Sunday, February 5, 2012

Day 1 - WEEK 50!! It's official - at the midpoint of our journey!!

Can you believe it?  This week we will have 50 verses stored (OK, if you're like me you may say semi-stored!), in our memories.  As I've said before, don't feel badly if you can't recite all 50 in a row...go back and review sections and try to get them firmly re-established.  We've covered a lot of ground, and there's no need to give up just because every verse isn't secured.  I've already figured out that at the end of the trip, I will need to go back and probably spend 1-2 weeks on each section, solely concentrating on those verses, to get them truly anchored in this ol' brain of mine!  Kind of like looking at you pictures after a great trip, just so you'll remember everything a little clearer for a little longer!

Since we are at the midpoint, let's look at ALL 50 verses so far...

The Four Corners of the Bible: (4)
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us; we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from God full of grace and truth."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the word that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

The Romans Road to Salvation: (5)
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 5:8 "But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, dear brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship."

The Gift of Scripture: (6)
2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, for training in righteousness."
Joshua 1:8, "This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth, you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do."
Psalm 119:11, "I have treasured Your words in my heart that I may not sin against You."
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Listen, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. These words I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
Deuteronomy 6:7 Repeat them to your children, talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Hebrews 14:12 The Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints and marrow. It is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
The Gift of Prayer (3)
Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him, whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.
The Gift of Assurance (10)
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and that life is in His Son.
1 John 5:12-13 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God, does not have life. I say these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life.
John 14:1 Your heart must not be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansion, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you unto Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or afraid.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed . (KJV)
Isaiah 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquities of us all.
Praise and Thanksgiving (4)
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Promises of God (10)
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 3:-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.
Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)

We have two more verses in our group of Obedience.  Jumping from Hebrews to Proverbs...in some ways it seems this should have been our very first verse, well...you'll see what I mean!

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Foundational, isn't it?  Without realizing that God is absolutely supreme, all powerful, all knowing, we can't even begin to understand any of His words.  And there's a lot more to discuss here as well. 

Going into the second half of our journey, I intentionally scheduled starting a new verse on Sunday.  I think starting each week with our verse is a better timetable...something to launch the week on.  Nothing better, is there?

Please keep going with me this second half...we are taking the best steps that can be taken in this journey of life.

1 comment:

donna said...

I like starting the week with a new verse, new words from God. I have learned so much during this journey. This journey has helped the Holy Spirit speak to me. I remember how my family would refer to my grandmother as a "God fearing" woman. She knew the wisdom of God and she lived each day accordingly. Giving rides to church and bible study for some women that were as old and older than she. She lived to be 97 years old. My memories of her always included her faith alongside the events. She hardly ever shared in much in foolishness, always strict minded to carryout God's plans.