BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR A MEMORY VERSE...

this picture is of:

a) girls lined up from curliest hair to straightest hair

b) four tall people and one short person

c) friends at scripture memory celebration

d) all the above

if you answered d, you are correct.

last month i attended a conference put on by living proof ministries. it was a friday evening and saturday morning of worship and bible study with others who had committed to memorize scripture throughout 2011.

as i flip through the small spiral where i recorded the 2011 verses, it is as though i am flipping through a scrapbook of this past year.

it is not a very pretty scrapbook. for twelve months i intended to decorate the cover. it never happened. all that is on the front of is the tag from the store and several scribbles i made in attempt to make different pens write throughout the months.

but when i open up the spiral, the words in it are beautiful. words of wisdom, words of comfort, words of direction and love. as i read them i remember the moment i chose each verse. moments of dealing with fears, unknowns, challenges, and weaknesses. these verses gave me wisdom to cling to through each situation the year contained. some questions have been answered. some remain. this is life. and i'm thankful to have God's guidance as we go through it.

from my "word to live by" i learned: 

*i am never too old for memory verses.

*learning a couple verses a month was a realistic goal, that i want/need to continue.

*it's powerful the way the words i learned keep coming to mind.

i'm already looking forward to 2013 for the next scripture celebration.

december WORD to live by...

The voice of the Lord is powerful,  the voice of the Lord is majestic.

PSALM 29:4

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

MATTHEW 12:34 (and 35)

I am thankful for this challenge throughout 2011. 

It was more powerful than I imagined to purposefully pour scripture into my heart,

and I pray that is where my mouth INCREASINGLY speaks from.

november WORD to live by...

 "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you."

JEREMIAH 29:12

"You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart."

JEREMIAH 29:13

i love these powerful promises.

october WORD to live by...

"Finally brothers and sisters,

whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT,

whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE,

if anything is EXCELLENT or PRAISEWORTHY,

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

"For I KNOW the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you,

plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE."

JEREMIAH 29:11

This month's verses tell me what should consume my thoughts,

and what my confidence should be in.

september WORD to live by...

"We demolish arguments and every pretension

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

 "Be strong and courageous. 
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

JOSHUA 1:9

This month I chose verses to remind me
not to let my crazy/ridiculous/vivid imagination and thoughts control me,
but rather take every thought directly to the Lord.

august WORD to live by...

"Therefore brothers, by the mercies of God,

I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this age,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

so that you may discern what is the

GOOD, PLEASING, and PERFECT will of God."

Romans 12:1-2

I NEED to seek His approval more than anything of this world.

I WANT to seek His approval more than anything of this world.

However, I fall short of this daily. make that hourly.

These words remind me what matters most and why.

May I strive to worship God in my thoughts and actions,

and rid my life of things that distract from this.

july WORD to live by...

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine

according to HIS POWER that is AT WORK WITHIN US.

To HIM BE THE GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations FOR EVER and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

 may these words remind me constantly:

1) to rely on Him, not myself.

2) where all glory is due.

june WORD to live by...

 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness.'

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness,

so that Christ's power may rest on me"

2 Corinthians 12:9

"That is why, for Christ's sake,

I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties,

for when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:10

i'm trying to redirect my mind to these verses when i start to second guess

how God can use me in our home, in our church,

 in our neighborhood, in any situation, when i make so many mistakes.

this is the reminder and promise i need: that it is not because of my strength but Christ's.

may WORD to live by...

"This is the day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad in it." 
psalm 118:24
to remember with each new day, and in all circumstances.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23:6
an encouraging word and reminder to look toward the eternal,
when i get bogged down with the temporary things of this earth.

april WORD to live by...

 romans 12:10

"love each other with genuine affection,

and take delight in honoring each other."

a reminder of how i am supposed to love.

 romans 12:11

"never be lazy,

but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."

a reminder of how i am to strive to live.

march WORD to live by...

2 timothy 4:2

"preach the word; be prepared in and out of season;

correct rebuke and encourage-

with great patience and careful instruction."

be mindful of every word that comes out of my mouth each day,

especially as i discipline, may it always be enough but not too much.

romans 12:9

"don't just pretend to love others. really love them.

hate what is wrong, hold tightly to what is good."

a reminder to purposefully love what is good,

and never simply go through the motions of loving those around me.

february WORD to live by...

proverbs 3:21

"do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,

preserve sound judgement and discretion."

opportunities to practice the things you are working on always arise.

more than ever this month i realized how much i need to use discretion daily,

and how much i need God's help to remember to do so.

proverbs 3:24

"when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

as i strive to go to bed earlier and worry less

this verse provides encouragement and a powerful promise.

january WORD to live by...

i don't typically make new year's resolutions.

i wait until the end of february and make birthday resolutions instead.

but this january i went ahead and begin one of goals.

i want, i need, to know more scripture by heart.

so i'm committing to memorize two bible verses a month this year.

my january verses:

psalm 19:13

"keep your servant from deliberate sin.

don't let them control me.

then i will be free of guilt

and innocent of great sin."

psalm 19:14

"may the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you

o Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

i'm joining some friends

(and many, many other women)

in memorizing scripture this year.

we joined living proof ministries scripture memory challenge.

here's a little info about it from their blog:

On the 1st and 15th of every month of 2011, you will find a post by 8:00 in the morning where I will ask for your memory verse and give you mine. This will begin New Year’s Day. You are committing to 24 Scriptures in 12 months. In previous years, I’ve found this to be a very doable pace. If you do much more, you’ll tend to fall behind and not retain. If you do much less, the impact is negligible. You really can do this. So many of you will surprise yourselves with what you’re capable of doing in the power of the Spirit. Yes, it takes work but it’s tremendously fulfilling and the results are nearly immeasurable. Look at it this way: you’re going to be meditating on something: unforgiveness, toxic memories, misery, lust, greed, dissatisfaction, jealousy, competition. Choose Scripture! Christ Himself said as a man thinks, so is he. He also said His words are spirit and life. This is work worth doing, Not once have I ever known anyone to get to the end of a Scripture memory commitment and say that it didn’t make any real difference.

 it's not too late to join in,

and it's never too late to start putting God's word in your heart.

(you can click here for more information if interested!)