A Challenge

I love being challenged and I hate being challenged. God keeps calling me to higher things and satan keeps putting his foot out and I keep tripping over it because I allow myself to get side-tracked and lazy. Ugh! And God, in His loving and gentle ways shows me grace and mercy and tells me, “Get up daughter, you are equipped to do all that I am calling you to do.” Thank you Lord!

One of these challenges is memorizing His word. Ann at “A Holy Experience” put out the challenge … or maybe I should say God has challenged me through Ann … to memorize His word. A lengthy scripture and this is the one I chose …

2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:2-3, 9-18

"Because what our hearts know by heart fuels our intentions.”

P.S. I have had this little piece written for a couple of weeks because October was supposed to be “Memory Month.” But God in His graciousness has told me what I already know … that every day, every month, all the time is “Memory Month.” I was encouraged … again (yes, sometimes I’m a little slow) … to pick up my sword, which is the Word of God, and get back to memorizing. Here is another little nugget of truth that re-inspired me from “A Holy Experience”…

“In the context of Scripture, our lives make sense. Created by the Creator, we on this globe are made to live out our story within the pages of The Story. And carry The Story throughout the globe.

Because in the Book, we meet the Person of Peace. Become people of peace.

The children read and the cat suns and the leaves fall and the world hurtles and I kneel at the prayer bench, run hand across the page. I reread the verse I underlined in the dawning. Read the one following it.

Then, unannounced, come ones we’ve been memorizing. Ones too we’ve been listening to during mealtimes, playing in the stereo. Others we’ve been meditating on during family prayer.

I’m making my way back into The Story again.

In the midst of domestic disequilibrium and global turmoil, I feel something… like a rock. An island refuge. I close my eyes, settle. I’ve found my place.”

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4)