Welcome Becca!

We are thrilled to introduce our newest member to the Team!

Rebecca (Becca) MacAlpine!

Becca & Luke

Hi scripture memorization team! I am so thrilled to join and am already so blessed by this group! My name is Becca MacAlpine and I currently live in Fresno, CA but grew up in Canada (we moved to the states in 1999 and on an exciting note I am working on becoming an American citizen, woo!). I have known the Lord since 2000 and and I have been married for about a year and a half to the man of my dreams, Luke MacAlpine. My relationship with the Lord began in 2000 but it became much more intimate and deep in 2004 when the Lord used Luke (then boyfriend) in my life for a few short months in 2004. We dated for short time between 2004 and 2005 then our relationship ended only for us to get back together four years later but that's a story for another time! During those few short months the Lord taught me about His redeeming love, being a new creation in Him and that my identity is solely in the finished work of Christ. Those truths have only continued to deepen and flourish throughout college as I attended Biola University and these early years of marriage and my career as a math teacher.

As I have struggled with chronic pain for the last two years, the Lord has taught me so much about his character and love for both Luke and I. The Lord is my Strength, Joy, Healer, Redeemer, Provider and so much more. On average I am full of energy (on average since being in pain is becoming less and less often). I love to be with people and I always prefer to do things together rather than alone. Second to being passionate about the Lord, I am extremely passionate about being a wife and marriage. I love being married and I am so thankful that the Lord knew exactly what I needed in providing Luke as a husband for me.

Throughout these last few years of chronic pain, the Lord has been so faithful in using Luke to remind me of how good God is and His truth throughout this season. I have long desired memorizing Scripture more but have never had a group of other women committed to the same goal. As I mentioned before, I thrive when I get to do things alongside other people and I so look forward to being amongst such wonderful women committed to hiding the Word in their hearts. I am thrilled because I know that memorizing more Scripture will be so beneficial as we continue to seek out and pray for a solution to my chronic migraines (with the pain it is often hard to read longer passages of scripture since my eyes get so sensitive). Thank you for allowing me to join into this group! I look forward to and eagerly anticipate getting to know each one of you more through this blog and the times that we get to share together. Happy Thanksgiving! (if you read this before Thanksgiving) and Merry Christmas! (if you read this after Thanksgiving)

With so much love to all of you I have and haven't met,

Becca MacAlpine

Becca's Question for you all to answer in the comment section:

What are you passionate about?

Scripture Memory Team-Fresno Celebration!

From Left to right, back to front: Tami, Mandy, Yvonne, Amy

Vivian, Melissa, Amber

What a wonderful Saturday afternoon in November! I just returned from time with some of you all and feel overflowing with love for you and for Jesus Christ.

We missed those of you who couldn't join us and long for the day we can all be together.

We ate yummy food and enjoyed hot drinks...some of us had Hot Chocolate Cake (my mouth is still watering), Creme' Brulee, lattes, lunch...hmm hmm good!

My favorite part was hearing each of your stories and your highs & lows of the year and what verse the Lord has used to shape, encourage, and sustain you this year.

We have some new ideas for this upcoming year as we continue to hide God's Word in our hearts...more info to come!

Let's chime in, for those who got to come, what would you want the other ladies to know on our team? Let's encourage one another...

Welcome Katy!

We have a new lady who to cheer onto our team! Katy we are thrilled we get to hide God's Word in our heart with you!

I asked Katy to share a bit about herself and her desire to memorize the Word:

Thank you for having me! Its been on my heart for a while now how important it is to memorize scripture to guard our hearts. I didn't know where to get started, and I really just needed the accountability. When Mandy told me what she was doing I thought it was too good to be true! I am so excited for this opportunity!

My sweet husband and I have been married for nine months now. On December 17th we are making the trek up North to Manteca to set our roots down. I'm not sure what I will do career wise there, but I really just have a heart for hospitality: I love cooking, baking, and caring for others. As a young girl I was very lost and vulnerable; I hope to one day be able to speak truth and love into girl's lives. Off the bat I am kind of shy, but I love getting to know people one on one. I think it is extremly important to equip ourselves with scripture to live in this world where spiritual battles are happening all around us. In referenece to memorizing scripture... a friend once told me that Jesus was tempted for 40 days and what helped get him through was the scripture that he recited back to satan. I want to be able to evangelize and love on nonbelievers and I need to store scripture in my mind to be able to do that.

Thanks!!

Love, Katy

Memory Verse #22

I can't believe it is already evening and I haven't posted the opportunity to write our 22nd verse of 2011!

Here we go! I so love to read your comments about your life and what the Lord is doing in and through you. Thank you for being authentic and sharing victories and struggles. I am thankful for you.

1. What is your verse?

2. Is your heart filled with gratitude today? Why or why not? What are you thankful for?

3. I will miss those who can't join us on Saturday and know that you are with us in spirit.

Let's finish this year well!

Scripture Memory Verse #21

Good Morning Pilgrimagers!

How precious you are to me!

Today we celebrate Melissa's birthday. Happy Birthday to you!

1. What is your 21st verse?

2. Do you believe down to the depths of your soul that you are so loved by Jesus Christ, not based for a moment on your good or bad performance? What aspects of God's love do you struggle with believing, if any?

3. Are you able to come to our November 19th celebration in Fresno, CA?

4. Share the verse you picked this time with one other person and then report back in the comment section how the conversation went. Did you enjoy sharing it with someone else, was it scary, were you encouraged, challenged, etc.?

Let's do this! Let's wield our swords and proclaim His Word!