This is what I seek...

Final memory verse for 2009! What an interesting journey this has been. It's funny, I was having a hard time choosing my "final" verse for 2009, then realized I don't have to stop memorizing Scripture! (I'm slow, but I get there.) So, finishing up 2009 with Psalm 27:4:

"One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple."

We're finishing up as a Scripture memory team over on the Living Proof blog where we were told this is Beth Moore's favorite verse - seemed like a good one to end 2009!

Once again, the Amplified Bible gives more insight into the verse:

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and insistently require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (in His presence) all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty (the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness) of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple."

And I love how The Message ends the verse:

"I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet."

I strongly encourage anyone interested in a life-changing exercise to make a commitment to memorize two Scriptures per month during 2010. Throughout 2009, I chose a few individual verses and several passages. I just added them up and (if my math is right) I've memorized 43 verses this year! In all honesty, I had a couple of stumbles and sputters along the way, but -- to the praise and glory of HIS name alone - I think I now have them all imprinted on my heart and mind!

Contemplate His beauty - study at His feet! You will be blessed and have the opportunity to bless others with His word! Christmas blessings to you and yours and praying for a wonderful 2010!

To us a child is born...

"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:2-7

A simple Christmas...

I'm feeling a tug towards a simple Christmas...I want there to be plenty of room in our Christmas for contemplating THE Gift; the Presence, not the presents.

God, wrapped in infant flesh, came and dwelt among us. How do we celebrate that?

I want to focus on His Word this season - the beautiful prophecies, the fulfillment of promises, the enduring comfort, encouragement and challenges entrusted to us.

I plan to focus on family and home...not a whirlwind of shopping, events and general craziness. I want to make time to drink gingerbread spice tea, sing Christmas songs and make cookies for my neighbor kids. I will enjoy admiring my tree - especially the hand-traced angels, paper gingerbread men and popsicle stick reindeer of years gone by.

I will be deliberate in giving the gift of encouragement, affirmation and affection to those around me - in my home, my neighborhood, my church - and the grocery store.

"O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago."
Isaiah 25:1

Christmas blessings, from our family to yours!

Precious beyond telling...

I'm sticking with a "thankful" theme in Scripture memory for November - because I am all about the Thanksgiving this month!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
2 Cor. 9:15

I've been familiar with this verse, but never really studied it in context. Chapter 9 is a timely study for me - it's focused on giving generously, cheerfully - it even references seed, sowing and harvest! This season has found us so blessed -- and this chapter stresses that God has made us "rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (v. 11)

I love that it all comes back to HIM. We love, because He first loved us. We give, because He has given to us. Our giving is not about us, but about reflecting His faithfulness - His indescribable gift!

The Amplified Bible beautifully expands the language of the verse:

"Now thanks be to God for His Gift, precious beyond telling, His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift!"

Compassion...

The Compassion bloggers are on the road again! They're in El Salvador this week and I encourage you to take a minute to follow them as they share their experiences with a wonderful organization and the children who are being reached, touched, loved - all in Jesus' Name. I "followed" a group of bloggers who traveled to India earlier this year and it completely wrecked me - and inspired me to sponsor a child - sweet little Sruthi! Check them out - if you DARE!

Compassion Bloggers in El Salvador

He longs to be gracious to you...

It's November! Where has the year gone? And the holidays are upon us? Whew!

Okay, I'm taking deep breaths now and resolving to savor what remains of 2009. And, in accordance with a resolution made at the beginning of the year, I'm continuing this Scripture memory journey with a verse I just LOVE:

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!"

Isaiah 30:18

He longs to be gracious to you - how does that make you feel? Other translations use the words like waiting, earnestly waits, expecting, looking, longing. What a beautiful picture of God's love for us. He is longing to show us His graciousness, His mercy.

Why do we doubt this? Why do we find it easier to believe that God is waiting to pounce, to punish, to judge? That somehow when He looks at us, He's disappointed, rolling his eyes, shaking His head and making tsk-tsk noises with His tongue? The Bible says He LONGS to be gracious to us - RISES to show us compassion!

So let us wait -- look, expectantly, longingly -- for Him -- His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship. (Amplified Bible)

The unforced rhythms of grace...

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

For Scripture memory for the first two weeks of October I wanted to memorize something in red letters - something Jesus himself said while walking on this earth. And for some reason I was drawn to this familiar passage. I'm committing it to memory in the NIV translation, but check out The Message:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me
and you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me
and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

The unforced rhythms of grace...sounds like something I'd like to learn. I also love the idea that the yoke is not ill-fitting. The Amplified Bible offers more insight:

"Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy-laden and overburdened,
and I will cause you to rest.
[I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me,
for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart,
and you will find rest
(relief and ease and refreshment
and recreation and blessed quiet)
for your souls.
For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--
not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing,
but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant),
and My burden is light and easy to be borne."

My pastor preached on this passage a while back and he suggested that if our yoke is burdensome, uncomfortable and ill-fitting, chances are it's not the one Jesus has placed upon us.

One commentator offers this: "Jesus' yoke is not lighter because he demands less, but because he bears more of the load with us."

His yoke is easy...