July's 1st Scripture Memory

I love this verse, but especially enjoy the last part:

Isaiah 40:11 TNIV

"He tends His flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently leads those that have young."

The Hebrew word for "gently leads" is "nahal." It's first definition is: to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place or station, cause to rest, bring to a station or place of rest, guide, refresh. It also can mean "to lead or bring to a station or goal" or "to journey by stations or stages."

Being a mother of 2 little rambunctious boys, I definitely need some guidance! The meaning "to journey by stations or stages" reminds me that each portion of time is a stage--with my children as well as myself--and God will lead me, my husband and our boys through each one if we will follow Him. He wants to lead you, too!

15th Scripture Memory

So, I have several other "things" I'd like to throw out on this blog. These last few weeks have flown by, but I'm hoping to have some time in the next week to add some family posts :)

I began thinking yesterday...what verse should I focus on at this point of this year in my life??? Immediately this verse popped in my head:

Philippians 2:5-8 (New International Version)

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^{b]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]} of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Or at least the beginning of it. I've heard this verse many times, but have not commit it to memory, so this is the time! I've been quite tired the last few days and my attitude has shown it. I cannot recall how many times I've told our boys, "I know you're tired, but you still can't treat ________ like that." I had to apologize and ask for forgiveness for my behavior yesterday. I hate giving in to the enemy!

So, I will focus on my attitude as I memorize these verses. Jesus was always patient, kind, loving and gentle...even when He had taught, healed and traveled all day. I want to be more like Him.

1st Scripture Memory

It is so easy to go through a day and compare what I am doing and how I am doing it to people I see (and many that I just know of). Without purposely diverting my attention to more worthwhile thoughts, I will fall into the comparison game. Frequently. God has been working in me about this specific issue over the last year or so, but I'm reminded again just how much effort it takes. I must be purposeful about measuring myself only against God's standards. You must be purposeful about measuring yourself only against God's standards. Some may be disappointed in us, some may be offended by us, but if we are living the life of love that God calls us to, then we can't be consumed by what others think--only what God thinks. Hopefully, I haven't terribly confused you.

In light of this "reminding," here is my verse:

Galatians 6:4 NCV

Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done.

And also:

1 Samuel 16:7b ESV

For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

Not sure if I'll memorize this one, but I wanted to share it:

Lamentations 3:40 ESV

Let us test and examine our ways and return to the LORD!

May you know how much God loves you and may you live freely in His love!

15th Scripture Memory

I'm a bit late again...we're smack dab in the middle of a weekend full of graduation parties, a family reunion, a homeschool curriculum sale, celebrating Isaiah's birthday and having family visit (and stay at our house!!). We are having so much fun!

My passage for this time is out of Lamentations. I cannot remember exactly where I heard it from (the Message version) first, but it is so true.

Lamentations 3:19-24

^19-21I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

^22-24God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.

I may finish memorizing this portion for June 1, but we'll see. The LORD makes our minds to comprehend and hold onto His Word in wonderful ways! I'm usually surprised at how much my brain is able to remember and hold onto over just 2 weeks, because though I read over each new scripture many times, then try to say it from memory (I do my part and I try), God always steps in and enables my mind to finish capturing His Word. It is His will for us to hide His Word in our hearts, so we know this is something He will bless immeasurably. After the first two weeks of my passage being new and learning it, I then place it with the rest of my scriptures and I continue to recite/remember/ponder them. One thing I've found helpful for my memory is to review several months of my scriptures each day, for example, Monday I might review the verses from January 1-April 15, 2009; Tuesday I would review May 1-August 15; Wednesday, Sept 1-Dec 15; then review 2010's verses on Thursday. On Friday I would start at the beginning again. It's just one way to continually keep my scriptures before me and on my mind. I feel like my sword becomes a little rusty when I'm not keeping it sharp, so this is what I've found works for me. I pray you are seeing some signs of fruitfulness in your life from your scripture memory. If you don't yet memorize any scripture, I'd love for you to join me!

1st (2nd!) Scripture Memory

I just felt the need to include a few pictures. These are old--both boys are just shy of 3 years old and Isaiah has two pictures since I remembered how darn cute he was sucking on his thumb. That all seems like so long ago!

This little guy will be 6 in just a few weeks!

Ezekiel sure is a cutie!

So, this morning I realized that yesterday was the first and today is the second and I completely forgot to post my new memory verse. We got caught up cheering on many of our friends (and a whole lot more strangers) as they ran a 5K and marathon yesterday. It was so exciting to have the opportunity to encourage them like that! But back to this morning, I flipped through my index cards of verses I love and want to memorize and had one all picked out, then I went to church. As I'm sitting listening to the sermon, I feel God pointing out a verse I've read and heard many times, but never committed to memory. With National Day of Prayer just four days away I knew it was very appropriate. So I looked 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 up at www.biblegateway.com to see how it is translated in other translations. This is what I found:

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (Amplified Bible)

¹³If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,

¹⁴If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)

¹³ "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now this is wonderful and odd for me, but I've decided to memorize one verse in each version. I love how God answers with "When I..." He promises that difficult times are coming, there's not really a way around them, but He does give us a way to get through them. We are to turn to Him, "crave" Him, "require" to see His face. He promises that He will NEVER leave or forsake us. I think sometimes we need to reach the end of ourselves before we reach out for Him, though.

National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 6, and I encourage you to be in prayer for our country and our families--not only on this day, but every day.

So, here's what I will be memorizing for this time:

2 Chronicles 7:13 (NIV)

¹³ "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁴If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

When it rains, it pours...

I finally uploaded videos and pictures, so updates are finally rolling in (plus, the boys have done several creative/fun things lately!)

The boys each love building with their leg0s and in their creativity yesterday this is what they built:

Isaiah built a special gun that shoots honey into people's mouths

You may have guessed, but Ezekiel built a set of headphones

Flying Superheroes

This post is for everyone, but especially for Nana & Papa :)

The boys had a lot of fun flying their superhero parachute kites (on a really windy day) about a week ago!

Ezekiel's Batman Flight

Isaiah's Superman Flight