Celebrate good times! Come on! It's a celebration!!
What a year!! The Lord has been so gracious to me. It's overwhelming at times, truly. He and I have had some moments this 2012. Looking back now, I can clearly see why His Spirit urged me to memorize Psalm 139 this year. It has gotten me through some of the hardest days I've seen in a while.
But even more than that, it has been an amazing learning experience to realize how God feels about me. That passage, Psalm 139, is a beautiful description written by David that vividly depicts God's knowledge of me, His love for me, and how overwhelmingly important I am to Him. So many times, throughout the year, I have needed this reminder as insecurities, heartbreaks, close calls, and betrayals have plagued my life. This may sound a bit dramatic, but really, my hard times haven't been much different than anybody else's. Life is hard. And in this world, there will be trouble. All of us know that. Some of us more than others.
If you were able to learn some Scripture this year, I know you've been able to see how God uses it when we most need it. I would love to hear how that's worked for you this year. Please consider sharing your testimony with me if you're comfortable. If not, would you consider sending me an email letting me know how God has worked in your 2012 life? Especially, I would love to hear how God's Word has gotten you through this year.
Instead of leaving you with my last verse for the year, I'd like to close out this Scripture Memory Challenge for 2012 with the entire Psalm 139 passage. I'm writing it from memory. My Lord God gets all the glory for that. My punctuation will not be exact, but the words are what I take with me.
Thank you for taking this challenge with me. Merry Christmas to you all and by all means, don't stop memorizing now. Take this habit with you throughout the rest of your days. God's Word never returns void. I'm a living testament to that!!
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me. Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you. The night will shine like the day. For darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked. Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent. Your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? And abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them. I count them my enemies. Search me,God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. -Psalm 139 (NIV)
Your friend - a work in progress,
Linds
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