Being introduced to Beth Moore is something I remember very well. It was my sophomore year in college and my roommate and I began to get plugged into a church. We soon were introduced to a dear woman who served as my mentor throughout college and had a huge impact on shaping and molding me. She loved, encouraged and led us as a faithful warrior leading amateurs to battle. Clothed with dignity and grace, she introduced us to renowned author and teacher Beth Moore.
When Godly People Do Ungodly Things is the study we dove into that could not have been more perfect at that time in my college life. Being submersed in God's word with believers is something I have since always cherished and desired. I learned what it was to truly be devoted to studying scripture, how to pray and what accountability was. May God have all the glory for interceding my life at just the right time. I fear who or what I'd be if it weren't for such a special time and divine intervention.
Just days into the study and I was crazy about Beth Moore. She is an incredibly gifted teacher and I pray to have a desire to know and serve God the way she does. It wasn't until after graduating college and beginning a career in Midland that I came across
her blog. Although there's no telling how many thousands of followers she has, I feel such a connection to her as she tells her story and pours into women all over the world. Although highly unlikely we will ever actually meet in person, I really feel like she is a dear friend of mine. I am so thankful for her devotion to women's ministry and for shepherding a young woman seeking guidance and direction.
In January 2009, Beth began a scripture memory team on her blog. She invited anyone to join her in the challenge to memorize 24 scriptures over the course of the year. Although we are instructed to write God's word on the tablet of our hearts, I never intentionally made a goal of continually adding to my personal hard drive of verses. I decided to join the challenge and cannot explain what a blessing it has been. It was during that year that Casey and I learned we would soon become parents. Two days before finding out, Deuteronomy 4:9 was the verse God put on my heart to memorize. "Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." The world could not have been any better. We were on cloud nine and 2009 panned out to be a fantastic year. It wasn't until December that I realized a majority of the 24 verses I committed to memory were about hardship and perseverance. God's strength, protection, help in time of trouble. Strange, I thought, since we coasted through a year that couldn't have been better.
I stood absolutely amazed as 2010 came to a close at how God prepares us to carry out his will in our lives. Casey and I were expecting Grayson in January and knew we had the best year of our lives ahead of us. While that is absolute truth for 2010, along with it came challenges, hardship and struggle. We praise Him daily for blessing us with His precious angel and for his perfect timing in our lives. Through a year of turmoil and desperation, Grayson sustained our joy and kept our hearts turned to our Savior. I also quickly realized why God led me to memorize the scriptures he did with Beth in 2009. WOW. I would not have known how to prepare for what was ahead, and thank goodness it wasn't left up to me. I am so thankful to be a child of God and praise Him that his mercies never end. My verse from April 1, 2009 was Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" Amen!
I failed to achieve my goal of memorizing 2 verses a month through 2010. Beth decided not to do in on the blog last year and I know I am a person who NEEDS accountability. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when Beth announced she was
bringing the scripture memory back to her blog for 2011! As before, the goal is to memorize 24 scriptures over the course of the year. On the 1st and 15th of each month, she will post her new scripture and ask all participating to comment with their verse. She encourages everyone to choose a scripture as the Lord leads (to which I can attest, he absolutely leads us to the perfect ones!!). This year, her staff even made
personal scripture spirals to purchase for $5 to keep track of verses as while committing to memory. This is a practical way to keep them handy and great for easy referencing. They also created an
app for the iPhone and iPad! I am LOVING it!!!
Maybe it's part of my need for accountability, but I plan to document the scriptures I am working on throughout the year. My hope is to post my new scripture on the 1st and 15th of each month. If anyone wants to keep me accountable or join I would be so thrilled!
For January 1, 2011 my verse is Psalm 51:10 NIV:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
For January 15, 2011 my verse is Psalm 40:5 NIV:
"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."
What a blessing to have friends to relish in God's faithfulness with. John 15:13 says "greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." I cannot adequately express my gratitude for so many who have denied themselves and shown Jesus to me.
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