We’re almost there, Westheights Kids Teams, and friends who’ve joined us on the Scripture Memory Challenge! Let’s go for a strong finish: only a few more chances to jump in!
It’s been heartwarming to hear of the passages you’re all working on, on your own, with your small groups, or with SMC partners, because I know firsthand how meditating on Scripture has the power to sink truth deep into our lives; how it enables us to see more layers; how it can become a means through which we can hear the voice of the Shepherd…
I review my verses whenever I can, but that often means only about once a week, or at the most, twice…I always start at the beginning though, and try to go through them all, which means that many of them are starting to stick—finally! There are a few that seem fuzzy, so I just keep reviewing, hoping one of the many remote, unused parts of my brain will pick them up eventually…Somewhere, there’s an optimist who believes in me!
This month’s first verse is an easy one…I purposed to look for one that I could use in worship—one that reflects how I feel about this “friend of mine” who is mind-bogglingly also “the One who reigns forever.” And then I read this single verse, which seemed to say it all…The psalmist David wrote it as a prayer of love, thanksgiving and worship. How startling and comforting to think that we can pray as the ancients did, perhaps even along with them, by praying Scripture!
So here is the first of my my official posts for the month of May:
Charlene Neuman
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
Psalm 18:1 (NIV)
Your turn! Join the May Scripture Memory Challenge–even if you’re not on a Westheights Kids Team…It’s never too late! As a way of nudging each other on, post your verse, or verses, in the Comment Section below. Include your name (if you’d like) your verse, the reference and translation. (See the format I used above.) Post a single verse, one a month, or more! Participation is the goal…. For more info on the what and why of this adventure, click here.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 NIV
My verse for June 1st
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”. Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25, (NLT)
My verse for May 15th
“The angel of the Lord stands guard around those who have respect for him. And he saves them.
Pslam 34:7 NIVR
Wow – I’m finding memorizing Scripture so helpful these days. Memorizing it seems to help me internalize the truth of it – and I love that it keeps coming back to my mind during the day. Here’s the one I’m working on right now:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matthew 5:41 (KJV)
This verse reminds me that when asked for help, I should always go above and beyond what was asked of me. If a friend is in need of comfort and wants me to sit with them for an hour, I bring snacks and flowers and sit with them for two hours.
I think that when we (or others) ask for help, we are never asking for the right amount of help, since we are always so afraid of being a burden to people around us! By “going the extra mile” we assure that the person in need gets the help they need, and tells them that their pain is never a burden to us.
Today this verse has an extra special meaning to me. I was feeling very, very “down”, so I asked a friend if he could call me and just chat for a few minutes, since I knew he was busy with work and didn’t want to burden him with my own problems. He called me immediately and stayed on the phone for over an hour.
I think my next verse to memorize will be Matthew 7:7.