Memory Verse Challenge: Week 32

Hello everyone!  This week's verse could be taken a couple of different ways.  Either one is helpful I think. 

First - I've heard it used as a lesson in patience.  God always keeps His promises to us.  Most people, me included, get impatient from time to time.  We often tend to think God has forgotten us, His promises and/or He's in no particular hurry (like we are).  But as the verse says - we understand slowness in a different way than God does.  This verse should give us encouragement that God will always deliver on His promises - no matter how long the wait. We must hold on to that truth.

Second - I see this verse as an overall message of God's enduring love for all His children.  Yes - God could come at any time, wipe out the earth and take His believers back up to heaven with Him.  He will do this - His promise is real.  But there are those who haven't come to know Him yet.  He is waiting for them to come to Him and He will wait for the very last one.  (How awesome to be waited on instead of written off!) We will have our day in glory but His patience and desire for all to know Him outweighs His hurry to bring us home.

See more about the Memory Verse Challenge here.
See the complete list of Challenge verses here.

Memory Verse Challenge: Week 31

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay in getting this week's verse out. I am traveling and had hoped to get this posted earlier. Oops!!!!

This verse may be unconventional as far as memory verses go but it's one that offers a good reminder from time to time.

You know those moments where you start to question God and even begin to doubt He knows what's going on in your life? You've had them, right?  Well, for me, God's conversation with Job is the reminder I need to put me back in my place and my thoughts back on track. 

Job was in a "whiny" stage and I think God got a little tired of listening to his complaints.  Basically, God said "Enough!!"  Where were you when I did this and this and this.....the list goes on. We don't need to memorize all of them to get gist.  This first verse will do well as a reminder. 

We don't have any right to question God?  We are the creation not the creator.  Sometimes we just need to "zip it" and let God do His thing.



See more about the Memory Verse Challenge here.
See the complete list of Challenge verses here.

Sunday Blogvotional: God Is For Us

If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

Think how differently we’d live our lives if this verse was firmly ingrained into our being, our hearts and our souls.  Where would our fear be?  How much control over us would fear have? 

There is no one stronger or more powerful than God.  Simply put - He created the universe.  He can wipe it out. 

Surely our battles with the evil one or even our earthly enemies are no match for Him.  Then why is it, at times, we get so defeated?  It’s not because we actually are defeated – it’s that we think we are.  There is a huge difference. 

We believe a lie when we believe we are capable of being beaten.  It's a lie that God is no longer with us in our battles or doesn't care enough about us to fight on our behalf. 

If we are with God, rest assured He is with us!  

Encouragement for the week:  When the battles of this life overwhelm you, remember you have not been defeated.  Don’t give into that belief.  Take courage, stand up, put your armor on and ready yourselves. The battle belongs to the Lord. Victory is at hand.

Memory Verse Challenge: Week 30

Hi everyone!  This week's verse comes from one of my all-time favorite passages in the Bible - John chapter 17.  In this chapter Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before being arrested.

He knows He's about to die and prays that God will be glorified through His death.  He prays for His disciples protection.  Then He takes a moment to pray for us (yes - you and me). 

His love for us shines through in the midst of His pain.  He wants us to be with Him in Heaven - to share His home with us and for us to see His glory.  I love that we clearly see His desire to be with us. 

This belief we have, called Christianity, isn't just some process we go through in our lives.  It's about love, relationships and the desire to be together.  There's nothing quite like the feeling of being loved and wanted.  And nobody loves and wants us more than Him.   

See more about the Memory Verse Challenge here.
See the complete list of Challenge verses here.

Sunday Blogvotional: Know the Word to Live It

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  

Psalm 119: 9-11

Let's face it - the less we know of God's Word, the less we will live according to it.  David knew what so many of us don't really get - that God's Word isn't merely stories and laws.  It's life-giving, soul-growing sustenance.  David had a desire to know God not only on the surface but deep inside of his being.  He longed for God.  And through that longing came the desire to please God - to live according to His Word.  He spent many hours meditating on scripture and soaking in all of God's goodness.  David had many difficult times and even though he faltered (like we all do); his sins never took him completely away from God.   A non-believer might have said "Give up on your God already.  He has given up on you."  But the Words of truth were planted firmly in David's heart and he overcame.  What path will we take if we don't have God's word planted in our souls?

Encouragement for the week:  Dedicate time each day this week to reading God's word.  To go a step further memorize some passages from the Bible.  There is no better way to "hide" His Word in your heart. (Try out the Memory Verse Challenge.  To get a list of encouraging verses go here.)