Scripture Memory Verse # 5

I was at a graduation party this past weekend talking to a dear friend of mine.  We were talking about her daughters upcoming wedding and all of the joy that day will bring.  In the midst of the joy though there is something sad. Several years ago, my friends mother developed a rapidly progressing dementia at an early age (she's only in her early 60's) , and now, she no longer recognizes anyone.   She won't be able to attend her own grand-daughter's wedding and of course this will be hard on my friend on that special day.  As we talked,  my friend shared how she wants to fight against being sad and concentrate on the joy of the brides wedding.  Suddenly one of my verses popped into my head. ( "Always be joyful, keep on praying....")  As I shared it with her, she said, " Oh please text me that verse....I want it to be my verse on my daughters wedding day!"    That is not the first time that has happened to me.  What about you?  We are planting into our lives His Word, and it is so powerful.  In an instant,  He can prompt our hearts and minds with the very verse needed for the occasion.   Sometimes it's for our own and sometimes it's to share with and encourage others.   It encourages me, gives me strength, helps me re-align my day towards Him, brings hope, helps me live a godly life, be a better witness for him, .....then that multiplies when I share it with others.   I pray that you are blessed as you commit these verses to memory.  It really is "The Number 1 multi-purpose Tool Ever!"..... To God be all the praise! ( Oh, and the "grumpies" went away....and I stayed away from the basil!  I am still applying the verse about discipline and trucking away on eating healthy!)
  Here is my verse #5

Isaiah 55:11

" .......so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Have a wonderful next two weeks learning your verse!

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE #4

I am on a diet.  The first day I was grumpy and my head hurt.  The next days I carefully measured out the limited foods I could have and tried to enjoyed the thrill of embarking on a new diet adventure.  Then came the day I mistakenly put "basil" (instead of sweet basil)  on my salad.  I literally cringed as I ate the whole thing.  It's amazing what you will eat when you are sooo hungry!   Day 4 , I  temporarily went off of the diet for just one meal, so I could enjoy a D..E...L...I...C...I...O...U...S  "Ladies Royal Tea" , I'd been invited to for lunch.  The next day I went straight back on it and had to sit at lunch (with some wonderful long time friends, who'd surprised us by coming to our church service) sipping iced tea, cause I didn't have time to go home and get my "diet food".   Would you believe I actually had to give up the ice-cream Sunday ( WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE!!!) the waiters brought me to celebrate my belated birthday???   Today I have a teeny , tiny headache and need to go shopping for more of the ingredients that are in my diet so I can survive the week.  This coming Saturday  Mark and I will attend a wedding, complete with a fancy schmancy reception with all the DREAMY CAKE AND FOOD one longs to eat in a day!  But I will stick to my strict diet.
     By now I am almost a little embarrassed as I review the previous paragraph , looking at all of the Capital lettered words.  You'd think I like food a little bit!  Ha ha!  Being on a diet is really, really hard for me.  For the most part it's not pleasant.  There are always special occasions coming up ( like every Wednesday my hair comes out to my liking, or every time one of my girls  says "mom I passed the Math Test",  or every Friday when I think to myself, "I've exercised  5 days straight....time to reward myself with a frappachino!")  Food just comes in handy for so much more than fueling my body.
     I am not a disciplined person by nature.  I love to refer to myself as a girl with a "free-spirit".  While that may serve me well in many areas of my life, in the eating healthy area , it does not.  I REALLY need discipline.  I have struggled with this most of my adult life.   So,  today for my scripture memory verse I have chosen a most appropriate verse from His word to help me out here.  It comes from Hebrews 12:11  "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."  Let me tell you that for the 3 weeks I will be on this "jump-start" diet, it will not seem pleasant....and for Barby Schwarz....it is "painful" to give up some of these comfort foods . (Seriously, why even bother going to the wedding if you can't enjoy the cake at the reception?!)    But then I read the rest of the verse....." it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it", and I want that.   I'm in.  I'm in for some righteousness and peace.  I long for the Lord to help me conquer this struggle in my life.
     I will be praying for each of you as you work on your verse this next two weeks.  I hope that your heart has been so blessed by the verses you've been working on so far.  I'm overwhelmed at times, at how profoundly and timely The Lord brings my verses  to my mind and works them out in my heart in various situations .  God is soooo good to us.  Be blessed, as you "ingest" one more verse to have in your heart to live your life for HIM.