by Kimberly | May 24, 2010 | Uncategorized, Worship
I’ve been thinking much about this the past few weeks, more in terms of how it is done/why it is done more than if it should be done.
I grew up attending a Christian school where I had to memorize a verse each week and write it out on the lined paper we buy in bulk at the beginning of the school year. When I got to seminary, Dr. Nelson made me memorize longer passages of Scripture, including Ps 19 and Col 1. These were very beneficial, even if I did cram them in at the dinner table at Lolley right before class over a bowl of cereal or kim chi.
Now I am pondering the mode of Scripture memory or why we want (especially children) to memorize Scripture and how we get them to do it.
Piper wrote a helpful article, one with which I definitely agree. How can we get children and teenagers to understand this. How do we put this forth as an example to others? This is from a friend, Tim Challies: (which one is most compelling to you and what Scriptures are you memorizing right now?)
A friend recently sent me an old article from John Piper entitled “Why Memorize Scripture?” Memorizing passages of the Bible is something I’ve developed more of an interest in over the past couple of years and, to my surprise, I’ve found that I’m actually able to do it–even to memorize extended sections if I am willing to put in the effort (not always a sure bet).
Piper offers a list of reasons why we should memorize Scripture. They are:
- Conformity to Christ – Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.
- Daily Triumph over Sin – As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.
- Daily Triumph over Satan – When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight.
- Comfort and Counsel for People You Love – When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of God’s word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.
- Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers – Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn.
- Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways – The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help to live a life that reflects the value of these attributes.
These are six really good reasons. On the flip side, I suspect that the primary reason most of us do not commit more Scripture to memory is simply the difficulty involved. It is a difficult and time-consuming process to take those words and force them into our minds.
So how about you? Is Scripture memorization a part of your routine? Is it something you do as a regular part of your devotion to the Lord?
My answer to my posed questions from above:
1. Definitely 1 and 2.
2. Romans 8 and Col 1
by Kimberly | May 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
I love being handed books and knowing they are great. This one was no different. I had heard of Vincent’s book before I received a copy of it, but didn’t know the layout, premise, etc.
Vincent, a pastor in California, lays out a good understanding for the book in the introduction and writes part of his personal journey with the material in the afterward (which I found helpful, so don’t skip it).
The first part is written in short (3/4 page) paragraphed writings. The second section is in numbered statements (easy to memorize and focus on during the day). Third section is poetry, which I found most difficult (just because I fly through poety and don’t take as much time to ponder it because I am usually listening for the rhyme in my head).
Here are some of the underlined quotes in my book:
“God tells me to be steadfastly entrenched in the gospel at all times and never to allow myself to be moved from there.” (19)
“Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.” (24)
“God deliberately designed the gospel in such a way so as to strip me of pride and leave me without any grounds for boasting in myself whatsoever. This is actually a wonderful mercy from God, for pride is at the root of all my sin.” (27)
“Also, knowing of the future love that God will show me in glory enables me to love my fellow saints with a heaven-inspired love even now. I love others out of the fullness already given to me in Christ, and also out of the greater fullness that will be given to me in glory.” (44)
Things I love about this book:
1. The verses are footnoted. Vincent not only provides the reference, but he provides the actual Scriptures on the bottom. Very helpful.
2. The readability of this book (short segments).
3. The attitude of grace and the need to preach the gospel to yourself every day.
by Kimberly | May 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
Truly, I’m not a huge fan of breakfast casseroles. They are all pretty similar to me and I’d rather have grits and eggs or pancakes/waffles/french toast. So, when I got to make two this wknd, I had to look for recipes. I made one called Farmer’s Breakfast Casserole, which was good – just needed more salt. I stillneeded one more. I knew I wanted it to be stellar. Sara did NOT disappoint!
Savory Bread Pudding with Sausage and Spinach (9×13 pan)
evoo
1 large yellow onion, diced
1/2 lb country sausage
6 oz of fresh baby spinach (2/3 of a bag)
2.5 cups skim milk
2 T dijon mustard
salt/pepper to taste
8 eggs
6 cups french bread (day old, 3/4 loaf of Harris Teeter french bread)
2 1/2 cup Italian shredded cheese
1 T dried italian herbs (or fresh of your choice)
Saute onion in evoo. While doing that, crack eggs. Add sausage to pan, break up and brown. While doing that, cube bread.
Add spinach to pan and saute till just wilted. Drain liquid. Combine eggs, milk, cheeses, mustard, spices. Soak bread in that. Add rest. Pour into 9×13 sprayed pan. Let sit over night in fridge. Sit out for 20 minutes in morning (while your oven heats). Bake at 350 for 45 minutes till lightly browned on top. Serve!
This is creamy, subtly nutty from cheeses, not too greasy or heavy, and superb taste.
by Kimberly | May 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
I follow a TON of food blogs (and other ones as well). My Google Reader probably has close to 300 individual blogs. Many of the food blogs have been highlighting smoothies: a variety of concoctions that take minutes to prepare and are oh so portable for morning commutes, post-run refuelings, or a quick snack.
Enter: the world’s perfect food: a deliciously ripe avocado. (Honestly, for me, may be the next power food!)
Here is what went into mine for a quick dinner last night and what benefits are in the ingredients:
(serves 3 – I got 2 large servings out of it and shared with a friend)
1 avocado – 11 benefits besides yummy
1/2 naval orange – my parents have them growing in their backyard
1 cup pineapple chunks – could eat this all the time!
11 oz unsweetened NAKED coconut water – didn’t really care for it by itself, but has tons of nutrition!
Ice to your liking
1 tsp of agave nectar (use this stuff more than honey now)
Blend. Drink. Enjoy.
Another way I can now eat my new healthy food fave! My only problem with avocados is that they turn brown too quickly…oh, well.
by Kimberly | May 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmecyCCdknk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Yes, this is funny. Its about Tuna fish and jackets. But, there is a point to my post.
Do you listen to your kids? Did my parents listen to me? Do we really know the youth we work with?
Listening is hard. Its not easy. My mind wanders to my to-do list, what I’m cooking for dinner, how many calories I’ve eaten today, or how I can one-up there story by sharing a story of my own. Listening is not easy.
One way of knowing and discipling your children better…is to listen to them. Hear them, engage them, get to know what they like and don’t like, get to know their fears and their struggles, their joys and hurts. And, yes, don’t take them to a seafood restaurant if they don’t like seafood.
by Kimberly | May 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
At times like this I want to hit my imaginary “overwhelm” button that I have hidden here on my desk, somewhere under all these papers and books.
Mothers, Dads, Youth Pastors, Pastors – are you watching this? I don’t even want to post the video because I think the photo is revealing enough and suggestive enough for you to get the full intention of this post. Our culture is leading our young girls, even as young as pre-school, riding on a “long black train” that leads them to the middle of nowhere.
When I walk through the aisles of Target and Walmart or see any of the store fronts in malls across America, one thing is clear: designers of children’s clothing want to make them look like little adults. That’s fine and dandy if you want to put your little dude in a suit for Easter, or a dress for Mother’s Day (I see many cute ones at the children’s ministry door at church); but it is not ok if you want to dress your daughter in halter tops and string bikinis and high heels. Since when did that become norm?
Vicki Courtney, a woman with an extensive ministry to moms and daughters, said this about the above picture (you can read the rest of it here on her blog):
Sad as it is that these girls have unwillingly been placed on a fast-track by their parents, we can all learn a few sobering lessons from this travesty. When you read the comments pouring in at Popeater.com, the overwhelming consensus is that the parents are to blame. I completely concur. Yes, the media’s ongoing sexualization of our girls is a huge contributing factor, but the buck ultimately stops with Mom and Dad. They could have easily found more wholesome outlets to cultivate their daughters’ love of dance. They could have said “no” when they took their daughters to the uniform fitting and caught wind of the costumes. They could have stepped up during the dance practices and rehearsals and insisted some of the provocative moves be replaced with more age-appropriate choreography. But for whatever reasons, they chose not to. And their failure to do so is what intrigues those of us in the general public who are left scratching our collective heads at their turn-a-blind-eye parenting philosophy.
I was appalled at the defense statements made by a couple of the parents of the girls in the video in follow-up news interviews. A mother of one of the pint-sized dancers defended the costumes, saying “that judges need to be able to see the girl’s movement and technical skills.” She went on to say, “The costumes are designed for movement, unrestricted movement and to show body lines.” Excuse me? Do you mean the “body lines” of your own 8 year-old daughter? What planet is this mother living on? My daughter was in competitive cheer for over three years and I witnessed my fair share of borderline inappropriate costumes at some of the competitions, but never once did I see anything this provocative on the little girls who performed.
A father of one of the girls offered further insight into the parents’ warped group-think mentality: “On behalf of the parents, our best interest is for the kids.” He continued, “Just know that the kids are doing something that they completely love to do. They compete in dance competitions … in front of family and friends.” Well now, Pops, they have increased their audience beyond “family and friends” to include the World Wide Web. How can a dad can sit back and watch his little girl perform such suggestive dance moves in hot pants, a sequined sports bra and mock garter socks and not experience a God-given urge to go taekwondo on the dance coach? Or at the very least, rush the stage and cover his baby girl up with a jacket and usher her out of the strip club dance competition? I’m not a dad, but can someone please answer me that question? This dad not only enjoys watching his daughter perform, he even justifies and defends the costumes and dance moves! Someone please get these parents the help they need. In an effort to boost their own fledgling self-esteem they have completely lost touch with reality. Like many parents, they have become desensitized to what is truly in the “best interest for the kids.”
Sir, what is in the “best interest of the kids” is to allow these little girls to be little girls. They will not get a redo on their fleeting season of girlhood. It is your job as a parent to protect their innocence at all costs. Parents make mistakes and I’ve made plenty of my own when it comes to raising my kids. In my book, Your Girl, I shared a personal account of my daughter’s early days in gymnastics and a season where I attempted to live through my child in an effort to boost my own self esteem. At the young age of seven, my daughter was a talented little gymnast, spending three days a week in a gym for a total of seven hours a week. And yes, gymnastics was her passion just as the father above claimed dance is his daughter’s passion. However, as the hours of practice increased, it became less of her passion and more of mine.
Parents, you most likely pay for your daughter’s clothes…what are you paying for? Moms – your daughter are watching you to see how they should dress – what are you modeling for them? Dads – are you teaching your daughters that what they where does matter to guys?
Col 3.1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
