Verse 8

It's the middle of April, and we're on verse 8 out of 24... Doesn't that mean the year is 1/3 over already? WOW.

I'm still loving this process even though it's been full of ups and downs over these four months. Some weeks, I'm dedicated and disciplined and can't get enough of the Word. Some weeks, I'm distracted.

I'm glad God is faithful even when we're not...

You know what else? Last week, my roommate and I chose the same verse... (Actually, they weren't exactly the same, but they overlapped. Close enough.) Isn't that awesome?!?! I love knowing that my life doesn't happen by coincidence. :)

Jamey - Morris, AL
"Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way."
Ecclesiastes 8:5 (ESV)

Verse 7

Failure!

I chose my newest verse earlier this week, but the post totally slipped my mind until tonight... I'm sorry friends! :)

Jamey - Morris, AL
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 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.'"
Lamentations 3:21-24

Verse 6

I'm going to Honduras tomorrow. For anyone who did not really know me or follow my journey last year, it is probably hard to understand the weight of this visit. I am overjoyed at the thought of being reconnected with friends and students. However, I am also anxious for various reasons. That's why I chose this verse... (I thought about doing Philippians 4:6, but I feel like I already know that one, and I've been slacking with some easy ones lately...)

Jamey - Morris, AL
"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Verse 5

Hello, and welcome to March... :)

Jamey - Morris, AL
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26 (ESV)

I could use some suggestions on the best ways to remember to study these consistently. When do y'all do it? Do you have notecards on the bathroom mirror or just pull out your notebook with your quiet time stuff? Have you been working diligently on this? Or has it been a struggle?

Verse 4

Oh my goodness! I just realized that tomorrow is the 15th... With all the hoopla that elementary school teachers still go through for Valentine's Day, I guess that's what I've been caught up with. (I hope it's okay that I technically seem to post my verses a day early... I just CAN'T get up early enough on a school day to do it on the real day!)

Anyway... I'll confess that I haven't been very disciplined lately, so I'm glad my last verse was an easy one so I haven't really fallen behind or grown discouraged. I'm thankful for a fresh start tomorrow... :)

I just read an incredible book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and I am feeling inspired by it along with some conversations that I've had recently. A very wise woman told me a couple of days ago that in ministry and in trying to live a life that is poured out for others, it is essential that we follow the Great Commandment first and foremost, before we ever try to love and serve our neighbors... So that's my verse:

Jamey - Morris, AL
"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 (ESV)

I'm just realizing in a new and deeper way that everything has to start there and flow out of my love for Him...

Verse 3

I think January must have felt like a long month, because part of me is struggling to believe that we are only on our third verse of the year... I hope that all of you are doing well and are making the memorization a priority. This is a new discipline for me, but I think that I'm already improving with it. My first verse about fighting this warfare with spiritual weapons that have divine power to destroy strongholds has come in handy more times than I can even count over the last few weeks... I'm so thankful to be able to refer back to it at any time!

I'm going short and sweet for this next one...

Jamey - Morris, AL
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" Psalm 105:4 ESV

Verse 2

In some ways, I can't believe that tomorrow is the 15th already... In other ways, this has been a very LONG two weeks!

Thank you so much for joining together and sharing your verses last time. I hope you have enjoyed reading them just as much as I have.

Remember, as we start the second verse (which I hope you're writing down on index cards or in a small notebook), it's time to continue to review the first one as you learn another. Don't let your first verse go to make room for a new one!

Okay, mine is "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" Luke 9:23 (ESV)

The words "deny himself" are jumping off the page. That's why I want to memorize this one.

Your turn!