Today starts Moxie Memorizers Guest Posts. This will benefit you because it is good to hear other perspectives from the body of Christ. We build each other up in the ways God gifts us even when it comes to spiritual disciplines.
My friend, Angela, is sharing with us today. She is a wonderful wife, mom, and friend. To top it off, God has given Angela a huge measure of giftedness to lead His people in worship. Second Mile is blessed week after week by her passion for Jesus, her desire to magnify Him, her heart for our body to sing praises to Him, and her phenomenal voice. Seriously, this woman can sing! I love her dearly, and she blesses me greatly with her friendship. I pray her words encourage and inspire you in your journey to take in His word.
- Inspired me through 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 to completely trust God for our finances, and watched Him come through in mighty ways for my family.
- During the summer He used Philippians 2:1-5 to remind me to pray for my friends by name who were serving overseas to reach university students with the Gospel.
- During an intense time of sitting with my uncle in the hospital after a tragic accident I was comforted by memorizing Psalm 121, and even saw how God used it after his death to encourage all who came to his memorial service when the pastor used the same exact passage.
- I was moved to write a worship song based off of Psalm 73. This song is now in the rotation of songs we sing in our Second Mile gatherings.
I really could go on and on, but you get the point of how mightily scripture memorizing has recently impacted my life.
There was no hesitation in committing to being a Moxie Memorizer for 2012. However, this year has been much more challenging than last. Based off of how challenging it has been you would think that I was biting off major passages to commit to, but no, even the simplest verses seem to bounce right off my brain with no absorption at all. I have really struggled these last few months with taking a long break or giving up altogether. My issue isn’t that I compare myself to what mighty amounts other posters are working on, that doesn’t phase me. I just seem to be in a battle with myself. After Angel’s May 1st post, I quickly began to realize that I needed to stop and ask for direction. What does God want me to memorize? It’s such an easy question to ask, if I would just stop and ask it. Up until now I had taken a lackadaisical approach in choosing the verses and passages. But now could He be trying to show me more if I would just listen? This month I have felt such a breakthrough. After prayer, God DID change the direction I was going and it seems to have been the missing piece.
I am realizing that this journey isn’t just about memorizing, but also about growing in how God wants me to approach His word. What I learned last year is not going to be the same story for this year, and I need to keep growing. I’m so glad I didn’t give up a couple months ago when I was feeling deflated from lack of retention and growth.
Here’s my verse for June 1st:
“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.”
Proverbs 15:5 (NASB)
How have you grown in how you approach His word? What are the biggest challenges for you in remaining committed and consistent?
I’m excited to see what the remainder of the year holds, as well as what’s ahead in 2013! I’m glad I have you all here to encourage you to continue to come back twice a month. Let’s keep up the memorizing!
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I'm still working on 2 Corinthians 4:18.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal.
Post up, my friends! And, let me know when YOU want to guest post for Moxie Memorizers!
14 important comments so far. What are your thoughts?
Oh Angela, I love your heart and I miss your beautiful voice!! I'll be back later with my verse :)
Ok I'm back with my verse:
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
James 1:27 NLT
You can read more about what I'm processing on this on my blog, but I've really been struggling in my faith, in my security, and really most everything lately. This verse jumped out at me when I was cleaning my office last weekend and found one of the scripture sheets Andrew designed for Cord of Hope a while back:
"My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress,
I will not be shaken."
-Psalm 62:1-2
Confession time:
I have stalled in my memorizing. I was doing so well until Yemi got out of school. I used to review 3 days a week after I dropped Yemi off on my way to work. Now that I'm not doing that, I need to find a new time. So this time I'm going to find a new consistent time and work on the same verses I posted last month. I'm so close to the end of my passage!
Keep me accountable friends. I want to keep this up!
Thanks Angela for sharing your story. I love how God uses his word in so many ways that are unique to each of us. He's such a personal God!
6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
2 corinthians 6:6-7
Thanks for sharing Ang :) I was really encouraged by the way Scripture works into the details of your life, and challenged to identify why I have been struggling with memorizing lately. I think not letting Scripture be situational, but something that holds me steady in the midst of change is something I need to focus on. That thought just came to my brain soooo sorry if it didn't make sense haha.
Thanks to you too Angel- I am really enjoying the guest posts idea! And thanks for keeping it fresh- I appreciate that a lot in your leadership.
Ok, trying to post again:)Angela you never fail to bless me and encourage me!! I have memorized more scripture from singing songs written with scripture,(by the way have still to hear the song you were given):)Hopefully God will give you more!! Once again I've been challenged,Know what I need to,should be doing, yes at my age!! Luv U all!
Proverbs 16:1-3
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
I fell off the memorizing fence the last few go around. I'm back-this summer I'm committed to getting back into routine.
Man, I just realized that several days ago, I was so interested in reading Angela's beautiful guest-post that I forgot to post my verse! Angela, I am so inspired by your journey, your personality, your dedication to our Lord, Jesus, and your joy. Thank you for following after God with your whole heart!
On to the verses. As I think deeply about what is in store for Seeds, and as God opens my heart to dream, a couple verses have stood out to me (in addition to Hosea 10:12 from a time or two ago).
First, as I think about what Seeds could become, and what it is now, I see it all in terms of possibilities. I am certain that God is at work, far beyond our human capabilities. A verse that I found by accident, but that deeply struck a chord with me was Habakkuk 2:3:
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Then as I continued to process my place in Seeds, a very appropriate verse was 2 Corinthians 12:9:
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Finally, my heart and body have been challenged alike in the area of resource allocation, stewardship, and the deep cravings in me for many things I do not need. I have made some dietary decisions to cut back on things that I crave, to experience what it is to eat simply. Just last night I had the deepest craving for steak. I wanted it SO bad, having been eating a lot of rice-and-vegetable meals that were lean and left me unsatisfied. But as I drove around hungry, determined to reach my destination and buy a (to me) cheap meal to satisfy my craving, I was confronted yet again by the hungry, the needy, the people who don't have it within their capacity to satisfy their hunger cravings. My heart and conscience continue to be challenged by what it looks like to have a proper understanding of my resources and how I use them to please myself versus to help my brothers and sisters out. I was reminded yet again of my final verse for this two weeks:
John 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."
Blessings to all you incredible women (and men) who have dedicated your time to memorizing the Word of our beautiful Lord Jesus!
Thanks for your story Angela! I too have been feeling like I need to be more intentional about picking which scriptures to memorize. I'll be working on it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the messenger of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
P.S. I nominate Sarah Ling for a Moxie Memorizers guest post. Last week at community group, she shared some great stuff about how her life has changed since she started intentionally memorizing.
Thanks for sharing, Angela. Our community is closer to Jesus because you have had a part in leading us. Thank you for that.
I've put off posting my verses for a few days because I was trying to find the right translation for what I am memorizing. I'm reading "Discipline: The Glad Surrender" by Elizabeth Elliot (a great read, I recommend it) and she quotes the Jerusalem Bible's translation of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 and I was struck by the language in that translation because it is so similar to what Chad has been discussing regarding the weight of glory. So here we go, from the Jerusalem Bible...
"Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is all out of proportion to them. We strive for the invisible, for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal."
Like others I have not been good at memorizing but am ready to be disciplined and get going again. Here we go, back to memorizing Proverbs 31.
She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant;she brings her food from afar.
I am a little late :) I am memorizing 1 Peter 4:12-14. In the midst of the trials in my personal life and ministry, this is great truth for me to cling to.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's suffering, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
I'll be adding verse 19 after the 15th :)
Great post Angela! I'll be looking on iTunes for your new song based on Psalm 73...or we'll just make a trip to Tucson and hear it live! Miss your amazing voice!
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