Hiding Psalm 71 in my Heart with Do Not Depart

Last year I was so grateful to memorize Romans 8 and John 1:1-14 with Do Not Depart in an easy, low-key way. I was part of the Facebook group where we encouraged each other and were inspired by Lisa to keep memorizing.

Why is memorizing God's Word important?  Here are 3 reasons I want to memorize Psalm 71:

1. When I put God's Word in my heart, I draw closer to Him.  I feel like I can talk more freely, listen better and come to a deeper understanding of who He is.

2. I am able to use my downtime more productively like repeating verses while putting on makeup or changing my daughter's diaper or sharing with my children at breakfast.  There are endless moments of the day to fill my mind with positive things like the words of God.

3.  And last, I want to memorize Psalm 71 because I know in my heart, that the more I memorize, the sharper my mind will be and this Psalm is an excellent confidence booster.

Do you want to memorize too?  We do about 2 verses a week!  There is encouragement, fun and lots of extra ways to boost your memorizing skills.  Join today at Do Not Depart.  We begin on January 13.

Memorize Psalm 71 with Do Not Depart

Spiritual Journey 2012

This year I took on many challenges that helped me grow closer to God and to others.  Here are a few Bible studies and other spiritual growth opportunities that I took part in this year.

*Good Morning Girls-
Ephesians
Proverbs 31 Woman
Colossians
Advent


*Memorizing Scripture with Do Not Depart
Romans 8
John 1:1-14
Proverbs 31: 10-31 (with my GMG Bible study)


*Read the Bible
I read the Bible in 90 Days with Mom's Toolbox.


*Hello Mornings
Accountability group for mornings- God, Move, Plan
Register for the Winter Challenge on January 16th.  The challenge is from Jan 28- Apr 26.
If you are someone who wants to better plan your mornings, have quiet time with God, exercise and make a good plan for the day, this is for you!


What I plan to do for 2013:

This year I will continue to do Bible study with Good Morning Girls.  This winter we are studying Luke 1-8.  I am excited to memorize more Scripture with Do Not Depart starting this January: Psalm 71.  I will continue to connect with  my Hello Mornings group and I am going to read through the New Testament from the calendar on my Weekly Household Planner.

I also participate in Warrior Prayers and 31 Days of Prayers for Girls.  I honestly want to spend more time with God in prayer and I will earnestly seek God during my SOAP studies as I want to follow God with my whole heart!

What Bible studies and Spiritual growth opportunities do you participate in?

Hiding God's Word- John 1:1-14 (Vlog)

I am still amazed at how quickly and easily I am able to memorize God's Word. I found that this particular passage was very good to know as it explains clearly that Jesus is God and he came to earth to save people, but people rejected him. But for those who received him he gave them the right to be children of God.  I was at a seminar this weekend and the speaker said that we are either a friend or enemy of God.  Which would you like to be?

John 1:1-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴  In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
⁹  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own,^[b] and his own people^[c] did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I am linked up with Do Not Depart.

Hiding God's Word: John 1:1-4 (Vlog with my son!)

After memorizing all of Romans 8, I was ready to memorize again and now I'm doing John 1:1-14.  It is a lot simpler than Romans 8, but so powerful.  Here is a short clip of the first 4 verses I have memorized.  My son has been hearing me practice and he has been repeating some of the verses with me.

To see this video, click HERE.

Romans 8 Memorized (Vlog)

About 4 months ago I was feeling like I really wanted to dig deeper into God's Word.  That's when Do Not Depart put out the challenge to memorize all of Romans 8.  I was excited and a bit nervous.  I hadn't memorized anything that long in awhile!  But I felt that this was such a great chapter in the Bible to know that I took that challenge.  I did pretty well for the first few months, but when the New Year started, I slacked off.  So about 3 weeks ago, I realized that I was very far behind and I decided to catch up and memorize the last 20 verses.  I don't recommend this.  Anyway, when I say the whole thing through I am struck by the awesome story that God came to save everyone and he planned for us to desire him above all else!  When I say it, the last verse just brings me to tears.  I am so excited to be hiding God's Word in my heart and I will keep doing this for as long as I live!

Here's my vlog:


My next endeavor will be John 1:1-14.  You can join too!  We start April 8.

Memorizing Scripture: Romans 8:10-17

Since January started, things have been so topsy turvy. I thought coming back after the holidays would slow down. I went to visit my sister, Bible study started, we got snowed in for a week and now, my kids have been sick for a week. I took this video after the 13th day being home. Jessna has a very bad cough and has been keeping us up at night. So I have just been reviewing these verses over and over. I haven't really memorized any new ones.

I love how these verses tell me that Christ is who helps me defeat my fleshly desires and that I am a child of God. When I feel worn down, as I am now, I can hold fast to these verses.

Enjoy seeing Shrade and Jessna in the VLOG!

Memorizing Scripture: Romans 8:1-9

I have been memorizing Romans 8 with Do Not Depart since November.  I am part of the Facebook group that encourages me daily and keeps me on track.  I love these verses because they are so black and white.  God is so good and I'm excited to memorize this chapter.

Here is a glimpse of verses 1-9 that I have memorized.  (My first VLOG!)

I usually say them pretty fast when I have memorized them well.  I have my verses on little cards that I say everytime I feed my daughter her bottle.  I also am trying a new technique where I look at the first letter of each word to spark my memory.  Not only am I learning more about God, I'm learning more about myself and I'm surprising myself that I can actually do this!  I can't wait to have it ALL memorized.  I'm up to verse 19 right now.

Hiding His Word in my Heart- Romans 8 (with Do Not Depart)

This year God has given me a thirst for his Word that I haven't had in a while. I have done Bible studies with Good Morning Girls and I'm currently doing 1 John. I also started the Abiding Fruit study on Do Not Depart. I can't get enough of God's Word. I have also memorized verses with Beth Moore Siesta Scripture Memory. However, I would to memorize a BIG chunk of God's Word (like a chapter of the Bible), but I would love to have accountability.

I recently discovered the Do Not Depart blog which has been such a great resource to ignite my passion for the Lord. Starting November 6 we will be memorizing Romans 8. Check out this great schedule! We will work on this until March 31. I can totally do that. I'm so excited to memorize Scripture, meditate on His Word and be with a group of equally passionate women who will keep me accountable.

Would you like to join too?

Blessings, Shonda