And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
(Genesis 1:3-5 ESV)
Blessings!
{I would love to give credit for this photo but I can’t find where it’s from. Got it from Pinterest}
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
{Matthew 12:36-37 ESV}There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
{Proverbs 12:18 ESV}A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
{Proverbs 15:4 ESV}How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
{James 3:5-10 ESV}
Can you tell where I’m struggling? Pray for me?
Blessings!
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
{1 Peter 1:24-25 ESV}
Blessings!
A couple weeks ago my older three began the AWANA program at a local church.
Never heard of it? I hadn’t really either. I knew it was something churches did but no clue what it really was. I was beyond thrilled to discover it’s a kind of Bible memory verse training! Even more thrilling was to find out that it’s FREE! Oh so thankful! So thankful for the willing hearts that come together {that volunteer} to help teach these young ones how to memorize. I had tried in the past to do this on my own but there’s something about coming alongside other followers to encourage each other to hide His word in our hearts!
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
(Psalm 119:10-16 ESV)
So my children have their papers in hand and have begun memorizing! The sound of scripture echoing throughout our house is one of the most beautiful noises I have ever heard. My oldest has taken to using Ann Voskamp’s method of memorizing. She simply takes the first letter of each word and writes it down.
{you can see here that she’s memorizing Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God}
Whereas with my four year old we are singing the scriptures. It’s so beautiful. Their pure hearts have encouraged me to go through and memorize James. This first-letter-of-each-word method really is wonderful and easy. {thank you, Ann, for the suggestion}
Since it is the beginning of the year I want to encourage you to seek out a church that is offering this wonderful program. Your children will greatly benefit. And you can not have them only do this on AWANA nights. Be aware every day that we need to be reading His word and sealing it within us. If you homeschool make this part of their daily schedule. If you’re not homeschooling make it part of the afterschool homework. Or even better, memorize the scriptures as a family in the mornings and evenings. Encourage one another to stand firm in faith and in truth.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
(Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV)
Blessings!
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
{Psalm 91:1 ESV}
Blessings!
