On Memorization

I wanted to write a post about the importance of memorizing scripture in our Bibles. So many of us complain about how hard it is to memorize anything, let alone verses or chapters from our Bibles.

Are we aware that Jewish children memorize the Torah by heart? This is a tradition that has lasted thousands of years. The Torah is not just five verses from the Bible. It's not just five chapters; it's five BOOKS. It is everything written in the first 213 pages of my Bible.

Memorize THAT.

Sometimes I look at my husband shocked when he starts singing along with a new song on the radio that I have never even heard. How does he have some song memorized that I've never even heard before!? Well, he listens to the radio any time he is in the car. I don't. But look how quickly those songs on the radio become engrained in our memory. We don't TRY to memorize them, we just do. It is effortless, an achievement of the subconscious.

In America, Bibles are extremely readily available. If a Bible isn't available, there's an app for that. Google searches find scripture in seconds; there's not even really a need for a good concordance anymore. So why put scripture to memory?

There are several reasons why I think scripture should be put to memory. First, it is the only tangible thing God has given mankind that is eternal. Everything else in this world will perish and burn up in the end days, but God's holy word will remain forever. Our bodies are part of this world, but if we are Christians, our spirits are part of an eternal world. The Bible offers our spirits the spiritual food they need to survive: God's eternal word.

Second, I do not believe Bibles are always going to be available in this country. Why would Americans think that our religion would never be attacked when religion is banned in so many other countries around the world? It is only a matter of time. I believe it is important to have as much of the scriptures committed to memory as we can before we are no longer allowed to own them.

The following is a list of countries where Christianity is restricted, and the owning of a Bible could have an individual arrested, tortured, or put to death. Christians living in these countries hunger and thirst for the word of God and it is the biggest request rising out from the members of the underground churches that exist there.

Mexico
Cuba
Columbia
Mauritania
Morocco
Mali
Nigeria
Tunisia
Libya
Egypt
Sudan
South Sudan
Eritea
Ethiopia
Somalia
Comoros
Yemen
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Iraq
Jordan
Gaza and the West Bank
Lebanon
Syria
Turkey
Belarus
Azerbaijan
Iran
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan
India
Maldives
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Tibet
Bangladesh
Bhutan
China
Burma
Laos
Malaysia
Vietnam
Indonesia
Brunei
Mindanao (Philippines)
North Korea

When owning even one verse of the word of God is punishable by death in so many of these countries, why would we ever think for a second that our great America would not come subject to this type of persecution? Why are we not preparing ourselves for the spiritual battle at hand when the only sword God has given us is his word. When society takes his word out of our hands, how are we to defend ourselves against the evil one? It will only be the verses we commit to memory now that will defend us in those days.

So I encourage you now to make a new commitment to yourself and God. Stop easily memorizing songs, jingles, slogans, and useless  pop culture facts when that memory could be better used for retaining real spiritual food that will defeat the evil one.

My Chidren Are Not My Own

Isn't it amazing to think about how our children are not our own?

You and I have very little control over what happens in our lives. Weather a person believes in God or not, it is God who allows them to be blessed and allows them to endure hardship. It is God who decides who has what children and who does not. Without God, man can do nothing.

Without my God I would not be alive. He knitted me together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). Even before I was formed in the womb, it was the Lord who knew me and set me apart (Jeremiah 1:5). What choice did I have in being born? What choice did I have in the parents God gave me? I could not have made any of these things happen of my own accord.

In the same manner, my children did not have a choice in their creation. Josh and I did not have a choice in their creation either. Josh and I had no power over weather God would make us fertile or infertile. We had no choice over weather all of our children would miscarry or be carried full-term. We had no control over what sex children God would bless us with, and we have no control over how many children God will allow us to have.

God has entrusted Josh and I with His children- His creation for a short time on this earth. I did not know my children before they were born, but God did. I did not choose which children God would allow me to raise, but my Father chose; their Father chose.

I believe we all have two specific reasons we were put on this earth. To become like Christ and to win others for God's kingdom (1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 Corinthians 9:22 respectively). This calling starts at home. 

It is my job to make sure my children meet, get to know, and love their real Heavenly Father, eventually even more than they love me. It is my job to make sure that my children understand that they are not of this world (John 15:19).

So I challenge you, readers, to imitate God so that He can be reflected in your lifestyle so that your children might be saved. You cannot imitate God if you do not spend time with him or read his word. You cannot imitate God if you do not obey him, and you cannot imitate God if you do not serve others.

Our children are not our own. It is our job to be good stewards of these precious little gifts God has given us and to encourage our children's growth in Him.