Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Hiding His Word in my Heart



(This post is actually a comment that I left on Brenda's blog. Because it was so long and a bit of an update of where I am, I thought I'd copy it to my blog. How's that for killing 2 birds with one stone?!!!)

A few years ago, you gave the challenge to memorize 1 Peter. I started then just memorizing chunks of 1 Peter, but not the entire book. Then I went through a GREAT trial in my life and this book really helped to guard my mind and give me strength in the battle.

1 Peter is my favorite book (ask my friends...I reference it all the time). I have the Bible on CD and over the years I have listened to 1 Peter sooo many times and continued to read it. I was challenged by a msg on Revive our Hearts (ROH) to begin memorizing large sectiions of scripture or even book. Of course, 1 Peter came to mind. I am also doing a Precept study of this book now. I brought a spiral set of notecards and started working on chapter 1. Without even knowing it, I almost had all of 1 Peter 1 memorzied because I had meditated on it and listened to it so many times. I am so motivated to memorize the entire book...even the saluations at the end!

I called up a friend, and she joined me in memorizing Ps. 19 just about 3 weeks ago. Each Friday we quote the passage that we have decided on to one another. We are currently on the last 3 verses of Ps. 19. The accountability really helps to. Next she is going to start on 1 Peter! What a blesing to hide God's Word in my heart.

You can go here, to listen to the 1st message in the 3 part series from ROH. The woman that Nancy Leigh Demoss (host of ROH) is interviewing has memorized 14 books of the Bible (including Revelation and Ruth) and over 100 chapters! I use this woman's same method...carry my spiral around with me during the day and memorize as I do my daily chores.


By the length of my comment, I guess you can tell that I really value Scripture Memory.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Voices of the True Woman Movement




So, what could possible motivate to write on my blog after a 4 month hiatus? It's the new book edited by Nancy Leigh Demoss called, Voices of the True Woman Movement. Revive Our Hearts sent the book to me for free with the commitment that I had to write a review of each chapter. I needed some accountability to get back writing on my blog, so I thought this was just the ticket. (Not to mention that I LOVE free stuff!) Without further ado, here goes!

This book is a compilation of all the sermons/talks given at the True Woman '08 conference. I had the privilege to attend the conference in Chicago at that time. My friends, Nicole and Antoinette among others joined me on this trip. It truly left a lasting impression on my life as I can still remember so much of what was said. Pastor John Piper delivered the opening message and it is therefore the 1st chapter in the book.

Pastor John makes the statement that "Wimpy theology makes wimpy women." He gives examples of what the opposite of a wimpy woman looks like. She has courage to bear up under struggles when in the face of opposition, temptation, and fearful circumstances. Her trust in God's sovereignty leads her to glorify Him. I've been memorizing 1 Peter and as I read this chapter I continually thought of 1 Peter 1: 6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The women that he highlighted had suffered great trials, but their faith was proved genuine because they withstood the trail to God's glory. Only He could strengthen and equip them to bear the death of loved ones, sickness, and imprisonment in a way that honored Christ. These women saw the God centered purpose for all things that came into their paths.

Pastor John says that true womanhood is a distinctive calling of God to display the glory of His Son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no womanhood. God knew that womanhood and manhood could display Christ's relationship with the church and therefore, he made me a woman.



So how do I glorify God as a woman? I do this, by living out His Word and living a life that is contrary to the world. To live out His Word, I must know His Word. It is my goal to spend time daily reading and memorizing the Bible. (More on Scripture Memory in the next post). I want to display Christ likeness to my husband and children, as well. As a wife, I seek to honor God by submitting to and honoring my husband. Whoa, that's a mouthful and not an easy task to accomplish. Serving my husband means putting his needs above my own. That can sometimes be very hard to do! It means, trusting God in decisions that Eddie makes and following him. Boy, do I need to meditate on that. But truly, submission should free me up to please God. I can trust that because God set the order of a household, He knows what is best. As I submit to Eddie's decisions, God is honored.



As the mom of 3 under 3 and 1 on the way, I have a home full of little disciples! They are watching to see how I respond to things, and how I use my time. Breezy, my 3 yo mimics nearly everything that I do. O, that I would show her the things of the Lord and she would follow me as I follow Christ.

Further, the Lord has placed other single ladies in my life. It has been my joy to ivite them into our home. "Doing life" around them has hopefully been a representation of the Gospel. I want to spread the aroma of Christ and make them long for Him.

How do you glorify God?