Memory Challenge - continued

Last weekend was a very special time. I did learn a lot about myself. The messages Beth gave us were about Psalm 119 - with 176 verses. The thing that I learned that spoke to me was that the person who wrote this was a very real person. He didn't always have the perfect relationship with God. There were times he seemed a little mad that God had not taken care of the bad people. But then he would turn right around and acknowledge God. He was consumed by a desire to know God's word and he always made it back to that desire.

I have decided that I want to always continue this discipline of memorizing God's word. I know that only a few people read this blog but I would love for anyone who does come across this will take this challenge with me and post the scriptures that you will memorize.

My scripture for 2/15 - yes I am posting a day early - is a continuation of the verses from last time that go with the Bible Study I am doing.

With school starting the week of 1/15, I just realized that I never posted that one, so I am going to post it as one long verse here.

Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ^[a]

² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called mighty oaks,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Siesta Memory Challenge Celebration

Tomorrow is the big day!! I can not wait. I am going to Houston to be with Beth Moore and 500 other bloggers who have taken the Siesta Memory Challenge this year. Last year Beth challenged us to join her memorizing a new scripture on the 1st and 15th of each month. I have posted my verses on the blog everytime. Beth has planned this wonderful time of Bible study at her church, just for us. I am so excited about going!

I made a little movie of my Bible verses and posted it on an earlier post.

Please pray for safe travel for everyone. I am sure that this will be one very special time.

Prayer for My Students

As I begin a new semester I decided that I would write a prayer for my students.

Dear Lord,
We have come to the beginning of a new semester. Thank you for NEW! Helpf us to leave old ways behind as we continue our journey towards you.

Help us to become a community of learners, seeking to live out our witness to you through care and concern for our classmates. Help us to remember that the way we treat others is more important than any grade or favorable evaluation.

As we go through the semester and times get hard and pressures build, help us to remember to trust you to give us the strength we need. Help us to accept and truly understand what Paul wrote to the persecuted church at Phillipi - I can do all things through him who gives me strength - and claim this promise and give you the glory.

Thank you for your amazing love for us. May we show that love to each other this semester.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen

Siesta Memory Challenge - January 1

I am not sure if Beth Moore is going to continue the Bible verse memory challenge, but I have decided that I will continue to do it. I hope that my family and friends that read my blog every once in a while will also take a memory challenge and will post your verses with me.

I selected my first passage for two reasons. It is a familiar passage. This Christmas season my husband has had two surgeries within two weeks. We spent two nights and three days in the hospital, including Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day. So this passage talks about how God heals your diseases. The second reason is that I am a little overwhelmed by next semester. There is an amazing about of work that I see ahead of me and this passage talks about having renewed youth like the eagle's and having our desires satisfies with good things.

Psalm 103:1-5
Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.