Thanks for your encouragement, TheMoviegoer and brooke19. I think that for me the most challenging accomplishment is to internalize the word of God - over and above merely learning the words, to be changed by it, to make it truly how I think and respond to people/situations.
rvfc2, There is a certain humility that comes from this process. I have so many more verses memorized than I did a couple of years ago, and yet I still need God's grace and forgiveness as much as I ever have. I have long given up the notion that I will be this fountain of quotation that I envisioned when I started.
Yes, thank you TheMoviegoer. I heard someone speak recently of how it can seem a great distance to bring what is in the head down to the heart. That seems to be the case for me. We do need God's grace and forgiveness constantly. And He is so kind and patient to give it to us.
Thanks, Jappel. Sorry it took me so long to report back... VBS went well. They averaged about 15 each of 4 nights. It was reported that two children made decisions for Christ. Also, they were delighted to have the help of 2 teenagers who used to attend VBS and wanted to continue as workers.
My prayer now for all the children who have "made decisions," "gone forward," etc. at VBSs is that they would truly grow into a life (as opposed to a moment) of faith in Christ and in his word. And for the many that have not yet come to faith, that there would be some "nugget" of truth that they heard that would stick with them and draw their thoughts to God.
Thanks for the report, Jappel! Glad to hear VBS went well. Ours ends Thursday night. May God use these meetings to instill in the children (and their parents) a certainty that there IS a God, and a desire to know Him.
Congratulations on reaching another milestone, Goodnews! May our Lord help you to remember those verses and give you opportunity to use them for His glory. :-)
This is kind of long, but I can't resist sharing one of my favorite poems with those who might appreciate it.
God Thou art Love
If I forget, Yet God remembers! If these hands of mine Cease from their clinging, yet the hands divine Hold me so firmly that I cannot fall; And if sometimes I am too tired to call For Him to help me, then He reads the prayer Unspoken in my heart, and lifts my care.
I dare not fear, since certainly I know That I am in God’s keeping, shielded so From all that else would harm, and in the hour Of stern temptation strengthened by His power; I tread no path in life to Him unknown; I lift no burden, bear no pain, alone: My soul a calm, sure hiding-place has found: The everlasting arms my life surround.
God, Thou art love! I build my faith on that. I know Thee who has kept my path, and made Light for me in the darkness, tempering sorrow So that it reached me like a solemn joy; It were too strange that I should doubt Thy love.
Thank you both for your encouragement! Leveling up on the Ace badge was quite unexpected. I use this app on my phone and have "flitter-fingers" so it isn't often that I don't have errors. Am grateful for the opportunity to use this website and how it encourages us to keep in the scriptures. God bless you both as you continue your time with Him.
Thank you both for your encouragement! Leveling up on the Ace badge was quite unexpected. I use this app on my phone and have "flitter-fingers" so it isn't often that I don't have errors. Am grateful for the opportunity to use this website and how it encourages us to keep in the scriptures. God bless you both as you continue your time with Him.
So sorry to lose your fellowship here, joosep. I agree with janet23 and mrsmoo in expressing appreciation for your encouragement along the way - and for your example of being an encourager. :) God bless you as you draw near to Him.
O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the enemy. Psalm 107:1-2
But when he (Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matt. 9:36-38)
John 17 (Jesus' prayer for His church, His bride) 20 Neither pray I for these (His disciples) alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
"O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine. Yet all are one in Thee for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia! (from For All the Saints)
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.... And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matt. 28:1,5-6
Joosep, your verses made me think of those who discovered the empty tomb early in the morning - and when they believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, how they must have rejoiced, thanking and praising the Lord.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no. Deut. 8:2
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor. 5:20-21 KJV)
😃 Those would be some good ones. I've noticed that you often put titles to passages - seems like a good way to keep the subject matter in mind, or organize the passages.
Thanks for asking, FinalAsgard. Probably the verse that comes to mind most often lately is Phil. 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. (I desire to behave in a way that pleases God and am grateful that He helps me to do that. It is often my prayer for myself and others.)
Other verses that come to mind are Phil. 3:12 which includes the idea of pursuing Christ in a desire to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me. John 14:21 where Jesus said that when we demonstrate our love for him by obeying his commands the Father will respond in love and Jesus will reveal himself to us. Romans 8:26 and 34 - the first speaks of the Holy Spirit interceding for us and the second speaks of Christ interceding for us. Romans 12:21 be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Psalm 50:15 God invites His people to call on Him in the day of trouble. He will deliver them and they will glorify Him. (God and man responding back and forth to each other.) Matt 24:30 speaks of Christ coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (longing for the day - and how magnificent he is, coming in power and glory!) Titus 2:12-14 again - includes watching for our Lord's glorious coming.
These are some individual verses that have been especially meaningful to me in recent years. Psalm 91 should also be included in my favorites. It is comforting to think of being in the secret place of the most High during uncertain times (and all times).
Thank you Goodnews and onfire247! I truly appreciate your encouragement along the way as we grow in the knowledge of God (in part) through memorizing scripture. :-)
Thank you Goodnews and onfire247! I truly appreciate your encouragement along the way as we grow in the knowledge of God (in part) through memorizing scripture. :-)
Thanks for asking, FinalAsgard. Probably the verse that comes to mind most often lately is Phil. 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. (I desire to behave in a way that pleases God and am grateful that He helps me to do that. It is often my prayer for myself and others.)
Other verses that come to mind are Phil. 3:12 which includes the idea of pursuing Christ in a desire to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me. John 14:21 where Jesus said that when we demonstrate our love for him by obeying his commands the Father will respond in love and Jesus will reveal himself to us. Romans 8:26 and 34 - the first speaks of the Holy Spirit interceding for us and the second speaks of Christ interceding for us. Romans 12:21 be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Psalm 50:15 God invites His people to call on Him in the day of trouble. He will deliver them and they will glorify Him. (God and man responding back and forth to each other.) Matt 24:30 speaks of Christ coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (longing for the day - and how magnificent he is, coming in power and glory!) Titus 2:12-14 again - includes watching for our Lord's glorious coming.
These are some individual verses that have been especially meaningful to me in recent years. Psalm 91 should also be included in my favorites. It is comforting to think of being in the secret place of the most High during uncertain times (and all times).
Thanks for your encouragement joosep and Rose and HomeSchoolMama. I really appreciate this website. It provides ready opportunities to both memorize new, and review previously learned, but too often forgotten passages. I truly desire to learn God's word and to always be ready to give an answer for the hope God has given those who put their trust in Jesus. I'm also grateful for the fellowship of others who are on this same scripture-learning journey. Thanks be to God.
Thanks for your encouragement joosep and Rose and HomeSchoolMama. I really appreciate this website. It provides ready opportunities to both memorize new, and review previously learned, but too often forgotten passages. I truly desire to learn God's word and to always be ready to give an answer for the hope God has given those who put their trust in Jesus. I'm also grateful for the fellowship of others who are on this same scripture-learning journey. Thanks be to God.
In the gospels, Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of man. He also spoke of those whom the Father had given to him (I think of John 6, 10, & 17). I wonder if what Daniel was seeing here was a vision from "before the foundation of the world."