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| Keeping his words near my heart (and EYES!!) |
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11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Ok, so the question is, in my busy schedule, how can I keep from forgetting God in the midst of the fray? Answer… Reminders!!! Keep his words near my eyes! And perhaps even better, get them right into my heart!
God understands this life can be hectic, and we people are forgetful and easily distracted. The ancients were no better! So God suggested, or maybe he commanded, through Moses, that his people keep his words somewhere convenient and visible. Right on their hands and heads! There is also symbolization in the command, that being God’s words should motivate his people to do with their hands as well as think about them with their minds.
So my plan is now in action. I purchased hole-punched index cards and a ring to hold a bunch of ‘em together, and I’ve begun to write verses of key scriptures on the lined side, with the location (chapter and verse) on the other. The cards-on-a-ring are sitting on my desk at work, where I can see them (my co-workers can too!) and flip through them or rehearse them from time to time during the day. Scripture is going through my head even as I type this!
I started memorizing scripture in earnest about a year ago, but progress has been very slow. I lacked a plan! This isn’t a New Year’s resolution, just something the Lord wacked me upside the head and told me to get moving on. So we did. I’m excited and optimistic, we’ll see where it goes!
BTW, I also purchased decks of index cards for everyone else in the family (kids and wife). My plan includes motivating them to join me in scripture memorization, regularly sharing with each other our verses, progress, etc. Also, to make it a little fun and personalized, I bought colored rings. So far, the kids are excited. Hope it continues!!!
[UPDATE 3-14-08] Ok, so now I'm all into this updating of blogs thing. Naturally this blog requires an update as well. I have memorized some 40+ Bible verses since I posted this blog entry. It's very empowering, to realize that memorizing scripture doesn't have to be intimidating!! My kids are going much slower, but guess what? There's something to leading by example. They are taking notice of how many cards I've written verses on, and they want to follow suit. They're also motivated by the candy I gave them the last time I asked them to show me how many verses they had memorized. Are you memorizing any scripture? Why not join us?
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Lourdes |
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February 04, 2008 at 5:37am |
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| Hey, this is great! Let us know your progress ;-) |
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| Whenever I want to remember somethin' I paint one of my fingernails black with a sharpie. May try this approach as well. |
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| Great idea Mike, I just love things that produce results ! |
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LorenDP |
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February 04, 2008 at 6:07am |
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"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee"....
Great post Mike.
LOL @ Rich. |
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| Go for it Mike. We need to meditate on His word day and night! I like to repeat verses over and over in my mind when I am in bed at night trying to go to sleep. |
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| sounds like a good idea to me.Blessings to you my friend♥ |
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Awesome idea - I make it a point to read scripture everyday, either from the Bible or online. I like the idea of index cards to help me memorize them (at this stage of life my short term memory is a little wacked!!). I am going to try this myself.
Thanks Mike |
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Kathy |
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February 04, 2008 at 6:25am |
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| Excellent idea, Mike! (And Rich, your idea is good too, if the verse is not too long!) :) |
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Eliza |
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February 04, 2008 at 7:05am |
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| Great Idea Mike! Is it okay if I try this! : ) |
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Rich - I wouldn't do that b/c people might think I'm a vampire (as I recall they have black fingernails, don't they?) lol
Mary - go for it!! Awesome that you wanna give it a try!
Steve, I agree, day and night. Though usually as soon as my head hits the pillow at night everything starts spinning, and before I know it I'm snoozin!
Paul - it's results I'm expectin!
Thanks Kathy, Tina, Loren, Lourdes and woman of joy!!! |
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| Hi Eliza! Please, by all means, give it a try sis! (BTW, the cards and rings were dirt cheap at Walmart!! lol) |
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suzanne |
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February 04, 2008 at 7:37am |
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| Sounds like a good idea, Mike. I've started memorizing a scripture verse or two a week, but writing them on cards does sound more fun and interesting. God bless. |
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| Mike, thanks for reminding me of the importance of hiding God's Word in my heart. The Word of God is the spiritual food we need in order to nourish our spirits. Bible reading and Bible studying prepares the meal. I believe that it is meditation, or pondering on what we have read or studied, that helps us digest that spiritual food. Memoring God's Word assists us in etenalizing God's Truth. |
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| Fantastic idea! My dad writes verses on his hands when he goes for walks and memorizes them as he walks; and I have honestly not met anyone yet that has the Word memorized as much as my dad. That's the honest truth. I need to do the memorization thing. Never really have since I got saved; did all of it as a kid in Awanas. |
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Thanks Patrick and Suzanne!!!
Pastor Tim, that is a great analogy - "Bible reading and Bible studying prepares the meal... meditation, or pondering on what we have read or studied, that helps us digest that spiritual food." Very apropos, thank you!!
Lara - the more I read it, the more I share about it, the more I want to internalize it (and quit saying "I know there's a verse somewhere that says so and so...." I admire your dad! |
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| Mike--Right on!!! Probably the most important result of this effort is that the Word really does get hidden in our hearts. After a while, we may not think we remember something, but at the right time, Holy Spirit triggers what's there and it just comes to mind and pours out. |
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Della |
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February 04, 2008 at 10:12am |
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I think the index plan and the family reminder game plan is an excellent idea. I have some index cards of the scriptures that a minister sent to me with one of my devotionals, maybe I will right out some verses on some cards myself.
Great Blog! |
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Rosie |
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February 04, 2008 at 11:15am |
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| Mike that's a great idea for getting the Word in front of your eyes every day....(someone else thought of that too they are calender makers and not only do they have scripture verses they have the day and date neat idea uh)....hehehehe.... just had to couldn't help my self...Love ya |
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aw man Rosie, you build me UP.....then bring me down..... you're a funny lady!!! :-)
Thanks Della, what a nice thing to say. I hope you too can make great use of index cards for the Kingdom! Love, ~mike
Don - thanks for sharing your excitement about the transforming power of God's word in our daily lives! :-) |
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Deb |
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February 04, 2008 at 11:40am |
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| This is a great idea Mike. Memorizing scripture is not one of my favorite things, but I am surprised at how much I know just through listening to music. I may not know the book or verse, but I know it is scripture. |
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Jen |
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February 04, 2008 at 1:32pm |
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| Keep at it, Mike! I've been doing the same thing with index cards for the last three or four years, except I keep mine in an envelope and have that with me. They fit very well on the little ledge in my car right below the CD player. (Yeah, I know, I shouldn't be reading while driving... But mostly I just read the location side and quote the actual verse side, unless I get stuck.) I also write the date that I wrote up the card on the verse side, as I tend to choose a particular Scripture because it "jumped out at me" at a certain time. |
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| Mike, this is like a recipe box of encouragment. This is an awesome idea and actually gives me inspiration for my friends' birthday gift! :) Thanks!! |
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Gene |
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February 04, 2008 at 5:12pm |
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Mike, that's a great idea. (I think I read that somewhere).
Seriously, the index cards is a great thought because you get to read it twice - once when you read it at work , but before that when you are writing it down. I was thinking about the Bible-verse-a-day calendars that you can buy but the index cards idea is even better! |
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| yep. colored rings always help. i love the little flip bible-verse-a-day calenders. they always hold special meaning when you least expect it. |
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Rosie |
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February 05, 2008 at 1:48am |
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| Mike i'm so glad you have a good sense of humor....But the card thing is a really good idea for remembering they say you do remember what you read and write down better than if you just read it alone....You make learning fun for your kids you are a great dad.... |
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Brandy |
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February 05, 2008 at 7:33am |
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| Good idea. My daughter is a index card maker extraordinaire. A friend of mine post scripture in the bathroom by the mirror. The whole family sees it every-time they brush their teeth/hair. It is neat because I know it is there and has been there and I read it every-time I am by that mirror without even realizing that I am doing it, which is the idea. |
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Carebear, sooo glad to be able to contribute a little something to your friend's bday! ("recipe box of encouragment", wow, I'm honored to be such a blessing! lol)
Deb, music is also a great way to learn scripture. Wish I had the knack for putting scripture to song!
Jen - dating the cards is a great follow-on idea! I also thought about putting the first word of each verse on the blank side w/reference....would that be cheating? :-)
Rachel......slacker??? HEHE- sounds like you have as much self-respect as I do, lol! Thanks for your comment, I appreciate hearing about your "system". |
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Cheryl |
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February 05, 2008 at 2:23pm |
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Great idea Mike~also thnx for being a spiritual leader in your home and on this site!
And hey...did you know they made calendars with a little Bible verse printed on them!!??!?!
(lol!!!) too good to pass up! I'm sure we could take up an offering and mail you some if needed! LOVE~ LOL!!! |
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LOL! Ok, quit it Cheryl! Yes I could get a Bible verse calendar, but that wouldn't fit my system, man! (It's all about the system scripture memorization!)
lilsassy- Thanks for the comment! Ah, so you are a refrigerator writer, ay? Just be careful you don't pick up the Sharpie permanent ink marker by mistake one day! lol... I would only warn you if it could actually happen! |
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Cheryl |
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February 05, 2008 at 4:42pm |
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| system~smitchem~ LOL! (I hadn't even read everybody else's comments until now~LOL!!!) |
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Cheryl |
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February 05, 2008 at 4:44pm |
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| Hey Mike~lilsassy reminded me of something my sister does: she bought word magnets and keeps her memory verse for the week on the fridge! It might be something to help you~?!~ |
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| I could not have said it better myself. In fact put verses in places your most likely to see them like the refridgerator which is what I have done. |
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Ragland |
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February 05, 2008 at 6:16pm |
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Hi Mike, When I was a kid, My mom and Dad encouraged me to memorize the Psalms. Psalm 1, 23, 100, 121, 150 are some. My wife and I have encouraged my son to memorise scripture taking a cue from our parents. My wife can tell me immediately from her heart where a particular scripture verse can be found. She has memorised more passages than I. She makes it a habit to make us recite passages daily during family prayer time. This helped me to recite from heart at different situations. Memorising scripture is the best way to have God close to your heart. A friend of mine has encouraged his son to recite Psalm 119 ( Complete Psalm). I would definitely encourage children in the sunday school to recite memory verses and portions of scripture. |
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| Awsome Idea... Especially now that us Christians are more and more in the minority. They may not let me take a Bible to work. But they can't do anything about the scriptures in our head. |
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Rosie |
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February 06, 2008 at 2:10am |
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| Dave you are not allowed to take your Bible to work???? That's just not right...When i was a police dispatcher i took mine every day and laid it right on my desk...No one ever said anything negative to me about it in fact some asked questions about what was in it....Funny though one of the officer had to move it for me when i was leaving for lunch and when he picked it up you would have thought he picked up and infant as careful with it as he was.....He didn't read the Bible BUT he respected it for what it is..... |
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Cheryl and Marie Q, it seems the "fridge" is one of the choicest places for memory verses! Indeed, we have a funky glowing bulletin board thingy that sits on top of the frigde, often with a verse written on it. But I admit, since I know it's always there in the same place I've stopped noticing it. It seems I have to actually do something with it to actually make use of it.
I love what Ragland said... "Memorising scripture is the best way to have God close to your heart." And to keep him there! Dave, cool observation as well, thanks for offering it! When we can't take the Bible with us, we can still take God's words if they are in our head. Ok so we might not be uncovering new passages, but meditating on the ones we know is often just as good if not better!
Rosie - that's pretty cool. The guy respected the scriptures even though he didn't personally believe in them. Reminds me of something one of our nation's fathers said (Jefferson I think), that although he wasn't personally a believer, he recognized and respected the positive influence of belief in scripture.
system~smitchem? lol |
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| My boss might have something to say about me walking around with a deck of index cards around my neck! lol Great comment 'cella, thanks for the Habakkuk ref! |
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Cheryl |
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February 06, 2008 at 12:11pm |
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Put the cards IN the ice cream container!!!! LOL
disclaimer: do not eat the cards, they may cause gas and severe bloating! LOL!!! |
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| I'm sure you could digest those cards if you have to, but why, unless God himself commanded it? Yes, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah (I think) were told to eat scrolls, but I do not feel compelled to follow suit! lol |
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Donna S |
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February 07, 2008 at 7:39am |
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is now motivated!!! is also going to do this!
Thanks Mike what a great idea.
I am slow in memorizing, always been, as a result never was good at tests due to this .
But I know when I take notes, like I do now , it is easier to remember things.
Is also excited, let meknow how it works for u and I will let u know
how it works for me.
God Bless |
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Hi Donna,
Great, glad you will join me! Yesterday I memorized Rom 13:8 (see blog after this one), and today 1 Tim 6:7-8. Now, I'm not promising I'll memorize a passage every day, but my deck of cards is gonna keep getting bigger, that's for sure! |
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Cheryl |
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February 07, 2008 at 11:01am |
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| lol! |
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Mike,
As usual you are such a motivator! Wonderful thing to take the time, or make the time to learn and memorize scriptures. Another thing that will help is to write the scripture that you want to memorize... it has a way of burning into the subconscious.
Pastor Aminata |
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Hi Jairah!! Umm, Laura logged in and so my notification of your comment disappeared! lol (In other words, sorry I missed it.) Thanks for sharing your method of "keeping God's words near your heart", there are probably as many systems as there are Christians. Glad it works for ya!!! :-)
Pastor Aminata- thanks so much for the encouragement. For me it's hard not to get excited when I find something that "works for me" in my attempts to get closer to God, which definitely includes getting his words into my heart! |
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Bubbles |
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February 11, 2008 at 5:53am |
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lol, I got that whack upside the head years ago. I put scriptures up on mirrors, on the fridge, in my pockets. Little did I know that they were being embedded into my heart. He will recall what you need when you need it. He is faithful to give the assistance we need to stand strong.
You are showing obedience. He will plant your heart.
He is a rewarder or those who diligently seek Him. |
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Gene |
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February 11, 2008 at 6:51am |
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| So, Mike. How about an update? How are the cards playing? Are you getting a verse per week? per day? I have a hard enough time remembering where I put my keys. |
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| hehehe Gene, you're funny, man! I have about 10 cards, and my kids have a few of their own. We've all grabbed our cards every few days and sat down together to recite and test one another. It has been a success so far! In fact, I'm thinking of giving decks to my fellow small group men at our next men's breakfast, so they can perhaps implement this as well. Or at least spur them to place a greater importance on memorization of scripture. Thanks for asking, Gene!!! |
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| Mike,this is a great idea.Am always doing things with index cards.This would be a great idea for our kids & there are many ways you could make games out of this.Our boys are all about games.Thanks. |
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| Hi racunpoodle! Glad to see your intention to use this with the kids....my own have really bought into it - it's so cool to see them respond to my attempts to make the Bible fun!! :-) |
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| Yeah, I can really see the possibilities & I am always looking for something new to use to keep the kids interested & having fun with the Bible.It's harder as they get into the teen years,but if you get the mentality that getting into Gods word doen't have to be dull & boring,it's really helpful later on. |
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Fienie |
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February 12, 2008 at 12:45am |
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| Wonderful idea!!! The Word of God is our sword and if it is not in your head, when your in a crisis, your sword is at home, probaby lying on your a table and not ready to use, so rather keep it where you can always have it, in case of emergencies, cause the enemy is always there ready to attack! |
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I'm so excited! Last evening before bed the kids and I went through their cards, they're actually memorizing scripture! It's so cool! Well, two of the three are. You know, in Sunday school they always have a scripture memory verse, but to date the # of verses they can recite from that source is zero (0), lol. Maybe our Sunday school dept. should buy index cards and colored rings! haha
Fienie, thanks for the wonderful comment. A big "yep" to that... we can't take our "swords" with us everywhere, unless we figure out how to get the content into our heads!!! :-) |
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Gene |
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February 12, 2008 at 8:31am |
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Mike,
Maybe you should be teaching Sunday school!
:) |
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Hi Gene,
I do! I teach 1st-2nd grade, boy do we have fun! |
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Procyon |
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February 15, 2008 at 9:27pm |
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| It's wonderful to memorize Scripture. In China's underground church, I've heard of people memorizing whole books of the Bible! |
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| I have too Procyon. Isn't that amazing? I've memorized Jonah ch. 2, but I keep forgetting parts of it. I've also memorized much of Jeremiah ch. 32. I recite Jeremiah's prayer just about every day, great jumpstart to my quiet times. |
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Gene |
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February 18, 2008 at 2:36pm |
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| Mike, if you teach those young-uns, you need to read Randy's blog on the subject. |
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Cheryl |
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February 18, 2008 at 2:39pm |
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Mike, I was going to add..don't be scared of Randy's blog, but then saw you do teach a young age~read on!!!! Great survival tips! |
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Read Randy's blog and commented from my own personal experience. No worries there...no fear. I ain't escared of no kids. At least not the little ones!
On the index cards, I'm trying to make this as voluntary as possible, no forcing! When the kids show that they've written and memorized verses using the index cards, I've rewarded them with....candy!!! But who's gonna reward me?? Actually the cards have helped me so far too, a lot in fact. Scripture has been on my mind lately....isn't that what it's all about? :-) |
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Gene |
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February 20, 2008 at 10:31am |
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Mike needs a reward!
Here you go buddy!
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| Holy mackerel, that's a lot of stars! Gene, you have the ultimate star power!! (Where'd you get all those stars anyway??) |
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