Monday, April 15, 2013

Insight from a Friend



Hi Ladies!
I have a good friend, Libby, who shared with me an insight she had with regard to the endeavor we have undertaken this year in memorizing Scripture, and below is the result of her efforts.  I enjoyed her perspective and I hope you will, too.

I love the many pictures and descriptions that we are given in the Bible of the Bible.  It is like the different authors are diving into their experience searching for ways to reveal more of what God’s Word truly is. We see lamps (Ps 119:105), swords (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12), fire, hammers (Jer 23:29), mirrors (James 1:23), the breath of God (2 Tim 3:16), and spiritual bread (Mt 4:4), just to name a few.

And, what is fun is that right here, in our blog community, we are saying the same things! We may not use the same imagery, but as we share our verses, we get glimpses of the different facets of God’s Word playing out in our lives.  In various seasons and times, we need – sometimes desperately – for God’s Word to be uniquely suited for our moment. We may need encouragement, hope, companionship, direction, wisdom, a song, or a lament.  There are times we may not even know what we need, we simply search the pages and cry out for God to speak to us.  And the amazing thing is that God, through His Word, meets us where we are! 

I think that is part of what Jesus meant in Matthew 4:4 when He describes God’s Word as our food, our sustenance. He is saying that our spiritual nourishment is as important as our physical nourishment. And remember, this is coming from a guy who just went 40 days without food! We “should not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” What a wonderful illustration – living off the very word of God. As you take in your verses, look around and note what others are partaking of in the feast that is before you. Taste and see the Lord is good!

My verse for this month is: 

Psalm 78:72 (NIV)
 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

I chose this verse because I pray that all of us would lead those whom God has entrusted to us in this way - hearts of integrity and skilled hands.

8 comments:

  1. My verse: Lamentations 3:58 -

    "O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my soul. You have managed my affairs and You have protected my person and my rights: You have rescued and redeemed my life."

    This verse beautifully shows how I am nothing without my Savior and how He has done so much.....everything.....for me!!

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  2. My verse is Exodus 33:13a:
    "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you..."

    This is one that might even warrant being a life verse, but I want to focus on it for the next little while because, even more than I want to know the next steps the Lord has for me, I want to know Him. When that's my focus, I'm pretty sure everything else will fall into place (Matt 6:33)! :)

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  3. Proverbs 4:11-12 (NLT)
    "I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble."

    As I stand at a crossroad in my own life in several different areas, I seek to know what to do. God sent me this verse to remind me that wisdom (knowing God's way and following it) is the only way to go. God is here to teach me and then give me the strength to stay the course whether I run or walk.

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  4. Psalm 105:4--"Look to The Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

    I am going through lots of change during this season of my life and I don't like some of it. Letting go of dreams, possessions, my home, how I thought my life would look at my age, etc. Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of what all I have to do in the coming months. I need this verse because I need to look to my God for strength---His strength, not mine. And to seek His FACE. He will show me what to do one day at a time and will be my strength for each day and endeavor.

    Donna Vonfeldt

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  5. I love Libby's insights and verses she gave on the different descriptions of God's word. My next verse is one that Libby gave from Hebrews. It reminds me of how powerful the word of God is and how it can change us no matter how far away from God we are.

    Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
    For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

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  6. I love reading the verses people choose and the reasons why! Thanks for sharing!

    Rom 15:13
    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    There is so much packed in this little verse - hope, joy, peace, trust, overflowing and the power that is not mine - when I came across it, I knew I wanted this one in my heart.

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  7. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
    —Proverbs 19:21

    I am a planner, so it is hard for me to not want to plan everything out, but in this season especially I a, learning to put my plans aside and trust what The Lord has for me instead. When I am not focused on planning the future I have so much more time to enjoy and appreciate what God is doing in the present!!

    Mary Ellen

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  8. My verse this time around is from a new study that we are doing in our small group.

    "Teach me your way oh LORD and I will walk in truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name" Psalm 86:11 NIV

    -Carolina

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