Last post of 2012!

The last few days my heart has ached for those in Newtown, CT and actually for people around the world,  who are experience deep pain and loss, because life can be excruciating. Jesus is our only HOPE. We look to Him together. Sometimes life simply doesn't make sense in our finite minds.  As we lift up so many who are in indescribable pain, may the Lord of All Comfort minister to each soul as only He can.

Ladies, as fear may rise to the surface in our own lives as a result of recent events at Sandy Hook, may we continue to hide God's Word deeply in our hearts and have the Truth be on repeat in our memory.

We know that perfect love casts out fear...let us lift our eyes to the hills and remember where our help comes from. It comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

You are so loved.  May we rest secure in our Shepherd's arms, the One who has us close to His heart.

Our time for the Scripture Memory Blog has come to an end, at least for now. We have encouraged and kept each other accountable, some of us for two years! This journey of believing the Lord and hiding our Word in our hearts is not done! We are simply shifting to a different avenue. The Living Proof Blog will be hosting Scripture Memory Team and so we can jump onto their site and join them beginning in January 2013!  Also, I haven't done this during the last year, but posting our verse on Facebook or Instagram is a sweet way to remind me and others of the reality of the Lord and His work in our lives, so that might be a neat way to stay connected together...I will be looking at your page sometimes to see what the Lord is teaching you through His Word!

Last time of 2012: Ready, GO!
1. What is your verse?

2. What is the Lord teaching you right now, which is changing the way you live each day?

Love you so!

Let's do this together!

Our year of memorizing is coming to a quick close.  Just three more posts and 2012 will be complete!  May the Lord use what He has taught us through His Word and etch every last truth to the depths of our souls.

1.  What verses are you memorizing as you head into Thanksgiving week?

2.  What are you grateful for?

3.  I love you.  Be who you already are! Forgiven. Adopted. Redeemed. Ambassador.

November 1st! What are we hiding in our hearts?

What a great day to encourage each other in the Lord! Fall-it's my favorite.  It is an overcast day in Fresno and I am soaking it up! My grand dog, Zander is at my feet. I already had a cup of Cafe di vita and have enjoyed quiet with the Lord in 1 Kings.

1. What is your verse or verses you are memorizing?

2. What is the Lord teaching you?

3. What is your favorite warm drink?

My verses for these two weeks are: James 3:17-18 NIV 1984

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

The Lord is teaching me much! I have been camping on verse 17 all week and the Lord is revealing to me my own earthly wisdom and how it is "earthly, unspiritual, of the devil." I am so grateful He is faithful to giving us His wisdom as we ask and believe Him for it.

Warm drink: I love drinks extra hot and to sip them slowly. Breve latte with two pumps of vanilla.

Love you ladies! Today is a new day. Let's savor the Lord's mercies!

Verse Posting Day!

Hello Pilgrimagers!

It has been a whole month since I have connect with this precious team.

1.  What season does the Lord have you in? Summer, winter, spring, or fall? What circumstances surround your answer.  Do you see the Lord in the midst of it?

2.  What are memorizing this month?

3.  Do you have people in your life who spur you on to love Jesus more?  If so, who are they and how do they sharpen you?  If not, how can you cultivate those relationships?  Is there fear involved?

4.  What is your verse or verses?  Let's do this! Jesus is our Bread of Life!!! Let's feast on Him.

You are so loved today!

What are you hiding in your heart?

It is time for me to head to bed, but before I do, let's post what the Lord is having us hide in our hearts!

1.  What is your verse?  Why did you choose it?

2.  What did you do this weekend?  Was it fun? Hard?

3.  What are you doing in your time alone with Jesus these days?

Love you!!!

What verse will it be?

Good Morning! I greet you with a lighter heart than two weeks ago! Thank you for being "with" me along in my journey and process in the moment I was in it! It is so good to go through hard times together and celebrate the good!

Ladies, let's welcome in September, with the anticipation of cooler mornings and evenings!

Jump in now!  Feel the freedom and no guilt if you haven't done a great job with your verses.  Today is a new day.

Let's do this:

1.  What is your verse?

2.  What are your fall plans?

3.  Do you have a question (any type of question) for us on the Team?

My verses for these two weeks are James 3:3-6  NIV84(I am working my way through the chapter, slowly but surely.  What a convicting section to land on!)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example.  Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Desperate For the Word! Posting Day!

I usually greet you with excitement and "let's get pumped up to post our verse!" Today my heart is heavy and in pain and I come to you today with utter desperation for the Lord to saturate me with His Word.  I am humbled that He so desires intimate relationship with me (us) no matter if we are jumping up and down, simply ok, or so broken we can't even concentrate on one thing or have a clear thought.  

Wednesdays are my day that I spend in solitude with Jesus, just He and I, soaking up His goodness, His glory, worshipping my King, Redeemer, Lord, my Joy...I savor this time with Him.  Today I sat in my usual place to feast on the Lord, in the sun room where it is quiet...I tried to read the Valley of Vision, but couldn't process the prayer I was reading, closed its pages. Reviewed my memory work in James chapter 2, but still my mind felt unsettled.  The LORD, my Covenant Keeping God for all eternity, impressed on my heart, Yvonne, simply be, close your eyes and rest, let Me minister to you like only I can, to the depths of your soul.

I responded-Yes, Lord.

His mercy swept over me like the cool waters of a flowing river.  He spoke to my heart through the Spirit-

Let Me fill you

Receive My Bounty

Taste and see that I am good

I received and am still receiving right now, even as I type these words and sensed the LORD wanted you to be apart. Jesus spoke His Words directly to me:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10

May I (we) hear and receive, eat and be satisfied, as with the tastiest of foods. What else, Lord? Speak, we are listening:

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16

Every word You speak is perfect & faultless. You revive my soul.

From the mouth of Job in the midst of excruciating trials:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.  

My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 

I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

I can taste and see that You are good, so good.  You are all that I want, all that I need. 

How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Psalm 119:103

I believe every word You say is true.  Grace each of us ladies with the faith to believe YOU today. You are the Victor...does someone need to hear that today? I sure do! Redeemer. Restorer of places long devastated. You are! You are the God who is more than enough and in the desert, You are the God of just enough.

I worship You, the only One worthy of esteem. Move mountains-only You can!

Do you need to hear that you are not alone today? Sometimes life can be so hard we feel alone, but you are not alone!  Jesus Christ is with you and doesn't leave you, not for a moment! We, as disciples in Christ are one with each other, such a supernatural gift.  Don't walk this pilgrimage alone! It is too long, too hard  and Satan, the father of lies has a hey day with our minds when we are isolated. He wants us to keep things hidden. When we want to keep things hidden that is the time to bring it to light with another mature follower of Christ. Plus we were created to do this together! Also, if we have something to celebrate, it is so much sweeter to jump up and down with someone else and we don't look quite as strange :)

The pain I feel is for others I love so deeply and some I have just come to know and love that are in the mess of life caused by others or their own choices or a trial the Lord has given.  How specific the Lord is to allow so many people in the midst of struggle to be brought my way. It is not by chance that a tidal wave of pain, more than on a normal day (do you know what I'm talking about?) has entered my life. I ask the Lord to bring exactly who He sees fit for me to love with His love every day so that each of us can understand the love and power of Jesus and the finished work of the cross in a deeper way.  I believe that the when the Lord is doing something in my life, He just might be moving in your life this way too, either the one in pain and struggle or the one caring for those hurting. Either way, does this not confirm our absolute need to be in the Word, meditating, studying it, and memorizing it?

I am just beginning James 3:1-2 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  We all stumble in many ways.  If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

Your turn since I talked for so long. Let's hear your heart:

1. Where are you at? In pain? Caring for others? Need to reach out for help or to see those in pain?

2.  What is your verse for this last half of August?

3. Let's get into the Word and savor the presence of Jesus Christ! He is everything.

4. You are so loved.