Scripture Memory 2015

I have participated in the Siesta Scripture Memory Challenge a couple of times, but I have never made it to the end of the year! At first, I thought, "Nah, I'll just do it on my own," but really, is there ever an excuse to not be held accountable for spiritual disciplines in our life?

So, I added my post to the Living Proof Ministries blog here and jumped into Scripture Memory 2015 with gusto!  Want to join me? Just click the link and follow the directions. 24 verses - 2 a month! You can do it!!

I'll be tracking my verses on a separate page above. Let me know if you're joining the challenge and we can encourage each other along the way.

Contrite Heart

My SSMT (Siesta Scripture Memory Team) verse for Jan 15 is:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart - 
These, O God, You will not despise.            Psalm 51:17

You see, I need this verse, especially this week.

Psalm 51:16 tells us that God doesn't want our sacrifices and offerings if not given with the right heart attitude. The works that I do for Christ: serving at church, caring for my neighbors, sharing the gospel, keeping my tongue - all of it -  is not worth anything to Him if I have served to be seen, cared out of duty, shared because "I'm better," or kept my words so they wreak bitter havoc on my soul.

Christ wants a broken and contrite heart. He wants our insides. He wants us to want what He wants - service with humility, helps because we care, sharing out of love and silence because we know He does the work and we leave it to Him to do. Ouch!

I want a contrite heart. I want to serve, help, love and speak out of a pure mind/heart. There is no way to manufacture this; it can only be done by the Holy Spirit's work.

I have turned this verse into a prayer that God will continue His work in me and give me a broken and contrite heart.  Oh, to someday be able to ask God to search my heart and see if there is any evil way in me! Today there seems to be plenty!

Right Between the Eyes

Why are we surprised when Satan attacks right after a victory?

I had a few mountain top moments this week and since yesterday, I have been struggling both internally and outwardly. Of course, I'd like to blame it on my monthly cycle, but I know that the Lord gives us victory even over THAT, so I am left without excuse.

This morning I had to pick a new Siesta Verse (see Beth's blog to join) and I wanted to choose Proverbs 29:11, "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back."

Yep. That would have been a good one. But somehow it just didn't seem to capture ALL that needed to be held back, so I chose instead,

Ephesians 4:31-32 (New Living Translation)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Jerry Bridges in The Gospel for Real Life tells us in talking about the verse to love our neighbors as yourself (Matt 22:39), that we should cherish them, never show ungodly behavior toward them, that we should be earnest with our interest in them in all ways, that we should never feel superior, and that we should forgive all wrongs.

How are we doing on that?

For me, not so good.

Ok, pretty badly, actually. But it isn't about where we fail, for if we ask forgiveness, the Lord covers it all. I feel terrible for some of my behavior, and certainly need to commit Ephesians 4:31 to heart. (My mom has already drilled into my childhood brain verse 32; thanks mom!) I need to get up off my knees, brush myself off and strive to lean on Him through each moment.

The ranting in my brain needs to not come out of my mouth.
That would be a first step.

Then I need to let the ranting in my head be given fully to the Lord and replace it with Truth!
That's where I want to be.

It seems like a far off place today, but not everyday. Some days there are victories; some days defeat.

It isn't about being perfect.

It's about being His.

How I long for full transformation!

Siesta Scripture Memory Team

On Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog Beth encourages us to be committed to Scripture memory this year. The gist: memorize 24 verses in 2011, 2 per month. We post our verses in the comment section on the 1st and 15th of every month.

Every two weeks I will be sharing the verse that I'm working on in my sidebar. There are over 1,000 women participating and if you'd like to join us, that would be awesome!! Make sure to let me know in the comment section here on my blog. I would be honored to pray for your faithfulness in committing Scripture to heart and mind.

Click here for the instructions (wouldn't it be fun to take a trip to fellowship with other Scripture memory teammates! What a victory!) Click here for today's post and add your verse to the comment section.

Let's fill our minds with His good things this year! Don't wait!