Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel: Verse 8

A few weeks ago in Sunday service Pastor Ken spoke about the difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’.  This got me thinking.  In my life there are many things I can’t do.  A few of them are as follows:  I can’t clap (with  any kind of rhythm), I can’t go to Australia next week,  I can’t buy a Range Rover, I can’t calculate compounded interest rates in my head,  I can’t buy a few more dogs and I can’t walk into Starbucks with a gun, demanding  a grande café mocha.  I am sure you could name a few of your own!

Why is this?  We all have physical, financial, and time limitations in our lives.  Some things we can’t do because they are unwise. Some things are just illegal.

But what about spiritual limitations?  Today we begin memorizing verse 8 in our Bible Memorization Project.  For many, many years I said I couldn’t memorize scripture.  I tried to do it but, to be completely honest,  I gave up after a week or so.  The truth is, I can do it because I am doing it now.  What I’ve learned is that it does take effort. It’s a conscious pursuit.  Pastor Ken said last year, memorizing scripture is a spiritual discipline.  It is not a one day marathon. If you spend just 15 minutes a day concentrating on your current verse and reviewing those you have already memorized, God’s Word will become a part of you.

The Word says “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).   We read in Mark 10:27, “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God”. God tells us in Phil. 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ,  who gives me strength”.  In Joshua 1:8 God also says “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night”. If God is saying all this it seems pretty clear that we can memorize scripture.  He wouldn’t tell us to do something we couldn’t do.

Like those of you who committed to embark on this challenge, I want to be faithful to do what I told God I would do, that is memorize His Word.  He has met me in this.  If you are hearing in your head ’you can’t do this’, that is not God’s voice. I really want to encourage you.  You can do this!! If you are on track – excellent!! If you are not – get back in the race! Memorizing His Word is really about you and Him.  God will bless you as you walk in obedience and faithfulness in what you have set out to do.

So tell me, what is your 8th verse?

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Seven

Hello my models of memorization!!!!

Right off the bat I want to tell you that I am steamed.  I fell for it again.  When will I ever learn?  I have had an extremely rough week and my faith has been rocking back and forth like the proverbial ship on a stormy sea.  I don’t mind telling you that fear has been seeping into every available nook, cranny and crevice in my spiritual armor.  I had worries about health, worries about finances, worries about kids, worries towards extended family members, worries about friends, economy, the weather, not having enough, having too much, I said too much, I said too little, I shouldn’t have gone there, I should have gone there, I did too much, I did too little……just making myself crazy with worry.  Worry, worry, worry.  Then my biggest and I mean my biggest mistake was my solution.  Ok I will just not worry.  Has anyone ever tried that and has that actually worked?  Never does for me.  The more I try not to worry it seems it only initiates a new worry, I start to worry about my not worrying.  

Then today, I happen to read an old post on the blog. What Are You Standing In? and my very own words gave me the great big old spiritual shake I needed to get me back on track.  The post talks about a memory verse I had been working on “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.”  (2 Corinthians 1:24)  I was reminded that if we are standing in our circumstances and our worries we will not stand for very long because we as Christians walk by faith and not by sight.  The solution is not to try to worry less but to activate my faith and trust God more.  Everything that I was worried about, I realized, was just a plain old nuts and bolts faith issue.  The enemy had kept me looking down at my circumstances rather then up at God.  I don’t need to just stop worrying but I need to take every one of those troubles and entrust them to God.  I need to step out of the circumstances and situations, which by the way I have no control over anyway, and step into the realm of faith. 

Why am I sharing this today?  Because the very verse that God used to snap me out of my week long self absorption with worry was a memory verse from last year.  When I stumbled across the post the verse wasn’t new to me, but it did remind me of what I already knew from the time I was memorizing it.  That, my dear wonderful co-laborers in memorization, is why we do this; so that we are equipped and ready for anything.  As we commit our scriptures to memory, we are arming ourselves for the obstacles that lie ahead and not necessarily what is in front of us today. 

How I love God’s word.  I can’t tell you enough how God has changed my life because of it.  His Word means everything to me and I am so thankful that I have the privilege to know Him through it.  That is why I am passionate about studying it, memorizing it, and singing it.  God has turned my world upside down because of His inspired Word and I just am filled with gratitude that He opened my eyes to see Him in it.   Not only has He done it in the past but He is still doing it.  I love that about Him. 

So that is my testimony for memorization.  I bet you have one too.  If you do, please share it with others as a word of encouragement to them.  It might just be the thing that sets them on the path to Bible study and memorization.

Ok well today is Bible verse memorization number 7.  What’s your verse?  Here is mine:

“Puts up with anything.  Trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.”  1 Cor 13:7 MESSAGE

Love you guys.  What a joy and privilege it is to memorize along with you.

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Six

Hello Everyone!!  Happy Spring!!  How are my memory masters doing this beautiful spring day?

I find myself wondering how you folks are doing now that we have passed the half way point in our project.  If you are still tracking, I know that the Lord is blessing you and meeting you where you are.  Today in Bible Study Eva shared a testimony and word of encouragement that I thought I would pass on to you.  It brought us that needed boost to propel us into the second half of our project.  Enjoy!! 

Remember not to forget to post your verse in the comment section below.  We love doing this with you!  Your enthusiasm blesses us!

Blessings!

Do not be discouraged (by Eva Jester)


Some of you that are participating in the bible memorization project (the sequel) may be asking yourself right now as we approach verse 6, what did I get myself in to!

Let me encourage you! God has been challenging me and convicting me for a long time to memorize scripture but until this project, I had never memorized scripture like this. I will say that I am thoroughly enjoying it and God has given me the ability to memorize these scriptures fairly easily which came as a total shock to me.

However I should not have been shocked at the information that our brains are capable of storing for long periods of time. As some of you know, my son Nathaniel is 7 years old. He participates in what is called Pee Wee Bible Quiz which challenges the children to learn over 140 bible questions during a season and they have three meets where they compete against other children from other churches around NJ.

A friend had asked me, aren't you concerned about the competition among the children? My reply was that the best thing about this program is the children are learning to memorize bible facts & can even quote some scripture. You should see how quickly these children can answer all of these questions & in many cases they have memorized both the whole question & answer.  When I compare the stack of their 140 cards against my ten I become convinced that I could finish this project.

The most important thing is you are hiding God's Word in your heart, like my son & the other children. They come with so much excitement to learn God's Word & so should we.

We can do this.. I know we can!!!

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Five

Hello my darling fellow memorizer’s of Scripture!

I find myself wondering how each of you are doing with our Bible memorization project. By now the excitement of starting something fresh has waned and I bet staying on track has become a greater challenge. I imagine some of you might be wondering “Why am I even memorizing scripture? Does it really make a difference? Is this even important to God or just our Bible Study leader?” No doubt the enemy is only adding fuel to those flickering doubts and perhaps you find yourself wanting to abandon the project altogether. If that is you, then let me take a moment to bring some Holy Spirit inspired encouragement.

This past week I have been studying the Proverbs 31 woman in preparation for next weeks teaching. It has been a fascinating time in the word and God has prepared tremendous insight and encouragement for us next week. You won’t want to miss that. At any rate, what I learned is that this passage is arranged alphabetically in a pattern referred to as an “acrostic”. This pattern means that the first word of each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence. The Expositors Bible Commentary (Proverbs-Isaiah) remarks that “this type of arrangement made memorization easier” (p246). Other notable examples would include Psalm 25,34,37,119 and 145.

In studying the use of acrostics, I also learned that they were used in the practical sense as if covering the subject matter from a-z. But here is what brought me such great encouragement. If the Psalmist wrote in the acrostic format then one of his intentions was that it would be memorized. Since the scriptures were written by men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, then it would seem that memorization would be God’s intention as well.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

Since we have established that it would seem that it is God’s will that we memorize scripture as the use of the acrostic implies and the above scripture tells us that if we pray anything according to His will we get what we ask then the solution to our waning strength to continue in memorization, would naturally seem to be to PRAY!!!! Pray that He would sustain this project in you. Pray that He would put a fire in you to continue. Pray that He would revive you memory cells and help you to retain His words. Pray that He would make you passionate about all things concerning His Word. I am certain that these are prayers He will answer. Amen?

Ok Everyone, here is the part of the blog where you have the opportunity to leave verse 5. Let me see those scriptures. I will start with mine.

“Doesn’t force itself on others. Isn’t always ‘me first’. Doesn’t fly off the handle. Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others.”

1 Corinthians 13:5 MESSAGE

Love, love, love doing this with you!!!

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Four

Hello my darling memorization buddies;

Just thrilled that we have made it to our fourth verse together.  I can't tell you how curious I am with how you are doing.  If you are still tracking with us, I know that God is richly blessing you as you commit His Word into your heart.  If you have fallen behind, no worries, just pick right back up where you left and I am sure that God will help you complete the goal. 

In case,you have been getting frustrated with finding time to work on Bible Memorization , I thought I would pass on some of the ways that I work this discipline into a somewhat overloaded and at times frantic schedule.

Opportunities to memorize verses.
- as you wash dishes
- fold laundry
- wait on lines (this works well at the DMV)
- vacuuming (2 cats plus one dog = a great deal of time spent on this mindless task)

As I thought about this, I wondered is there any time that it would be inappropriate to be memorizing verses.  Are there certain types of situations where it would be clearly wrong to be focused on memorization rather then the task at hand. 

Situations where it would be inappropriate to memorize verses.
- the internet tells me that air traffic controllers have the number one job that demands the most amount of concentration.  It seem that it takes a great deal of focus to keep track of several planes that are ready to land at the same time.  I for one, especially if I am in one of those planes, would prefer for them to direct their full attention to what they are doing. 
- I also have learned that when taking Tai Kwon Do belt tests, that it takes extreme concentration to break a board with you bare hands.  So I guess that would be ok.
- I generally like to watch crime scene types of shows, and I always notice that when they are diffusing bombs, that it demands all of their focused attention.  They also usually sweat alot.  I am thinking that if you are called to diffuse a bomb, that would be a good excuse for you to skip memorization for a bit.
- Then of course, if you are called to perform emergency microsurgery that would probably be a good reason to redirect your focus as well.

So other then these four instances, I think that we are good to go.  You know I am just kidding you guys.  Obviously there are many more times that it would be inappropriate to be memorizing your scriptures, but the point is to try to think of ways that you can fit this much needed yet abundantly fruitful discipline into your life.  I think if you were to give it some thought, you would probably come up with many more opportunites then you thought you had. 

So it is that time.  Leave your verse in the comment below and I will start with mine.
"Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut.  Doesn't have a swelled head."  1 Corinthians 13:4 MESSAGE

Love you guys.  It is such a joy co-memorizing with you in this project.


 

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Three

Hello Everyone;

Do you know what today is? It is time for the third installment in our verse memorization project. I find myself wondering how you’re doing. In fact, I compulsively want to know. Here’s why.

If I was to offer you a guaranteed 100 fold return on an investment, what would you do? If you are like me, you might be somewhat apprehensive but very curious. You would consider hearing more but not actually jump in with both feet. You might even think that it is too good to be true. Why is that? Probably because in the past we have, on more then one account, put our faith in something that didn’t deliver on its promises. While many offers in life are just that, too good to be true, there is one I am convinced is a slam dunk. How do I know this? Because it came from the very mouth of Jesus. Who by the way does not lie!

“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”                                                   Luke 8:8

Did I pique your curiosity? Are you finding yourself wanting this seed? Are you getting ready to bolt to the nearest gardening store seeking to find some “Jesus seed”? Are you wondering what kind of seed Jesus was talking about?

“The seed is the word of God”               Luke 8:11

Now that we know what the seed is, one might be wondering but how do we sow it.

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
                                                         Luke 8:15

There is the recipe for your 100 fold blessing, you hear it and retain it (memorize it), water it with a little perseverance and Jesus guarantees a 100 times what you have sown. Anyone but me would like some of that?

Ladies, I can testify that this is indeed a promise that Jesus will keep. Several years ago I took to memorizing scripture as a spiritual discipline and I can say, with all certainty, that it has dramatically changed my life. My spiritual life has definitely catapulted to new levels because of it. As I committed to not only hearing and understanding the word but memorizing and never, ever, did I say never, giving up, I have seen Him meet me in extraordinary ways not only on the pages of scripture but on the hot pavement of life as well.

I am incredibly thrilled to see that you are willing to take Jesus up on His promise. Don’t give up! It will change you life. Of this I am certain.

So its time to leave your verses. Once again I will start with mine. Thank you so much for joining me in this project. You are such a joy to do this with.

Love you much!

“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.”
             1 Corinthians 13:3 (MESSAGE)

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Verse Two

Hello Everyone;

As the post title suggests, it’s that time again.  Today is the day we post our second verse that we are committing to memory for the Bible memorization project.  Do you have yours yet?

This past week I came across a scripture in my reading that caused me to sit and think on a bit. 

“The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endure forever”                                               Psalm 119:60

What the Psalmist is saying is not only is God’s Word true as a whole but it is also true individually.  That each singular verse that we read has a wealth of truth all to itself.  For some reason that grabbed me.  As we commit to memorizing scripture take time to meditate on the truth of what it says.  Let the beauty of the Word overwhelm you until it meshes with your belief system. 

As you memorize I want to encourage you to dialogue with the Lord about your verse and ask Him to give you revelatory understanding.  The kind that sticks with you for a lifetime and stays with you far beyond the scope of this project.   That ladies is a prayer that God will most definitely answer.  

Ok it is time for us to list our verses.  If you are new to the blog or to this group and missed the start date, jump on in.  You can still participate.  The more the merrier.  I will start us off.

“If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.”                        1 Corinthians 13:2

Love doing this with you guys!  

It’s time for you to leave your verses in the comments.  Let’s do it!

Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel - Week One

On your mark, get set, go! 

Today we launch the start of our twenty week journey in memorizing God’s Word together.  We are calling this the Bible Memorization Project – The Sequel.  I can’t wait to get started and from the enthusiasm I witnessed in women’s Bible study today, I suspect that you are just as ready as I am.

If you are new to the blog and don’t know what this is all about, you can read about it here. 

As I was preparing to write this post and to get started with my new list of ten scriptures, I thought I would revisit my first verse from last year. 

Forget about what has happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Isaiah 43:18-19 Message

I am tickled, because God, indeed, has fulfilled the substance of this verse over this past year.  As I allowed the truth of what is contained in this scripture to permeate my mind and heart (forgetting) and looking for what God was doing in my life presently (being alert), I could actually see the path that He had laid for me.  It was been pure refreshment and He has been undeniably faithful. 

Since today marks day one of week one of the project, it is time to start posting our scriptures.  Let’s see those verses ladies!  I will put mine here and you can leave yours in the comment below.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.”  1 Corinthians 13:1 (Message)

Thanks so much for joining me in this project.  There is nothing I love more then studying God’s word with you.  I am blessed!

The Bible Memorization Project - The Sequel

It seems to be a season of sequels.  As I scan the movie listings on the internet, I find myself drawn to preview movies that are continuations of ones I have already seen.  Why is that?  Mostly likely it is because I know it’s a good bet that if I enjoyed the original then I will probably delight in the follow-up.  I also like to re-engage with the familiar, in particular, characters and personalities that I had grown fond of.  I just love to reacquaint myself with memorable plots and characters revived in a new installment with a new title.  For me this is a combination that won’t disappoint.

Last year, Women’s Bible Study embarked on a journey of memorization.  Right about this time last December we decided to initiate a challenge to commit to memory 10 verses over 20 weeks.  It was called the Bible Memorization Project and it was a resounding success.  Not only did twenty plus women complete the challenge, but the testimonies of what God did through that project were nothing short of breathtaking.  The Lord came in and surprised us with His stunning brilliance as we allowed our minds and hearts to become saturated with His Word.  

As I already mentioned, I just love a good sequel.  So in keeping with the momentum of that premiere event we decided to launch another one like it:  The Bible Memorization Project – The Sequel.    This project will run much the same way as last year’s project.  The only difference is that we will be bringing in a slew of fresh scriptures which could only make this sequel as striking its predecessor. 

If you are new and didn’t participate in last year’s project, then this won’t be a sequel for you, this will be your premiere event.   We would love to have you participate with us.  We are believing that God is going to do something stunning through these twenty weeks as we yield our minds to meditate on His Word.   You won’t want to miss out on the blockbuster of a time that God has planned for us.  Won’t you join us? 

So here is how it works…

What is it?

1) We will memorize one verse and its reference every two weeks.

2) We will write the verse on an index card and number each verse corresponding to the week. 

Calendar

Verse 1 - January 10^th – start date

Verse 2 - January 24^th

Verse 3 – February 7^th

Verse 4 – February 21^st

Verse 5 – March 6^th

Verse 6 – March 20^th

Verse 7 – April 3^rd

Verse 8 – April 17^th

Verse 9 – May 1^st

Verse 10 – May 15^th

Verse rally day - you will recite your 10 verses to one of the Bible Memorization leaders – don’t forget your index cards.

The Prize

For all those that have met their goal we will have a luncheon to celebrate.  The only requirement to attend is to say your 10 verses to one of the Bible Memorization leaders. 

What Verse?

You can either pick you own verse or ask us to give you one.  You want the verse to have meaning to you so it should be something that is really relevant to your life. 

How to Memorize Verses?

Day one – Say the verse once looking at it then repeat it 10 times trying not to look. 

Day two and after – The same. 

If the verse is too long, break it down into portions: 

Day one – say the portion once looking at it then repeat it 10 more times.

Day two – say the first portion once looking at it then repeat it 10 times without looking at it.  Work on second portion.  Read it once then repeat it 10 more times. 

Day three – say the first portion ten times, say the second portion 10 times, then start on the third portion.

Never move on until you have each portion memorized.  Do this everyday and I believe that you will master the technique in no time at all. 

Accountability

Keeping yourself accountable is important because when someone else knows that you are memorizing, it will cause you to do it. 

1) Partners – Let someone know that you are memorizing, hopefully someone else who is, and keep each other accountable.  You can ask to listen to each others verses every two weeks.

2) Facebook – Every two weeks I will put my verse up on MWC Women’s Bible Study Facebook page and you can follow it with yours by writing it as a comment.

3) Blog – Every two weeks we will put a post up on the blog about what number verse we are up to.  Week one, week two ..etc and you can leave your verse as a comment. 

Last Word

In order to be successful at your memorization make sure that as we move through the weeks that you continue to recite the verses you have already committed. 

Thanks so much for dedicating this time to Bible Memorization.  I know that God is going to meet you and bless you in ways that you never imagined.