Hiding God's Word in my heart

One of my goals for this year (and for my life) is to memorize more Scripture.

When I was in 7th and 8th grades, I was in a program at church called Bible drill. We would work on memorizing up to 30 Bible verses at a time, and it was so fun! I really enjoyed the competition and the challenge of locating a particular passage within 8 seconds or less. It made memorizing Scripture easy and enjoyable.

Now, I don't have games to make memorizing fun, but it's not about fun anymore. Memorizing God's Word is an offensive weapon I can use to fend off the enemy's spiritual attacks - it's the Sword of the Spirit. It's a tool to use to comfort me when I need comfort. It's something that can't be taken away, except by my own carelessness.

Here's one way I've found to remind myself of the Scriptures which I'm trying to learn at any given time:

I found this cute idea in a HomeLife magazine that I picked up at church. It didn't give directions or anything, it was just a picture of a living room that had something like this on the wall. But I didn't need directions - the idea was simple enough.

So the next time I was at Wal-Mart, I picked up a book of scrapbooking paper, and some cheap little frames. I think it all cost me about $10 but I know that I could've done it cheaper if I had went to the Dollar Tree instead.

I chose some Scriptures which I was working on memorizing at the time, and set to work designing it on the computer - selecting a font, arranging the words. Then, I simply printed it out onto the scrapbooking paper which I had bought, and put them into the frames. Now, they hang on the walls so that whenever I see them, I am reminded of the Scriptures, and practice working on them some more.

It's a great way to keep from forgetting to work on my memorization, and to work on home decor at the same time (since I'm terrible at decorating).

This Works for Me!!

What are some creative ways you use to work on Scripture memory? Leave a comment, and let me know! 

Monday Miscellany

Just some random happenings in our life lately!

• My sister-in-law Haley *starred* in a musical last night at Beacon Hill. The play was "The Amazing Grace Race" and she was a reporter for the WWJD news network. She did wonderfully.

• After the musical, there was a meal in the fellowship hall where we mingled with our former church family and caught up with Brandon's family as well. 

Asher's big into grabbing faces now. Ask Brandon's beard. Or Grandpa's cheeks. 

• We discovered last night that our baby has gotten his first boo-boo. :( We don't know where he got it from: probably from bumping up against his daddy's belt during the service. That's right, we're using the belt on him already ;) .

• Asher's uncle Nick (my brother) has started baseball season. 

•  Asher chose an outfit to match the occasion.  

• Here he is with Mamaw and Papaw, cheering on uncle Nick!

•  Here is Nick, right before he got his hit: you can even see the ball, if you look hard!

• This kid is growing like a weed. He's so happy, and I'm so proud of him! I just want to show him off everywhere! I'm so grateful to God for blessing us with such a Happy Blessing. 

• Did you know that Asher means "Happy" or "Blessed" in Hebrew? So true. 

Linking up with Miscellany Monday at lowercase letters today.

Goals Update

You don't need to read this. Really, it's okay. You can just skip merrily along on your way. 

Because it's embarrassing, failure. My accomplished to-do list looks like Patrick's which I posted last week: Nothing? Check. 

It's okay, though. I'm giving myself some grace. I chose a really bad week to suddenly become ambitious about housekeeping. I was only home 2 days this past week: I finished up my internship at Beacon Hill for two days, went to school on Friday, and was otherwise occupied so that I could not accomplish what needed done. 

But I got the important stuff done: I took care of my baby boy and my husband. And kept the dog fed. That should've gone on the list, too. 

Here's what last week's goals looked like:

1. Get and Keep the kitchen clean
• This lasted all of two hours.
2. Do a load of laundry from start to finish each day
• It's hard to do laundry when you're not home, especially when you have a dryer which won't stop on its own.
3. Pick up the living areas
• I did this, it just didn't last.
4. Keep Asher well-fed, clean, and happy.
• That one was easy.
5. Tummy time for Asher 3X per day
• I think I managed this about once per day, sometimes more frequently.
6. Read to him twice per day
• Usually I did at least once per day.
7. Have a 10 minute quiet time every day.
• Didn't accomplish this. 
8. Listen to 7 podcasts.
• Why? When would I have had time to do that?
9. Read Chapter 19 of ST, and my books for school.
• Nope.
10. Sky High Goal: Organize 2 closets.
• Not even.

Eh, it's okay. I'm not going to be too hard on myself. I spent time with my husband, loved on my baby, kept the dishes and laundry up to date, and everything else worked itself out just fine. 

However, I'm going to be more realistic in my goal-setting for this week. 

Goals:

1. Keep Asher well fed, happy, and clean.
2. Feed and water the dog every day.
3. Have dinner at home every day of the week.
4. Go grocery shopping so that I can accomplish number 3.
5. Make a meal plan for this week before I grocery shop.
6. Tummy time for Asher twice per day.
7. 10 minute quiet time, first thing in the morning. 
8. Read to Asher at least once per day.
9. Help Brandon take care of youth ministry tasks.
10. Keep the house picked up. 
11. Organize 1 closet. 

I'll make more detailed lists for every day, but I won't post them, probably. This list looks accomplish-able. I'll be posting Wednesday about memorizing Scripture, so be sure to tune in! :)

God's Grace and Peace to you!

Empathy

My sweet baby. 

He's the happiest little fella when things are going well for him - when he has a full belly, a clean diaper, and something to chew on. :)

But when something goes wrong, he thinks it's the end of the world. 

If we happen to be driving in the car when he gets hungry, he just can't imagine why we won't get him out and feed him RIGHT. THIS. INSTANT. He will scream as if he hasn't been fed for days, when really this is his first inkling of hunger. I feel so bad for him in those moments, but it also gets frustrating. 

Can't you have a little patience, buddy?

Don't you know that Mommy loves you, won't let you starve? 

Do you realize that Mom and Dad have your best interests in mind? We want what's best for you, Asher. That means that we aren't going to get you out of the car while we're driving to feed you: that's dangerous. It'll only be a little longer. Just trust us. 

And then I realize that this must be how God feels sometimes. I don't get what I want, what I feel like I need, RIGHT. THIS. INSTANT. And I think He's forgotten about me, abandoned me. But I should know better. I do know better. 

"Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, 

for the Lord your God goes with you; 

He will never leave you nor forsake you."

-Deuteronomy 31:6

Even in painful situations, even when I'm being disciplined, I know that God's got the end result in mind. He's working for His glory and my good. He's the only one who knows best, and thank the Lord it's in His hands, not mine. 

And thank the Lord that He gives us wisdom when we need it (James 1:5) because I don't always know what to do in every situation, either. I'm new at this parenting stuff, but Father has been in the business of sustaining the world ever since the Beginning. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.