Friday, January 29, 2010

This Week's WORD

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139:1-2

I have joined Leah in a scripture memory challenge, and have been meditating on the above two verses for a few weeks now.
At first I was simply delighted to consider the fact that God knows me so well, and still loves me. But over the course of this past week, He has helped me to see myself - to perceive my own thoughts - a little more clearly. And honestly, I was rather disappointed with some of the things I came to know.

Oh, I want to be less like me. And more like Him!

But the LORD has searched me and He knows me. And still, He loves me. He knows exactly what is necessary in my life to make me into the woman He wants me to be. The woman who will delight His heart. And I am trusting Him to do it. Committing to be faithful to Him through the work He has begun, which He will be faithful to complete.

I am so thankful for the Word of God, and for the ways He speaks to me through it. Let me encourage you to join in the Memory Challenge. (It isn't too late.) We're memorizing Psalm 139 this year - one verse every two weeks. BUT, if you participate, you must be prepared for God to speak to your heart.
And though you may not like what He says at first, I know you can trust Him to do a good work in you.

May the peace of Christ reign in you this weekend. I'll see you back here Monday!

P.S. Just turned word verification back on. Sorry, but I was getting really tired of deleting spam comments.


Karen

15 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

First comment is spam, I think.

Anyway, memorizing verses is really something I need to work on. It hasn't been a priority for me since I was a teen, and that should change.
Thanks for the invite! I really want to get back to getting the word in me on a daily basis.
Have a great weekend!

Karen Hossink said...

Jessica - Yep. I am getting really tired of deleting spam comments. Think I'm going to go back to word verification...
As for memorizing scripture, yes, yes! Let me encourage and invite you again! All day long, whatever I am doing, no matter how noisy or peaceful my surroundings - when I am memorizing scripture it is with me always and I am full of His Word. It is a very good thing!

Angie Muresan said...

That's a wonderful thing to do. Those verses really stay with you and remind you of God's goodness and graciousness, don't they?

gianna said...

I think it's great to have a preschooler who is memorizing verses in Cubbies and for our home preschool. We are memorizing Psalm 139:13 right now (getting ready for the baby) and next month 139:14. So in spirit I am memorizing with you, but not exactly the same verses. It's a very cool concept and I may join the bandwago at some point.

Heidi said...

Hiding 'em in your heart- very good idea.

I've been focusing on who God is and what He's done for me and less on who I am and what I need to do for God. It's like a breath of fresh air! No. It's like re-learning how to breathe, so that the breaths give more life!

Patricia said...

Love this!! I'm starting TODAY! Thanks for the invite! I think this verse is a great one to keep me in check!! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!
Patricia

Karen Hossink said...

Angie - Yes. They do. And I love learning just one new verse every two weeks, as it gives me so much time to really soak in it!

Gianna - Sometimes the things we do "for" our kids really benefit us, don't they? Teaching them to memorize verses, teaching them to pray...It all works in our own spirits, too.

Heidi - Focusing more on Him, and less on "me"? A breath of fresh air, indeed!

Patricia - Oh, yay!!! I'm so glad you're joining in the memorization! It will be a great journey.

Edie said...

"Oh, I want to be less like me. And more like Him!" ME TOO!

I have found.. er.. He has shown me something that is not as it should be. How did you say it? Oh yes, I was rather disappointed. :)

I'm so glad His Love is unfailing.

Leah Adams said...

Good evening, my friend. Thanks for the plug for Challenge 2010. I am so loving Psalm 139. There are several of us working on it, while many others have chosen different verses. It is cool to see what everyone chooses.

Have a great weekend and I'd love for any of your friends to join us.

Leah

Karen Hossink said...

Edie - Spent a lot of time going over these things with God yesterday that He's revealing to me, and I was thinking of El Roi, from your post earlier this week. Prayed that even as God would reveal my sin, so He would also help me see myself as He does - because He knows who He is making me to be. Prayed He would give me eyes to see the possibility of what will be when His work in me is finished.
So, thanks again for that El Roi post.

Leah - I am only too happy to encourage my friends to join us. This is such a good thing!

Amanda said...

I love that you are doing this... that is the first verse (and one of the only) I really made myself memorize... I LOVE Psalm 139...and you are right, it really DOES speak to you! (thanks God!)

luvmy4sons said...

I love Psalm 139! A great one to memorize! Your words I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you! What a great great thing to do..memorize scripture! So important! Love your heart!

Lisa said...

Very moving, wonderful post.

LisaShaw said...

Walking with the Word.
Walking in the Word.

A beautiful journey...enjoy your times of memorizing and ingesting HIS Word as you live it by His grace and mercy.

You're a precious gift to our lives Karen. You are a strong encourager. Love you.

Karen Hossink said...

Amanda - Every part of His Word speaks, amen? And God knew this time in my life would be when I would hear clearly from this psalm.

Leslie - That's the thing - having the Word in my heart. The Book is great - but my heart is always with me!!!

Lisa - Thank you!

Lisa Shaw - It's a wonderful journey, indeed.
Thank you for your kind words. I love you, too!