I’ve Hidden His Word in my Heart

I’m so grateful for my upbringing in church because that’s where I received the “solid rock” foundation for my life. My parents were wise in that “church” was our “go to” place for friendships, worshiping God, hearing His Word, AND in my opinion – the best place EVER to hang out with my girlfriends and check out the “new guy” that started coming to our church! Church was where I met the love of my life at age 12 that started a life-long romance.

It was at church where I was taught the “treasure” of not only reading God’s Word, the Bible, which contains HOLY SCRIPTURES (my word of the day) – the sacred writings of the Old and New Testaments, but also from my earliest years I was taught to hide God’s Word in my heart by memorizing SCRIPTURES. For extra incentive, in our Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School we were given awards for memorizing certain scriptures. In our youth group we played Bible Sword Drills. The leader would call out a SCRIPTURE passage, for example “John 3:16”, and the first one to find it in their Bible and stand and read it, was the winner of a point. Most points got the prize.

Those times of scripture memorization paid off well for me. To this day, those scriptures are still embedded in my heart, and at a moment’s notice of weakness, temptation, concern, etc., one of those scriptures I learned would pop up on the screen of my mind and I’d give the enemy “what for” by quoting it to him. The enemy’s voice “You are afraid to do that!” God’s voice from His Word and in my heart is “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I had the BEST role model. Jesus quoted SCRIPTURE to the enemy when he said to Jesus, (Matthew 4:3-4) “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered from Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Maybe you weren’t raised the way I was, but it’s never too late to start memorizing some of those "life-line" SCRIPTURES. I know, I know. You don’t have time. Your memory isn’t what it used to be. You tried before and gave up. You think it’s too hard. I get it. Totally. Still, here’s what the Bible says: “Keep my words and store up my commands within you.” (Proverbs 7:1) Keep and store. That’s memorizing Scripture in a nutshell. You can do this, and it’s so worth it.

The benefits of having His Word in your heart? Huge. Some day, you may not have access to the Bible. What happens if you lost your sight, your hearing or even your Bible? I remember holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom’s remarkable story and her witness of the power of memorized SCRIPTURE while she was in captivity. It was her life-line. Literally.

You’ll be able to share God’s truth with confidence. You’ll be able to refer to a scripture to a hurting friend. If we don’t know scripture, we’ll only be giving our opinion. Plus, when temptation knocks on your door, the verses you’ve memorized will come to your rescue. Countless times God’s Word has stopped me in my tracks before I veered down the wrong path. Like the Psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. Psalm 119:11

Here’s a few ideas on how to get started. Start with really short verses or ones you already know. It’s okay. The Bible Memorization Police won’t be stopping by your house.
~ Use your smart phone. Record your verses, so you can review them anytime, anywhere.
~ Aim for one verse a week. If you learn just one a week, that’s fifty two verses a year.
~ Say the verse out loud. Practice the verse while you’re walking, gardening, cleaning, exercising, bathing, dressing — anytime your mind is free to focus on God’s life-changing Word.
~ Teach the verse to others one-on-one or around the table with your family—and share what it means to you.
~ Finally, post your verse on social media. We all need as much wisdom as we can get.

The truth? It’s a tremendous blessing to have the Bible app on our cell phone, our laptop, and our bookshelf, but where it makes the most difference…..is hidden in our hearts.

She Wanted a Hero, So She Became One

Day 246 of Photo Inspirations -- She Wanted a Hero, So She Became One!
I really amused myself last week -- actually, I hurt myself several times..... which eventually amused me.....and others.

I'm respecting my sweet Mom's ways more and more all the time. My strides would be so big, but she'd just pace herself and lag way behind. The older she became, the more meticulous she was with her walking. She had too many friends who had fallen and broken a hip or an arm or a leg. So, intuitively, she watched where she walked and it didn't matter how rushed others would be to get where they were going.....she never succumbed to their peer pressure.

As I’m “maturing” I’m realizing I need to pay more attention to what I'm doing.  Last week, I put on a shirt and I saw in the mirror that it had some wrinkles on it. Rather than doing the sensible thing of taking the shirt off, setting up the ironing board and ironing it, I thought, I can iron it without taking the shirt off.  I held out the fabric and got the front done just find, but over to the right, it needed one more swipe, so this time I used my leg as the ironing board. And, the iron did what it was supposed to -- the steam came out bellowing – my shirt steamed nicely and so did my leg. OUCH!!   I still have iron scars on that leg. Seriously?  What was I thinking?  Now, my confession is “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND!" 2 Timothy 1:7. Yes, a sound mind NOT to use my body as an ironing board EVER again!!!

Then last week, I burned my forehead with my curling iron, and if that wasn’t enough,  I took a nose dive onto the pickleball court, cutting my arm and hand.

And then there was a sticky confrontation with someone that I had to deal with!

After all that in one week, I started thinking -- I need a HERO to see after me!  LOL!   Honestly, there really are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a HERO again, like I once did, who I could go to for support and encouragement and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, boost me up with compliments and encouragement.  

Of course I know I have God Who is more than enough.  He is so faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and PROTECTOR OF WIDOWS is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His indescribable love.  I may be alone but I’m not lonely.  He is for me and encourages me with His Word on a daily basis.

BUT, still there's times when, it's up to me to set me free. It's up to me to apply the bandaids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "woe is me" or "pitiful me" to POWERFUL ME!   It's up to me to do what King David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him......David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF in the LORD his God."    

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or sister or FRIEND and it’s ME.  I never leave me.  I never forsake me.  I don’t EVER let ME beat ME up.  I don't let me pity me.  I put on my armor and hold my sword high.  I be all God's Word says I am -- conqueror, overcomer, victor.   I have come to realize I am my own HERO.

Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to JUST BECOME ONE!