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Why I Memorize the Scriptures

From my earliest childhood, I knew the scriptures were important. As I sat in church listening to the Bible being taught I knew I was to sit quietly. My memories were not really of the lessons themselves, here it is, I thought I would become an angel when I died. Where I got this idea I have no idea. I was taught the usual Bible stories and enjoyed it all immensely.

High School

When I was a student at Mortimer Jordan High School in the 1970’s we had a POW speak to our assembly. I was very impressed with his story. I really wish I could remember his name.  Even though I cannot remember his name part of his story has stayed with me for over 40 years.

This POW shared some of the experiences he had while being held captive. One of the things he and his fellow prisoners did to help sustain them was to put together a Bible. Each man shared what scriptures he could remember and they wrote them on toilet paper. They compiled their own little Bible! This impressed me with a desire to commit scripture to memory lest I find myself in a similar situation with no Bible.

College

While a student at Alabama Christian and later Freed-Hardeman University each Bible class gave us memory verses.  I enjoyed this activity. One teacher emphasized in his life the importance of memorizing God’s word. It was said that he could quote whole books of the Bible. I was impressed. I wanted to have chapters and books memorized.

During my early years as a young bride, I would put a scripture beside my bathroom mirror to help me memorize the Word. It was mounted on a paper that said a scripture a day helps keep Satan away. I memorized a lot of verses this way.

Books

In the book Ordering Your Private World Gordon MacDonald shares the story of Howard Rutledge, a young man who is captured during wartime. As a civilian, this young man never had time for spiritual things. He soon realized he did not have the spiritual resources he needed to sustain him during his imprisonment.

Being imprisoned he said his hunger for the spiritual soon outdid his hunger for food. He said, “It took prison to show me how empty my life is without God.” By the time he was released, he realized his need to grow in his relationship with God. You can read his story in the book In The Presence of Mine Enemies. This story really stayed with me and gave me a greater desire to memorize the word of God.

Resources

We lived in Logan, Ohio in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Barbara Dunn, a friend, and Bible teacher gave me a copy of the Bible ABC’s. My children and I memorized these during that time. They are still with me. Through the years I have found several versions of these. Check out these two :

A B C BIBLE VERSES H

 icanteachmychild.com/abc-printable-scripture-cards/

Conclusion

I memorize scripture because God’s word is the Word of Life. I have hidden your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you. Why not memorize God’s word for yourself today!

Please share in the comment section what things you have used to commit the Word of God to memory.

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I Play With Buttons

What can I say? I love old buttons. Who can understand why such small things as the first violets in spring, old buttons in a cup, bookshelves filled with books, or old fashioned teacups can bring such joy? I’m not sure I really can understand why but they really do make my heart happy.

Yesterday I took a little drive to a friend’s house. I took the back roads over little bridges and winding roads. I saw the first daffodils of spring poking their heads through the soil. My heart rejoices at God’s creation. It was a cold but happy day.

On my drive, I passed the Rock Springs Church of Christ established in 1832. This little building holds such history. If you visit this little church which was the first Church of Christ in Rutherford County, Tennessee you will see pictures of the history. It is very interesting to think about the people who have come and gone who have had a connection to this church. Not just the building but each person and the lives they have lived. These are my people. People who were trying to serve God, love their families and the lost of their community. Imperfect people yes. People who needed God. And the story continues. Imperfect people still meeting in this little building still trying to serve God. When I was younger these little churches did not hold the same fascination for me as they do now. Now I appreciate that there is a light still shining in that same place for 188 years! A light dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. If our world ever needed light it is now.

Pieced heart pins with buttons
Buttons!
Rock Spring Church of Christ 1832
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Teach Me to Pray

Teach us to pray.

Jesus’ followers asked him in the gospels to teach them to pray. And as we begin our study on prayer our key thought is: Lord teach us to pray. When I was a little girl we memorized the Lord’s Prayer. It is a very familiar prayer. If you haven’t memorized it yet start working on it today. Place a copy beside your bathroom mirror and soon you will know it by heart.

We find the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4.

Let’s read Matthew 6:9 first.

Names of God.

Think of all the names of God you can think of and write them down. I did this on the whiteboard as a class activity. Here is a start:

Father

Provider

Eternal God

I AM

The Lord is Peace

Faithful

Lord of Lords

Great God

Lord Almighty

The God of Heaven

As we speak or pray each of these names we can add why this is true. Because he has provided us with all good things we can with assurance say to God you are provider.  Think of things God has provided you with and acknowledge his provision.

Which name of God do you use the most? How do you think of God?

I think of God as a Father the most. Probably because of some childhood insecurities thinking of God as a father this has meant a lot to me. Read Matthew 7:9-11. How does looking at God in this way make you feel?

Read Matthew 6:10-11

God’s will be done.

Think of specific areas of your life that you would like God to work his will in. Maybe you will want to write them down. As you write them down and remember to think of specific areas.

Give us today our daily bread. I have probably never felt closer to God than when I was depending on him for my daily food. It is obvious that God provides for all of our needs but sometimes we think we do. So, remember today to thank him for your food and ask him to bless those who are enduring the hungry season.

Read Matthew 6:12

Forgiveness.

The keyword in this passage is AS. Forgiving those who have sinned against us is not easy. When I read forgive as I have been forgiven it is easier to focus on the person who has wronged me instead of how I have wronged someone else or how I have been forgiven. Is there someone you need to forgive? The ask God for the strength to forgive. Ask God to show you the things you have done wrong and ask forgiveness for those as well.  Because when I realize I need forgiveness it is easier to forgive.

Read Matthew 6:13

Temptation.

My constant prayer through the years has been for God to keep us from the evil one, especially my children. As you pray this part of the prayer you might want to share areas of temptation and ask for God’s protection and deliverance from those things. The evil one is prowling about seeking someone to devour.

Praying the parts.

In Jennifer Gerhart’s book Prayer, In Practice, she divides the Lord’s Prayer into five steps and calls it Praying the Parts. This is the beginning.

Praise

Purpose

Provision

Pardon

Protection

 

Resources for this lesson:

Bible

Prayer, In Practice by Jennifer Gerhardt

60 Minutes of Prayer-The Lord’s Prayer