September Scripture Writing Plan: Serving Others

Happy almost September friends!

The scripture writing plan this month is over one of my favorite things in the world:
SERVING OTHERS!

Serving others is one of my favorite things to do.
One of the things I look forward to the most about retirement
is that I will be able to spend more time serving others.
(Well that and getting to read all the books I want! Can. Not. Wait.)

For me the absolute best way to put aside my own worries
and get out of a crankypants mood is to do something for someone else.
Seriously-nothing helps turn my mood around faster than doing something for someone else.

However, in order to do that I have to be super intentional.
I have to slow down (which is such a struggle for me!),
look at those around me to see needs, and then act to meet those needs.
And truthfully sometimes that's hard for me because
I get caught up in my busy to-do list and forget to look around.

Because of this I pray each morning on the way to work:

God help me to see those you place in my path today who need to see your love and who I can help. And when I see them, help me to be obedient and follow through with serving them in any and all ways that I can.

Opportunities to serve others are all around us- both inside and outside our homes.
God WILL put someone in our path for us to serve-
we just have to ask Him to show us those around us who are struggling and in need.

Let's spend this month digging into His word to learn more about how and why
 He tells us to serve others.

FYI: I made the plan 31 days and plan to do that with

all topical plans in the future so that they can be done any month-

not just the month I write them for.

TO PRINT: You can find a copy of the plan in English and Spanish in the folder HERE.

{Just a reminder, don't try to print the images below or they will be blurry. Be sure to click the link to download a PDF copy!}

The Battle is HIS

I'm a fixer by nature. If there's a problem and things seem out of control, I want to find a solution. ASAP. Stat. Immediately. And sometimes that is a good thing.

Have a technology issue or task you are trying to accomplish? I'm your girl. Have a party you want to plan and need some creative, inexpensive ideas? I'm your girl. Have a care package you want to send and need some fun theme for it? I'm your girl.

But other times, when the battle is NOT mine? That tendency? It's not so good. (#ugh)


2 Chronicles 20:15 says...

Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Many times I get frustrated trying to fix things (and people!) and fight battles that are not mine to fight. To meddle in things that God is working in and through. To allow Him to work in His mighty and powerful ways.

I love this verse so because it's a beautiful reminder that Jesus has already won victory over EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that this life and world can throw at us. He has fought and WON against everything- marriage difficulties, financial struggles, cancer- EVERYTHING.

Just like the verse above says, all we have to do is trust Him, take our positions, and stand firm in His promises, His plan, His almighty power. The battle is His and my job is to trust and believe in His promises- even in the fact of hopelessness and what seems impossible. Because nothing is impossible for Him!

I made this little printable for a retreat last year and I put one on my desk as a reminder to myself. To remind myself to allow God to fight the battles and for me to stand firm in His promises. (If you'd like to print your own copy, you can get one at the link here: https://goo.gl/7d1K3n )

My prayer for us today is that we are able to hold fast to this promise. To trust Him, rest in Him, and reject the lies that Satan tries to get us to believe. To sit still and expectant- knowing He will fight for us.

Memory Verse: Week 35

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 35:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Hold YOU

When my daughter was tiny she would walk up, reach up her hands, and say "Hold YOU!" when she wanted to be picked up. I loved that she said "Hold YOU" instead of "Hold ME" (and hated when people tried to correct her because I knew that soon enough she no longer would say it!). I think that's how God wants us to approach Him- with our arms uplifted and stretched out, asking Him to hold us and trusting that He CAN and WILL carry us. And I don't know about you but I so often need Him to carry me. When I cry out to Him, he picks me up- burdens and all- no matter how heavy they are. He reminds us over and over again in scripture that He WILL carry us through difficult times- we just have to let Him.


Isaiah 46:3-4 reminds us of this:

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." NIV

"I’ve been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.” The Message

No matter what happens today and how stinky it may be {because some days ARE super stinky}, it's just a single day- it won't last forever. God’s plan for your life far exceed the circumstances of this day. God promises that HE will carry you, sustain you, and rescue you. And what God promises? He always does.

That's my prayer for us today friends. That no matter what we face today, we thank the Lord for carrying, sustaining, and rescuing us through the ups and downs of life from our first breath on earth until our last. That we are able to thank Him for carrying us in the past so that we can look to the future with no fear- knowing that He WILL carry us- whatever the future may bring. That we remember that nothing in this world- no person, no job, no amount of money- compares to Him.

Memory Verse: Week 34

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 34:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Memory Verse: Week 33

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 33:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Memory Verse: Week 32

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 32:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE.