm again sharing an email that Paula sent me. I wish I could give credit to whomever originally wrote this, but I do not know. So, I thank the person who wrote this and all those that forwarded this and then forwarded it again and again until I received it so that I can share this with everyone who stops by:

I had a dream, the Lord Jesus and I are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change.

The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back.

This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked..

Your dream ends. Now you pray:

'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits.

I was a new Christian;

I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'

'That is correct.'

'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning

to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.'

'Very good.. You have understood everything so far.'

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'

'Precisely.'

'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.

'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to weep,
a time to laugh,
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1:4

It's not WHAT you have in your life, but Who you have in your life that counts.. Think about that.

I ASKED GOD:

I asked for a flower,

He gave me a garden.

I asked for a tree,

He gave me a forest.

I asked for a river,

He gave me an ocean.

I urge everyone to also read HisFirefly's post below this one and think about the crosses that you are carrying in your life at this very moment--crosses that will help you to grow and learn to lean on the Cross of Christ--for He is the only ONE who can possibly carry all of our burdens easily.

Learn to come Him quickly with Your burdens. His shoulders are broad, His love is great.

His is the greatest sacrifice of all, and when I think of the crosses that I am carrying now compared to the burden placed upon Jesus, I am overwhelmed with His love for me.

We are utilizing Mr. Linky, so if you are participating in Super Sunday please remember to post and then link your post here.

Have a wonderful Sabbath Day in HIM!!


Beth

P.S. If you missed "WHATEVER THE CROSS" please go back & check it out, it will be worth the time. [Just click on the title and you'll be linked there]. Remember that on APRIL 12th,2009 RESURRECTION SUNDAY, SUPER SUNDAY will return to it's original site with Peggy @ Amazing Grace~Mazes, Messes, Miracles but I will be continuing to participate as usual. Thanks for joining us for a SUPER SUNDAY!

Carry My Cross

The past few days I have been listening to Third Day's song "Carry My Cross" over and over again. I am brought to tears thinking of our Savior's love for us, a love that led Him to the cross.

"As long as I remember
I've been walking through the wilderness
Praying to the Father
And waiting for my time
I've come here with a mission
And soon I'll give my life for this world

I'm praying in the garden
And I'm looking for a miracle
I find the journey hard but
It's the reason I was born
Can this cup be passed on
Lord, I pray your will be done
In this world

So I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame
To the end of the road
Through the struggle and pain
And I'll do it for love
No, it won't be in vain
Yes, I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame

I feel like I'm alone here
And I'm treated like a criminal
The time has come for me now
Even though I've done no wrong
Father, please forgive them
They know not what they've done
In this world

Three more days and I'll be coming back again
Three more days and I'll be coming back again"

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)

Easter Giveaway

Laced With Grace is hosting an Easter Giveaway to celebrate OUR LORD's Resurrection!!

Stop by, leave a comment, and a chance to win a terrific prize!! Make sure to read their devotionals, too!! They're inspiring and timely!!

Beth