24 verses

Well today marks the day of the last memory verse for this year.  One year ago I embarked on a journey to memorize 24 verses - 2 per month.  I've posted many of them.  I was part of a greater group of women who committed to memorizing 24 verses this year.  We were accountable to each other by posting our verses on a website.  The goal was to keep all of those verses by memory and to hide them in my heart.  Now I must confess that I need to review some of them - but the task has been accomplished.  I've made it through.  And you can be sure that next year I will be continuing to hide God's Word in my heart.   He has used every single verse that I memorized in this year.  This year that has been one wild ride.  Never in a million years would I have thought that at this time I'd be sitting at home on a Tuesday morning blogging before taking my boys to Kindermusik.  If you would have asked me, I would have answered that I'd be in a class with 10 little munchkins with special needs teaching for CPS. 

God's ways are not are ways - and boy am I glad that they aren't!  His plans are so much better.

So here is the last verse of the year.  I will be posting the new verses in the sidebar for 2010... continuing to hide His Word in my heart so that I may talk about it when I'm sitting down, and walking along the road - when I lie down and when I get up. 

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.

1000 Gifts - God's Hand of Protection

Storms are amazing.  By their nature they reveal glimpses of the strength and power of the Creator, however, they are by no means, stronger than He who created them.  For in the Gospels it is recorded on more than one account that Jesus stilled the winds and the waves, and that the disciples marveled at this.

Folks our little section of the country were caught for three days in the midst of a nor'easter.  Wind gusts up to 75 miles an hour and sustained winds of 55 miles an hour snapped trees, electric poles, and blew water past its normal mark to heights of 7.6 feet above the tide's stopping point.  There was flooding, damage, destruction.  But God's hand was here.  He gave me this picture in my mind as I prayed for our protection from the storm - His hand cupped over our house - His hand of protection.   No destruction came to us.  Not even a large branch from the trees that line the property. No flooding.

 For His Hand of protection - I give thanks.

0072.  the rains that watered the land for days commanding us to stay inside together, even daddy, for fun family time

0073.  the  howling of winds and bending of trees and the firm knowledge that with His word it would stop immediately if He chose it

0074.  kids in pajamas all day long

0075.  special breakfasts made by daddy because work has been canceled for the day

0076.  no loss of power except for a brief few hours during sleep time

0077.  wrestling, game playing, movie watching, book reading, treat baking - an unplanned staycation - reconnecting with the people with whom you live

0078.  the symbolism of three days of dark skies and pouring non stop rain entombed indoors only to be broken apart by the bright glorious sun of the Lord's day

0079. sweet fellowship at our place of worship and hearing words of Life - praises to the LORD - a needed change from being confined to the house

0080.  a beautifully sunny day - perfect for outdoor clean up

0081.  a new verse to hide in my heart - reminding me that the Lord has brought me up out of Egypt  and that He will bless my obedience

Psalm 81:10

I am the LORD your God, 

Who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

Memory Verse & Wordless Wednesday

Psalm 139:17-18

How precious also are Your thoughts towards me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them.
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

Today's verse - Right on Time

It seems, now, that I am only posting during my memory verse times... summer has been so busy - so busy, in fact, that it is close to over. We are closer to the end than we are to the beginning... a definite sorrow fills my heart, as summer is my favorite season - just because I am (make that WAS) a teacher.

The verses this time around go so well together. They are what I truly need at this point as I have given up one road for another. The direction of the new road is not easily seen at this time. But, as our Bible Study teacher reminded us on Sunday... if you are going through a period where the turns on life's road are unable to be seen just trust that your Heavenly Father has wherever that road leads in the palm of HIS Hands. He is holding up that road and directing it. Sometimes that's a whole lot harder to live out. But in the times that I want to give up and go back to my comfortable life of trusting in my own strength and doing what I've done for the last ten years, I will stop and remember this:

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
Psalm 57:2

Another verse

Due to being on vacation to OHIO I am very late in posting my most recent memory verse for this two week period. I have been focusing on the Lord's provision since He has called me to obedience in staying home with my two kids this year instead of going back to teaching. It's going to be a challenge, however, I am confident that He will supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

The verse I chose to memorize this time around is from Matthew 6:33-34. We've been going through the adult life of Jesus in Bible Study on Sunday morning. We finished learning about the beatitudes a few weeks ago. This verse jumped out at me. I had read it so many times before, but this time it had real meaning to my reality.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This verse doesn't mean that I will get everything I ask for, nor does it imply that I will be spared from trouble. It does, however, say that if I seek after the things of God and seek after His righteousness, then the things in chapter 6 spoken of previously - will be added to me... how awesome.

Psalm 9:10

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Not only has God been teaching me obedience, but in the journey He's also teaching me to trust Him. I've said before in my blog that God is making it very clear to me that I am supposed to do that which He is asking of me. It became clear to me in about mid-March that the LORD was planning for me to stay home with my boys this fall. I am a teacher by trade, and truly enjoy teaching, however, it was always my desire to stay home with my boys. Due to some circumstances over the past two years, mostly undesirable circumstances, God was calling me home. Home to my family, my sons. The ones I waited so long for, He wanted me to stay home... to train them up in the way that they should go. Who better to teach them, their mom.

With this decision has been much angst. The idea of losing my income has brought about much stress and anxiety. Not only are we losing my income (2/3 of our family income), but also the health insurance that I carry for myself and the boys. However, after speaking to many godly women, many of whom who have gone through the same situation, we have come to the conclusion that I'm supposed to stay home. My hubby and I have gone through MANY conversations about what this is going to take. THIS IS HUGE... it is something that only GOD can accomplish. My hubby, being the practical one (although, I often wear the practical pants, myself) has said more than once... this isn't practical... it is foolish to be without health insurance... it is foolish for us to do this. God quickly brought to my mind --- "If I AM calling you to this obedience... it is not foolishness. I AM will provide." He has reminded me of that more than once. Thankfully, the last time my hubby and I had this conversation was last Saturday. I reminded him again, that obeying God is not foolish. It may not make sense to us... however, it is NOT foolishness. That Sunday morning we sat in Bible Study, under yet another "made for me" study given by our awesome Bible Study leader, after talking about Jesus feeding the 5,000 (which was actually estimated to be between 15-20,000 when you include women and children), wrote this on the board --- practical doesn't equal faith. The point being that when we look for things that are practical we have a hard time stepping out on faith and trusting God for who HE is. He is the great I AM, Jehovah Jireh, the Most High.

As I struggle with the enormity of this decision and I question if this is REALLY what God wants me to do I pray for encouragement... that the Lord would make it known to me again what He wants me to do. He immediately allows me to experience His grace through email devotionals that spell out clearly His request, or sends a phone call from a trusted encouraging friend my way. I am humbled that my God would be so intimate with me to give me such a clear message.

All of this being said to bring to light my new memory verse for this go round. David, the psalmist, spoke of trusting in the LORD. He declares that the LORD will not forsake those who seek Him. So simply it reminds me to trust and seek with the promise, that I will not be forsaken, forgotten, abandoned. And so, I declare boldly:

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

JOSH 1:9

Boy, am I falling behind in my blogging. There's so much to tell. School is now out for the summer. I've been busy trying to clean my house before the kids ended their time with our sitter. But, I find that you never get done all that you set out to do... however, I'm truly thankful for the day of cleaning that my house received.

My new verse is from Joshua, one of my favorite Old Testament books. In this verse Joshua is being encouraged by the Lord. Good ol' Josh had some AMAZING shoes to fill after Moses died. He was chosen by God to lead God's people into the promised land, a land flowing with milk, honey, and let's not forget about the giants. Joshua had seen how the people reacted when Moses had given them directions from God. He had seen firsthand the complaining spirits of this temporarily nomadic people regarding the provisions that God had supplied. God knew that Joshua was afraid. He told him 3 times in the first 9 verses of the book to "Be strong and courageous." WOW! Encouragement directly from the LORD. The Lord knew that Josh would need encouragement. He knew that Joshua was probably doubting his own capabilities. But just like God, He had a plan. What He was really telling Joshua was that HE had it all under control.

The next new chapter in my life has me feeling a little nervous. God's calling me to obedience. He's asking me to live it out. I don't want to disappoint Him. I long to bring glory to His name. I yearn to tell others of what miraculous things that He has done in my life. I perceive that I'm on the edge of God's greatness. I have a choice to make. Will I obey? Will I follow?

This month's memory verse reminds me of what God told to Joshua. He's telling it to me too.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

New Verse

At this moment in my life the Lord has been leading us into some decisions that are pretty heavy. Back in February or March I wrote about how God was teaching me obedience. He taught me about obedience, and now He is giving me a life lesson in it. Many times life lessons are rough. However, as every great teacher knows - you can learn all the book knowledge there is, but the true learning comes in the application process. Can you apply what you know? Will I apply what I know? Scary thought - when you have to put your feet to your faith, yet not so scary when you have a God as big as mine. Still my selfish prideful human side loves to be able to count on me to do it myself. After all of the times I've seen me fail, why on earth would I trust me? God's success rate is 100% ! Why would I chose my rate of success with many failures when I can have God's 100%? Seems silly, doesn't it?

So this being penned, here is the verse for this 15 days.

Phil 4:19-20
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen

Next Verse

I know that it has been at least 15 days since my last post. That's a really long time. I want to try to get better at posting more regularly, however, so much has been going on. My head is once again swirling with the things that are going on around me. Actually, maybe I've never stopped. So that being said, my next verse to memorize is Phillipians 4:6-7. This verse is important to me at this moment in time so that I remember to leave my worries, my "what ifs" at the foot of the cross. My Father is faithful to take care of my anxieties. He is so much better equipped to do so. He is God Almighty. He owns everything. He has control over everything. I just need to do what the Scripture says. Easier said than done. Hopefully, committing this verse to memory and meditating on it will make it more readily applicable in my daily life.

Phillipians 4 : 6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.