Scripture Verse Sunday

So... every week Anna has to learn a new bible verse. That means, every week, I need to learn a new bible verse. Scripture memorization comes easily to Anna. If she just concentrates, she can learn her verse (and remember it) in just one day. I try to break it down for her. Into three word phrases, something rhythmical, anything that will help her remember it. For a small child, bible verse memorization is important. It helps plant the seed that will grow into good choices later on in life. Hopefully, with the help of parents, those seeds will root deeply in the heart of your child. Later in life those roots will spring forth fruit - if the soil is tended. So, thankfully, Anna has to learn a bible verse a week. That in turn means, I too learn a bible verse a week. For me, it is memorizing it so I can ask Anna about it wherever we are. In the car "Anna, what's your bible verse". On the football field "Anna, what is your bible verse?" While doing her hair in the morning "Hey Anna, how about that verse of yours?". But I realized, that even as I have to do this to assist Anna, I can get so much more out of it than just a short verse to remember for a week until we move onto the next one. Not that I don't remember them, but I don't meditate on them. Why not?


So, I thought a good way for me to do this, would be to have Scripture Verse Sunday. Anna gets a new bible verse every Wednesday and has to recite it by the following Wednesday. So, obviously by Sunday, I have memorized the verse. Why not spend some time thinking about it. Really trying to understand what God wants me to do with it, instead of just reciting and helping Anna get a good grade. Further, I could discuss it with Anna as we do her hair in the morning, instead of just having her recite it. (we have MANY a good discussion over braids in the morning. From becoming a "new man" to explaining how Jesus got from the cross to heaven and is alive again). Truthfully, I love taking a bible verse and applying it to my life. Applying it to the lives of my children... and I LOVE writing about it.


So, let's start with this week and I'll post a new one every Sunday. This weeks' verse is


Psalms 118:1 - O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good.


Memorized it.... now what do I do with it? Put it to good use, I say. We were discussing bible reading and memorization in Sunday School class today. Reading the bible and memorizing verses is all well and good, but the only thing that really counts, is God's Word in action. So, what does "Action" mean for this verse. What does ACTION mean for me with regard to this verse.

I need to take more time to be thankful to the Lord for all He has given me. I am not thankful enough for all I have, all I have the opportunity to experience, and for all He has done for me. I think I have said it before, that I tend to share the woes of my life. I spatter in a joyful burst here and there, but normally I move past those quickly and the bad stuff stays with me for awhile. God gave me all of it though. Good experiences, bad experiences. Some of it was brought on by myself and He allows me to travel through it. It's a consequence of my wrong choices.

God is good. Always. No matter what. No matter how difficult my circumstance. No matter how good my circumstance. God is always there, and God is always good. I ought to thank Him more. For everything. For my salvation. For His SON. For the fact that He loves me. For the fact that He is good and that He does not change.

I need to come into His presence with Thanksgiving in my heart and enter His courts with Praise. I don't do that. I cut to the chase. I figure "God knows I love Him and all that stuff. I don't have to say it. Let's just get to where we need to be in the discussion". What if I approached it a different way. What if I approached God with so much thanksgiving and praise that MAYBE, just maybe, sometime if I got around to it, I would then ask Him my petitions. I need to approach my God in that manner.

So, in terms of this week - my week to live out "O give thanks to the Lord for He is good" - what is that going to look like? It will be an intentional remembering of everything I have and all that I am thankful for. It would be remembering that even though I have a terrible eye condition - I'm not left alone. It's thanking God for carrying me through this far and leaving me for now, with the sight I have. Thanking Him for showing me that He will carry me, even when I feel like I can't deal with another change in my sight. Thanking Him for this adoption journey. Two years and two countries unsuccessful, but He changed me in the process. Oh how He changed me.

Maybe I will update you on "Want Not Wednesday" of how my Scripture Verse Sunday in action has been going. It's easy to say on a Sunday evening, sitting in front of the computer how I will be thankful all week. It's another story when we have a Monday workday, a Tuesday full of evening practices, Anna's birthday on Wednesday, Thursday football games, Friday children pick ups, and looking forward to a Saturday and Sunday of being on the road both days. Still, I need to find time to Thank God for all He is. God is Good.

I have an interesting story to share tomorrow. I have challenged myself - and God was involved. I will share how tomorrow.

On one final note - I'm so excited about the thought of my Sara Joy! I'm thankful to God for leading us to Ethiopia - to our daughter - Sara Joy!

In Christ,
Charity