Verses 38/39 of 52!!!

In the past two weeks, I have continued to memorize Romans 12, by God's help.

"Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

Romans 12:7-12

The last few verses have really challenged me this week. What a wonderful standard set for born-again believers!!! May we truly become more like Christ in the way we act, think, and talk.

In Awe . . .

. . . Of my God's Creation.

Chimney Rock in New Mexico

Clouds in Colorado

The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

Psalm 95:5-7

Take My Life . . .

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

(Words by Frances Ridley Havergal)

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/445#ixzz25B1fCYtT

What am I holding back from God? Can I truthfully sing, "Take me, Lord, let it be as You please?"

Verses 36/37 of 52!!!

Last week, I memorized Philippians 4:8. It is a verse that I kinda knew, but always got the order mixed up. So I dove into it determined, by God's help, to learn the correct order of pure, true, honest, etc. :)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

This verse has been one that I've "known" for years and years. But as I memorized it, one little part stuck out to me: "whatsoever things are of good report." I imagined myself, at the end of the day, standing before God saying, "Father, here is the report of my thoughts today . . ." Wow!!! How often would I be able to give a "good report?"

~*~*~

This week, I memorized Romans 12:4-6. I would like to completely memorize Romans 12 and already had verses 1-3 memorized.

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member one of another. 

Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith;" 

Romans 12:4-6

The ability to memorize God's Word is such a blessing! I am grateful for all of the verses that God has allowed me to store in my heart.

Proverbs and Picture

This verse always evokes the question: am I being diligent . . . or hasty??

Jumping Ahead

Waiting and patience: these could possibly be some of the hardest life lessons to learn. As believers, a large part of our waiting is not on simple things but on God’s timing. It does not matter what stage in life we are in: single, married, pregnant, with a home full of little kids, with a home of unmarried daughters, or other, there are times in which we are required to wait.

Part of waiting on God is in trusting Him – putting our full expectations, dreams, and desires in His care and leaving the results up to Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (KJV)

Why do we need to trust God? “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) God has His special plan for each of our lives, but to discover this plan, we must trust in Him, seek His face, and wait.

It is simple to say, “wait.” The struggle comes with the application. The tempter will use deceitful lies to entice us to jump ahead of God’s perfect timing. Our own excitement and emotions will also cause us to neglect to be still and wait for God’s leading. But what does God’s Word say? “Be still, and know that I am God:” (Psalm 46:10)

We have a choice to “wait patiently” or to “jump ahead.” There is a blessing or consequence depending on the choice we make.

Some of the blessings of waiting:

       God is good to us: “The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

       It builds our trust in God: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:5-6)

Some of the consequences of jumping ahead:

       Leanness of the soul: “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:13-15)

       God will give us up to our own lusts:“But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” (Psalm 81:11-12) and “They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” (Proverbs 1:30-31)

Is waiting worth it? Absolutely! Is waiting sometimes a struggle? Indeed! But I challenge you: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Giveaway . . . again

The giveaway I mentioned last week is still going on. If you haven't seen/entered, you might want to stop by: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/cynthias-lilla-rose-giveaway.html

Verse 35 of 52!!!!

This week, I memorized a verse that tags onto two verses already memorized: 1 John 2:17. I found it a good reminder to consider what I am doing - what I am holding on to.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17