Our challenge this summer is to go beyond hearing and reading and engage in meditation and memorization of the Word.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all
that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success. Josh 1:8 NKJV
To meditate on scripture means to:
*think about it - what's being said?*reflect upon it - what does it mean to me?
*invite the Holy Spirit to give insight for application to life
Memorizing scripture is a tool for meditating on it as it gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to speak to us personally.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Ps 119:11 NKJV
You can do it! Yes, you --no matter how old you are. Is it hard? No. It just takes some effort. But as you embark on it, you will find that it gets easier and helps you in other areas.
Psalm 1:1-3 (selections)
Blessed is the man...who's delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord,
and in His law (word) he meditates day and night. He shall be like a
tree planted by the rivers of waters...and whatever he does shall prosper.
Along with meditation and memorization through the book of James, we'll also be sharing with each other the things we're learning from this practice. For example:
James 1:1 begins with "James, a bondservant of God & of the Lord Jesus Christ."
This verse tells me that James knew who he was and what he was all about. The Lord wants that same thing for me.
We have 3 different ways for you to participate in this challenge together:
1. Meditate on & memorize the complete book of James. Starting June 18 we will memorize 1 1/3 verses each day throughout the summer series starting with James 1:1 (many of the verses are very short). By doing this we will have the whole book of James memorized by the end of the series on Sept. 9. Then, blog your insights and share with others what you are learning from the Lord.
2. Meditate on & memorize one chapter of your choosing from James throughout the summer. If this is your choice you would memorize about 1/3 of a verse each day (with time for review!). Be sure to blog your insights that others will be encouraged.
3. Daily read the passage of James that Pastor Jeff preaches for the week and meditate on it. As the Lord speaks to you, blog so that others can learn through you and be built up.
Each week, you will find a new posting of the scriptures we're focusing on as well as some tips and helps for memorization. Take time to read what others post --we will learn great things from each other as well as receive encouragement.
Sign in and let us know which challenge you're reaching for this summer. Let the fun begin!
Week 1: June 18-24 James 1:1-8
Tip: read the verse out loud in "phrases" & memorize a phrase at a time.
Ex: James, a bondservant of God (1st phrase)
and of the Lord Jesus Christ (2nd phrase)
To the 12 tribes (3rd phrase)
which are scattered abroad. (4th phrase)
Greetings. (5th phrase)
Transformation is on the way!
David and I often have to apply the "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials.." Last night we watched a movie in our living room. David had transferred to the lazy boy chair so to be more comfortable. When it was over, he needed my help to get back into his wheelchair. This presents a problem. When he transfers into the lazy boy, it is lower than his seat. When he reverses the process, the wheelchair is higher. Thus, the dilemma. I can try to help him lift himself up high enough to clear his $350 gel pad so that he can get at least part of his body onto the chair so as to finish the transfer. But each time we tried it, he would bump up against it, causing the gel pad to rise up and rebel against out efforts.
ReplyDeleteDavid, concerned that I might hurt myself, decided that we needed a better plan. But before we look for an alternate strategy, he made the comment, "Our lives present lots of challenges, huh?"
I agreed, then suggested that we remove the gel pad that is protesting my best efforts to defy gravity. I then assisted David to make the transfer onto the wheelchair seat minus the three inch pad. It works and we sigh. As we wheel towards the bedroom, I wonder what will happen as we age? But I decide to put that "what if?" to bed and rejoice that we did not end up with the problem of how to get David off of the living room floor. Today, we are okay, and better yet, we decide to consider it all joy, because sometimes, that is the best decision to make!
Amen Arlene.... Very encouraging words... Thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeletethanks Kristi!
DeleteI am choosing to do challenge number 2-- memorize and meditate on one chapter of James. I would like to go further, we shall see. but I can say for certain that I will start with James 1.
ReplyDeleteToday, I want to have a greater understanding of how "let patience have its perfect work" works. Yesterday Pastor Colleen was telling me how she read in John that the paralytic (the one that laid by the pool of Bethesda) had been "paralytic" for 38 years. David has been a member of that club now for almost 21 years. It has been a test of patience-- we deal with issues of paralysis everyday.
Here's a little story to demonstrate a test:
For the past 6 weeks, we have been seeing Carl Schwietzer's new wife, Kay, who is a wound care specialist. We have gotten to know, and love her, because each week she gets to treat the sore on David's toe. We patiently wait for the dime sized ulcer to shrink down and heal up so that David can start wearing a shoe again. Each week, she slices off the dead scab that reveals new, living tissue underneath. It has to bleed to regenerate and "repopulate" the hole that the pressure sore created.
Me, I am impatient to see that we have made progress.
Kay sees it differently. After about 4 weeks of treatment, Kay is happy to tell us that it doesn't require amputation. I guess that means that we let patience have its perfect work-- because while we are "patiently" watching it heal, Kay has been calling experts around the country seeking advice on how to treat his to--- Experts that recommended amputation for David's toe, a quick fix for someone who doesn't need his toe (hmmm-that's what they think).
She kept her secret well, we kept our frustration hidden, and Jesus does his part in the backgound.
So I am not sure that we have passed or failed, but often we learn and transform without knowing that we have done so. Wish we could flash forward to see the end result. Where will we be at 38 years post paralysis? But then that would be indulging in exactly what we don't need: impatience.
So for now, I will be satisfied that Kay gave us the okay to put a shoe back on that foot. Funny how patience brings a reward. Funny how getting to wear two shoes is a reward.
Maybe you have to be in our shoes to get that. But trust me. It is a reward for sure.
So I started memorizing the book of James last year and got derailed. I will be taking up the challenge to review chapter 1 and get chapter 2 memorized this summer.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll join us at some level for this growth challenge.
Beth McCann reports that she is taking up Challenge #3 this summer: reading and meditating on the passage that Pastor Jeff preaches from each week. Way to go, Beth!
ReplyDelete"count it joy when you fall into various trials,"
ReplyDeleteThe first few times I read that I kind of laughed because trials are very seldom joyful. But God revealed a different perspective on it to me this weekend. The trials He has for me should be joyful because I know His character. I know He isn't setting me up for failure. He's stretching me to become a better disciple so I can go out and make better disciples. And IT IS hard to change and IT IS hard to think / feel joy while doing things that are sometimes painful. But God will always catch me. He will always catch YOU! I know I'll have difficult trials to go through but I will remember that He is building me into a better person and pointing me in the right direction.
Beth McCann shares her GOD IN THE GARDEN STORY.
ReplyDeleteI was pulling weeds in my garden last Saturday. I heard His quiet voice saying "this is like the passage from James." I started thinking that growing a successful garden takes hard work, some trials, lots of patience to get to the goal of delcious veggies. James 1: 2-4 says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." I can see that my life is like a garden. The trials strengthen my faith, which produces patience, which is making me perfect, complete, lacking nothing and getting me to my goal: JESUS. That is something to be joyful about!!!!