SSMT # 5

Keeping with my weight loss theme, I have anther favorite verse that will be an excellent daily reminder of the power I have through Christ!

I'm reminded, as I started another 8 day challenge yesterday, how powerful it is to have scripture to repeat in my head during times when I'm tempted.  God is so, so good!

SSMT

One of the biggest changes in the last year of my life has been my weight loss. I've pretty much stalled since Christmas, and as soon as I get back from Florida I'm ready to hit the ground running again.

Last summer and into the fall, my pastor went through the fruit of the Spirit one at a time, and I found it to be very beneficial - especially the part about self control.

Even though we spent several months on this passage of scripture, I realized I still didn't have it memorized.

So, that brings me to April's verse:

Scripture Memorization

I've thought long and hard about this whole scripture memorization thing.  Scripture is supposed to bring peace and calm to our spirit... and my bottom line is I feel too much pressure and overwhelmed to learn a new verse every 2 weeks... and that obviously defeats the whole purpose.

So, my solution is to memorize 1 verse every month.

Easter falls on the last day of March, so I thought it would be helpful, as I attempt each day to memorize scripture, to meditate on what He did for me on the cross.  Once again, I'm drawn to the New Living Translation:


     But He was pierced for our rebellion; 
   Crushed for our sins.   
He was beaten so we could be whole.   
   He was whipped so we could be healed.      ~ Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)


Sometimes writing out those words make it much more personal than just reading it...

He was pierced for MY rebellion.  He was crushed for MY sin.  He was BEATEN, so that I could be made whole.  He was WHIPPED, so I could be healed.

I think about that terrible, wonderful cross and can't help but be humbled.  I'm so undeserving of His grace and mercy.  I take it for granted every. single. day.   Mercy. Grace. Love. Forgiveness. Healing.  Restoration. Provision. Praying I don't take it for granted for a moment as i go through this month as we lead up to Good Friday and even beyond.

SSMT 2013

I've become a stalker of Bekah over at Bekah's Bits and came across her blog entry about SIESTA 2013 for scripture memory.  Beth Moore is heading up her  Siesta Scripture Memory Team (SSMT) and I ordered my adorable little spiral bound index card holder thingy and GUESS WHAT?!

It came in the mail today!!  I am SUPER excited!  I'm also behind.  We are supposed to check in on the 1st and 15th of every month.  I obviously missed the 1st, so I'm going to start with the 15th and try to catch up at some point during the year.  I've asked the Lord to be faithful and show me the verses He would have me hide in my heart, and this first verse seems so fitting given my goals for this year.  So, without further ado... my first verse of the year:

Psalm 37:7

Be still in the presence of the LORD,

     and wait patiently for Him to act.

Don't worry about evil people who prosper

     or fret about their wicked schemes.

I like the New Living Translation for this particular verse - some translations say "Rest in the Lord" but I like the translations that say "Be still".  Being still is difficult for me to do.  I also like this translation because it says "in the presence of the Lord"... not just "be still before the Lord" or "Be still in the Lord"... but be still in His presence.... my prayer is that I find myself in His presence constantly in 2013.

I also really like the second half of this verse.  "Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."  I love scripture because it is so versatile and applicable.  Some people call this taking it out of context.  I call it... personalizing.

Confession:  There are lots of people getting married and having babies and I struggle with that on a daily basis.  Some of these people include people who haven't done things "the right way".  

What do I  mean by that?  I graduated from high school.  I went to college.  I got a degree.  I worked while I tried to find a job in my field.  I found a job in my field.  I left that job.  I got a Master's degree.  I go to church every week.  I love Jesus.  I keep busy and enjoy serving in the ministries I'm involved in.  I feel like I've done everything right - why won't God bless me with marriage and motherhood??  I see others who do whatever they want whenever they want to, being blessed with good husbands and beautiful babies.  I know the grass isn't always greener, and I realize my attitude is selfish... but it is hard not to have the "woe is me" mentality.  So, I'm hoping this verse helps with that!

So, there we have it!  First scripture verse of the year.  If all goes as planned, I'll have 24 verses memorized before the end of 2013!