Aug 1st - Verse 15

Good morning friends :)

Are you a last minute crammer, or do you give yourself plenty of time to study? Throughout my entire school career, I was the classic last minute crammer and all-night-before-due-date essay writer. No wonder I can't recall much of what I learned!

I think I mentioned before that this method was also my go-to for Sunday School verse memorization... so not proud of that.

So I determined that this challenge would be different for me... that I would be disciplined in my memorization and review. And it worked.

 Until about a month ago.

Obviously my pep talks of continuing on and the importance of faithful review throughout the busy summer months were for myself!! Unfortunately the last couple verse selections have been worked on with the "cramming" method. I keep realizing that the 1st or 15th is only a day or two away and YIKES!!! I DON'T KNOW MY VERSE!! And it feels hypocritical to to do a regular post and choose a new verse when I'm behind in my memorization and review.

So hence my confession. ;)

I'm going to use August as a review month.... no new verses until I'm positive I have my last 14 selections down pat. Feel free to admit you're doing the same. *grin*

But if you are the faithful student that I dream of being, I want to sing your praises and give you a big high five (my 2 yr old is big into high 5's)! Please keep up your good work... and let us know what verse you are memorizing for the first half of August.

Verse 14 Roll Call

Good afternoon friends,

The fact that it's July 15th already makes me a little sad... summer always goes so quickly. I hope we're all taking advantage of our summer days. This past weekend was perfect summer weather for me -- hot enough to be at the beach and in the water, but with a nice breeze and without humidity. We spent the weekend with friends and thoroughly enjoyed "summer"! :)

I've chosen a short verse for the last half of this month, seeing I kind of took on too much the last few times. This verse was in Living Proof Ministries blog post today, and fits with some of my thoughts lately. 

Here is 1 Cor 4:20 in a few different versions... 
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (NIV)
For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. (NLT)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. (ESV)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. (NASB)
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (NKJV)

The following is a paraphrase of this verse more in context... I know it's Paul talking, but in this small section, it very well could be Christ speaking to me. 

^18-20 ...They don’t think I’ll ever show up in person. But I’ll be there sooner than you think, God willing, and then we’ll see if they’re full of anything but hot air. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life. (The Message)

If I really studied my life and was honest -- Am I living as if I don't think Christ will return? Do I spend more time talking about what is the right thing to do and very little time LIVING it? I am rereading Francis Chan's book Crazy Love, and just read chapter 4 -- the profile of a lukewarm christian... it is a solemn chapter to read as I find too many similarities in my life. I NEED to get the truth of this: God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.

I recently enjoyed a quote found online... I think it was another post from the Living Proof Ministries blog. I use "enjoyed" loosely, as being sharply convicted isn't really an "enjoyable" experience :)

“Intention isn’t valued in the Kingdom of God. Obedience is.”
“Intention is not the same as faithfulness.”


Just my few thoughts today... :) Now let's hear which verse you're focusing in on for the last half of July!

Verse 13 Roll Call

Good morning friends :)

July 1st - Happy Birthday Canada!

Thankful for this beautiful vast peaceful country I am blessed to live in. And thankful for another family holiday :)

I am still working through my Matthew 5:13-16 memorization. It's only four verses, but it's taking a bit of time to get locked in. I don't want to rush over this selection... it's challenging and convicting... and I don't think it's fully gripped me yet.

On a slightly different note. I know a lot of you are facing challenges right now... some of you are mourning the loss of a loved one. Some of you have moved to a new place, maybe just when you started to feel at home in your last location. Some of you may be in a "holding" pattern, wondering what God has for you next. There's a lot of different circumstances we each face... and I wanted to open this up today for prayer requests if you would like our little community to join you in prayer. You are free to share some here, or just "raise your hand" (maybe by saying - "I could use some prayer here too!")...  please make each other feel safe here.

Ok, if you have a new verse selection or are still working on a verse from before, please let us know you're still with us by answering the "roll call"! :)

Take care friends - enjoy your summer days.

Verse 12 - HALF WAY THERE!!

Good evening friends :)

This post is coming late today - my apologies. We have had a beautiful family day out in the sunshine - train rides which delighted my recently-turned-2 year old and later a little birthday party for him at a playground. I love this weather - perfect sunny warm days with very little humidity. So thankful we were able to take advantage of the weather today.

This post is a bit hard to write... I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't listen to my own pep talk back on June 1st! I didn't make any progress at all on my chosen verses, so will have to stick with them for the rest of the month. Hopefully you were a bit more disciplined than me this month! :)

We're half-way through - 12 more verses to go!! Let's do this.

What have you chosen for the last two weeks of June? Or.... are you repeating your June 1st selection like umm.. someone else?? ;)

Verse 11 - Almost half way through!

Good morning friends :)

June 1st is here... May disappeared so fast that it feels like we skipped from April to June! It will take extra discipline on our part to continue memorizing through these summer months... they just seem busier with the nice weather - more visiting, outings, special events, vacations...  Let's not lose ground but work hard to continue to build up our scripture base. Let's not let busyness kill our progress! :)


So let's hear it.... what verse have you chosen to dwell on for the first half of June?

Verse 10 - Encouraging One Another :)

Good afternoon friends!

I've been reminded lately how important it is to be intentional in encouraging each other and to make an effort to build up one another. It's so easy to find fault and let our words flow without thinking... so easy to make a little dig with a smile on our face as if we can get away with being malicious... a back-handed compliment that really is... not a compliment. It's so so so easy to make a sweeping judgement on a brother or sister. I stand here guilty of all these and more. I've also been on the RECEIVING end of both, and it is so refreshing when a sister or brother does or says something kind to encourage us and to show us love. Sisters - let us make an extra effort to be kind. To show love. To give one another the benefit of doubt. Let's forgive. Show Grace. Be honest. Be confidential. Let's make more of an effort to  build up - not tear down. Let's work toward unity and harmony in the family of God. Let's ere on the side of LOVE rather than on our need to always be right. Let's remember there are always two sides to every story. Let's stand against the 'norm' and have the courage to do what's right. If we don't show God's love through our words and actions - who will?  

John 13:35 - "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Oops... I've stepped off my soap-box now... this isn't pointed at anyone specific, but a preach to myself. I thought maybe we could all use the reminder... :)

Hope you have been able to get your last verse into your memory bank... As a friend wrote to me - don't be too hard on yourself if you can't get it word-perfect. It is much more important that we understand the actual meaning behind the verses we're learning and meditating on... Praying for you all! :)

Ok - let's have your 10th verse selection! :D

Verse 9 - Are you still with us? :)

Spring is really here. I think it's finally safe to say that here on this part of the globe... We kind of jump from winter to summer temperatures quickly, so these perfect spring days are precious. Treasured. And fully enjoyed!

How is your motivation these days?? Even if you get a bit behind on memorizing, there's always TODAY to get back at it. Maybe while you take a quick walk to enjoy the weather, you can go over your verses. While you're out for a jog, mopping your floors, weeding your garden (why do weeds grow so easily?!) or cleaning out your fridge... there are many opportunities for review. Praying we will continue to work at it even in these busy months. :)

So, what verse are you choosing to commit to memory this first half of May? We're almost half-way through the year! Keep up the great work friends!