KEYS TO A BLESSED LIFE: Scripture Memorization, Part One

When one becomes a person of a certain age, any discussion around the topic of memory opens up a king size can of worms!  It's true, even for the sharpest of us, short term memory can be a challenge. I get a mental brain freeze it seems, every time the temperature fluctuates outside!

So why then would you want to read about what some say is almost impossible as we age--memorizing scripture!  Please hear me out.  Recently, I've encouraged you to get in touch with your inner spiritual child, by doing elementary things you once enjoyed in your early Christian life.  Things like reading and meditating on God's Word.  It follows then that Scripture memorization would be a logical next step!

I have to admit, I often stand in awe of my pastor and others who are able to  spout out scripture (verse and text) with such ease and in great volume with so little effort.  But I know from my own experience that this is not evidence of mental acuity, but of consistency and hard work.  It's a discipline! Something that you just have to keep working at.  So I plod on!

 Here are My Top Three Reasons for doing so:

1. Scripture memorization keeps me connected to God.  Living in God's presence is my top priority.  It should  be the goal of every Christian.  Because God is a Spirit, the only way I can do that is to feed (meditate) on His Word,  hidden in my heart (Ps. 119:11).  This Word keeps me spiritually focused, intact, and in touch with Him no matter where I am or who I'm with!

2. Scripture memorization provides divine counsel and guidance for every situation ( Ps. 119:24).  I can't tell you how many times I've  prayed about a decision I needed to make regarding  my ministry, finances, relationships, and matters so insignificant to others that it seemed not worth the thought.  I'd ponder over these things and suddenly a scripture would pop in my mind and give me clarity on the issue?

Or perhaps someone decides to call me out of the blue and ask for a word of counsel, comfort or encouragement.  What do I do then?  No time to dig for sermon notes or the bible.  The Holy Spirit comes to my aide and enlightens me with just the right words to say!  But if I hadn't made a mental deposit beforehand I surely couldn't have made a withdrawal when it was needed! 

3. Scripture memorization gives me daily power for living in this fallen world. You know yourself that the world is not getting better.  It is so easy to get discouraged, to throw up your hands and give up!  But for as many negative and pessimistic circumstances that come my way and tries to sway me from the truth of my faith, there's that many more scriptures I can draw strength from.   All I have to do is hide them in my heart!  Praise God there's a Holy App (scripture) that fits every need!

Well, hopefully one of these reasons will motivate you to try Scripture Memorization for the first time or help you to get Back to the Basics and start afresh.  Next week, I'll provide some tips and resources to help you get started.  In the meantime try memorizing this simple one to whet your appetite!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for  my path (Psalms 119:105)

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KEYS TO A BLESSED LIFE: Meditating on Scripture!

"I will mediate on Your precepts
and contemplate Your ways" (Ps. 119:15)

Last week we discovered the simplicity of finding God's best for us by reciting our ABC's: Reading and appreciating His Word.  I'd like to continue that thought if you don't mind.

Reading God's word is only the beginning to a blessed and bountiful life!  It is important that you understand what you read so you can obey what the Word says (Psalms 119:34) 

Sermons are great motivators for holy living; music and worship wonderful tools to usher us into God's presence.  But what do you do when you get there?  Your mind must be joined with the Almighty in a supernatural way (Isaiah 55:8) to receive the power you need to live a blessed life! 

This only happens when you  read God's Word and then stop long enough to think about what it says.  This is called Scripture Meditation.  Unlike Transcendental meditation, it is not an emptying of the mind, but filling it with the precepts, principles, and thoughts of God, Himself! (2 Timothy 3:16).

As before, I don't want to jump into our Biblical Alphabet without a few practical helps.  Meditation is above all, a mental discipline! Don't be discouraged or frustrated when you find it difficult to concentrate.  In many ways you are deprogramming yourself from all the junk the world has been distracting us with for years!  It may take awhile to get the hang of it! Don't give up!

--A quick review from last week: Find a quiet place, unplug from all technical devices and find a translation of the bible that you actually understand! (I suggest New Living Translation, Good News, or Living Bible if you 're just beginning to read  faithfully or the NIV as a good jumping off place for other translations you might desire later!)

--Don't rely too heavily on notes or commentaries from Bible experts.  Meditation is about listening to what God says to "YOU" about what you have read.  Besides Bible scholars will often conflict in their meaning about a passage.  Their words are not inspired but God's Word is!!

Now taking a few more letters from our Bible Alphabet let's go further in and deeper down into His word with some Meditation Techniques:

P ray for help!  Meditation of Scripture is the ultimate target in Spiritual Warfare.  The enemy doesn't want you to know God's word and you will not be able to understand it or obey it without the Holy Spirit's help. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

R ead God's Word for yourself.  Read thoughtfully, patiently, repeatedly, selectively, purposefully, and always PRAYERFULLY! (Ps. 119:15)

T hink about what you have read.  This is where I admonish you again to read in small doses, a few verses at a time. We want God's word to saturate not drown you! I also warn against an old tactic some have used:  Open up a closed bible and wherever the pages fall, start reading! This is a sure fire way to be misled and misinformed regarding bible context and true understanding.  

P ray again and again.  As God begins to talk to you through meditation you must listen carefully.  Be prepared to confess sins you might not have been aware you committed.  Ask for courage to fulfill His desires that may conflict with your own.  All are necessary for the critical next step!

O bey what God has told you to do.  Now this is where you need not do a lot of thinking!  Obey immediately, obey with confidence, obey trusting God for the results and/or consequences! For one to know what to do what is right and not to do it is a sin.  (James 4:17)

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BACK TO THE BASICS FOR A BLESSED LIFE: The ABC's of Bible Reading

"Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in Your law."
Psalms 119:18

A new Me for the New Year!  How many times have I heard that already? There are many who pride themselves on being cutting edge.  They can't wait to get their hands on the newest gadgets or trends to satisfy old itches, but what they usually find out is that none of them quite do the trick!  Well, here's some old school wisdom....when all else fails go back to the basics!

That's what my pastor has challenged his congregants to do this year, return to reading, meditating, and applying the Bible to every situation in your life! Start by reading Psalms 119 in its entirety to discover all the benefits of the Bible then follow this handy little guideline for future enjoyment.  It's as easy as learning your A B C's.

To get the most out of your Bible reading create a Quiet Zone, some place where there is no distractions.  For a specific amount of time (doesn't have to be long) unplug from all technical devices (smart phones, land phones, televisions, etc.)  Rid yourself of all these habitual pulls on your attention.

 Next find a comfortable spot to read, some place you can sit upright!  You want to be comfortable but not too comfortable (the Enemy would love to put you to sleep!) Keep a pad and pencil close by to write down spiritual reflections from your reading or even those pesty intrusive thoughts (example: Need to pick up my prescription later today).  You'd be surprised what comes in your mind when you try to focus on godly things!  These are just the preliminaries! Now let's get to the basics!!!

A sk - the Holy Spirit to Help You!  Pray for guidance, wisdom and understanding of the Word.  The Bible is a supernatural book. Without supernatural help --prayer and the Holy Spirit--there is no way you can read and make it useful in your life. (I Cor. 2:14 ) Ask God to lead you to a Bible reading plan suitable for your needs that will keep you motivated!

B egin reading on a small but consistent basis! You can't expect to achieve all God has for you with a hit or miss method of reading.  It is better to set a goal of reading one or two verses of a bible book daily than to try to read two chapters a day! Small, manageable but faithful feedings on God's word  is much more nourishing than gorging oneself once a week!  (I Peter 2:2)

C ultivate an appreciation for the value of bible reading! You will invest time, energy and money on anything you feel gives you a good return! Bible reading is a sure thing --you just can't lose!  We've talked about the time investment (unplugging from friends and pleasures and plugging into the Word.) We've mentioned some energy investments.  Physically making the effort to  arise early, stay up later, or rearrange your schedule.  You also need to prepare a place; engage your mind and body in order to actually do bible reading!  But for some, you may have to add a monetary investment!

We in America are blessed because God's Word is "free and available" in so many ways!  There are many radio and television programs that send free or for a small monetary donation,  God's Word in the form of cd's, devotionals and books.  But the more you read the more you will grow in God's grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).  

Cultivation in God's Word requires appropriate tools: For example, you'll need  a good translation of the bible suitable for your understanding.  It should have wide margins for notes and of a quality that will last over years of usage! If you're a "Technical Geek," you might want software programs or apps that enhance your reading, like  scripture translations from their original language, or concordances, dictionaries, atlases and maps.  All of these will cost you something--but not as much as your ignorance!

So Let's Get Back to The Basics with a Plan to Read the Bible Daily~ This is only the beginning so Stay Tuned next week for more keys to Living a Blessed Life!

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TO SERVE AND SHARE THE JOY-The True Christmas Spirit!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy...
(Galatians 5:22)

There's a familiar chain of liquor stores in my neck of the woods called, Community Spirits and believe me it has a booming business all year round not just during the holidays!

Wish I could say the same about the real community spirit we ought to be sharing.  Instead, I find that folks are probably at their worst this time of year.  Rushed and stressed with all the expectations and entertainment we have associated with  Christmas, one hardly has time to take a deep breath and reflect on why we have this celebration any way!

It's been a consistent and steady move of another spirit, to take Christ, The Real Reason for the Season, out of our minds and hearts.  Nativity scenes are banned on government properties;  employees are cautioned to say, Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas to make sure they politically correct.  Recently, I even had to dig through mountains of Christmas card selections to find one without a Santa Claus, Reindeer, or Snowman on it! I finally settled on one with a cardinal on a pine tree branch.  The only one that actually had the words, Merry Christmas printed on it.

So as the days grow closer and the store ads become more frequent, it is my hope that perhaps a few of you will take time to read the following.  It's from a wonderful little tract printed by The Tract League of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  If you commit to do one or two of these each day until December 25th, I think you'll discover the True Christmas Spirit!  So go ahead....GET YOUR CHRISTMAS JOY ON!

10 Guidelines For Keeping Christ in Christmas!

TAKE - time to be alone and ponder your relationship with Christ.

READ- the story of Jesus' birth and note how people responded: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna.

PRAISE - God at Christmas. Join other Christians in celebrations of music and praise.

HELP- those in need at Christmas.  Follow the example of Jesus whose heart was filled with compassion for those who were suffering.

KEEP- your TO DO list as short as possible.  Limit your social obligations so there is time for reflection. 

USE - cash when you buy gifts to avoid holiday debt.  Invite your relatives to support a mission cause instead of giving you a gift.

TELL - others about the Savior.  Find opportunities to give a tract or a Bible. 

REMEMBER- Christ's church around the world.  Some of these churches are enduring great hardship.

LIVE- like Christ in this season.  Be compassionate.  Be forgiving (especially in mall parking lots and with harassed sales staff).  Be sensitive to the people with whom you work and play.

BE JOYFUL - at Christmas! You are celebrating the greatest event in the history of the world - the arrival of God in human form. 

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you 

good tidings of great joy, which 

shall be to all people.  

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10, 11)

Merry Christmas and See You in the New Year 2016! (Lord willing of  course!)

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FAITH versus FEAR: YOU "DO" HAVE A CHOICE!

Fear!  What a powerful emotion!  It can drive sane folks crazy; turn the meek into a ferocious beast; make the brave keel over in a faint, and it is pushed daily into our psyches by the shovelfuls!  Every since the tragedy of September 11, 2001 when terrorist breached our supposedly impenetrable security borders, America has been gripped with fear!  It doesn't look as if we'll get any relief from it very soon.

It saddens me that this is the world my grandchildren must grow up in! That this legacy of hate and deception, fueled by anger and self-defined justice is what they can look forward to.  But surprised?  Not really.  We've been spiraling down this path for centuries, it's what has been described in God's Word as the End Times! (Matthew 24:6) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, BUT the end is still to come."

I'm a bible dispensationalist, so I'm not attributing what we're seeing in our world today as The Tribulation period described in Matthew's gospel and the book of Revelation.  I hold to the belief that we are still under Grace!  But sometimes, when you've had a week in America, like we had last week, it sure feels real close to it!

Domestic violence: police shootings, gang wars, black on black crime, and the San Bernadino, California massacre killing 14 people and injuring many more, only heightens this thought. They are all rather senseless! We tend to accept tragedy better if there's a plausible motive behind it.  If we can put a neat little label on it, we can move on a bit easier.  But why so many and why now?

So what do you do?  You shut the television off for awhile,  quickly turn to the comics, past the scary front page headliners and sit down to think about how you're going to survive the fear that is just waiting to hijack any sense of security you're feeling!  Some fears like those described above are valid, even reasonable, others are mind games we play on ourselves based on what could happen!

 Imagined or not, we all have to learn how to face our fears in a way that helps us to exercise our faith rather than cave in under the consequences--A life devoid of hope, godly potential, and good will to our fellow man!

Here are some things to remember.  I need to add a disclaimer however.  They only work if your Faith source is in JESUS CHRIST!  READ and find comfort in knowing that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

• Fear is the opposite of faith...if you deal with your fear your faith will automatically increase because you are properly connected with your Faith Source, God.
• Prayer and meditation of scripture is essential in changing your fearful attitudes.
• Remember that God permitting adversities in your life is one way He increases your faith. 

Scriptures to read as you Faith Your Way Through Fearful Times:

1.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear  but of power and love and discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)

2.  No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.  For He will give His angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:10-11)

3.  In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.  What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:11)

4.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:4-5)


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The Truth about TRUTH!

Living my truth!  That's a common phrase of our time, isn't it?  But what does that really mean?  Such wisdom escapes both the influential and intelligentsia now and in the past; for it has teased the minds of many philosophers and proponents of religiosity over the ages.   The question was even posed to Jesus by Pilate, just before His death sentence after being swayed by the people to do so. (John 18:37-38).  And here we are in the 21st century, still searching for it!

Mainstream thought says,  it is living authentically, according to one's own individual bent, or preferences (some say it isn't even a preference but who they really are) without guilt, regret. fear or constraints. Sounds good doesn't it?  But it doesn't do much for me!

How about those who become innocent victims or unwitting pawns in the Truth game.  I surmise that it is quite dangerous! Case in point. Should a man like Jared Fogle, the former Subway spokesperson, be charged with child pornography and sex with underage children, if by his assessment he was, living his authentic sexual truth?  Can I not believe, to assuage my own damaged conscience, that I can do and be and live any way I want in this pluralistic society without accountability of any sort?

Years ago while pursuing my undergraduate degree I became fascinated with the thoughts of truth myself.  I,  like many in my young adult years (18-35 yrs) went on the search for truth in a way that was significant to me.  I wanted to find a premise that I could wholly accept and understand relevant to my own life.  I heard these years described recently as times of Odyssey.  A journey of discovering who we are and what our truth might be!  

Eureka, I found it!  And it was not hidden in New Age or Postmodern thinking, for it is Absolute, Attainable, and provides the Answer to every question I have had about myself, my existence, the world now and even the future.  I FOUND THE TRUTH IN GOD'S WORD, His HOLY BIBLE.   Psalms 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Take a look at God's response to the World's idea of Truth: 

--Cultural Relativism: Truth exist in relation to culture, society or historical context.

Colossians 2:8 - Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

-Existentialism: Man has the ability through the act of their will to determine what is truth.

John 14:17a - The Spirit of Truth determines what is TRUE - The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him or knows Him.  1 Corin.  2:11 -For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

-Rationalism: Opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than religion or emotional responses.

Proverbs 2:6 - For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Coloss. 2:8 Christ - in whom  are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

BOTTOM LINE:

GOD'S TRUTH IS THE ONLY TRUTH!!!

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If You're Thankful...JUST SAY SO!

Let the redeemed of the Lord say this...
(Psalms 107:2)

Here it is, another Thanksgiving Day fast approaching and what do I see? Neighbors pulling down Halloween decorations and frantically putting Christmas trees and lights up!  I've boycotted my favorite television channel, Hallmark this month because all they have been airing are Christmas movies.   Each day the newspaper gains an extra pound or two with ads for Black Friday! Gee Whiz, I haven't even bought my turkey yet!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?

A better question might be what has happened to us Giving Thanks, period.  Not  just to God for His bountiful blessings, but just saying thank you in general!  When someone holds the door for you as you enter a building, Thank you!  The bag boy at the store puts your groceries in the shopping cart and sometimes even pushes it to the parking lot,  Thank you!  At a crowded gas station, a customer motions you to a newly freed up pump, Thank you!  And how rare is it to hear a child say Thank you, for any gift or kindness extended to them...too many parents have ripped the page on Common courtesy, right out of the Parenting book!

A few days ago, my pastor shared his vision and our church's theme for 2016, Back to The Basics, and I am so excited! I think everyone should start by stop complaining and just start being grateful! With so much going on in the world today surely we can feel it!  But this bit of encouragement is so important for those of us who name Christ as our Savior.  We've GOT to exhibit an Attitude of Gratitude.  THE WORLD NEEDS OUR WITNESS! (Matt. 5:13-17)

Psalms 107:1-2  from Eugene Peters, Message translations says this:

Oh, thank God- He's so good!

His love never runs out.

All of you set free by God, tell the world!

Tell how He freed you from oppression,

Then rounded you up from all over the place,

from the four winds, from the seven seas.

Let's pause a moment and think about where we used to be and what used to hold us in bondage and  simply say Thank You! When you sit across the table from your loved ones and there's a plate missing...still say Thank you for all the great memories! Before you put one morsel of that wonderful dinner in your  mouth, bow your head reverently and remember so many who have not or can not eat this day, and say Thank you!  JUST BE THANKFUL! LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD....SAY SO!

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