I have been reading a new book series called "the Knights of Arrethtrae" with my sisters. It is an amazing allegory similar to Pilgrim's Progress. It has been so inspiring to remember (through a fun allegorical story) our mission as Christians in this world.
The current book we are reading deals with the subject of Christian apathy within the church. How sobering to realize that often this apathetic lifestyle is the attitude of the believers. Do we truly take seriously the mission our Prince (Jesus Christ) has called us to? Are we willing to give up everything to follow Him? Or are we living a "comfortable" christian life, just following the crowd (even if "the crowd" is not the world but others in the church)? Are we content just to participate in "churchy" things? Or are we willing to truly take up our cross and follow Christ no matter what the cost? Do we really treasure and memorize and study the Word of God? Or do we just expect it will always be there and never really get around to learning for God's Word?
The more I read this book I see how it relates to our life in Christ. I pray that each of us will take up the call to follow Christ seriously and live wholeheartedly for Him. May each of us take up the call to live valiantly for the Lord and to be set apart to do His will. And may we always remember "the King (God the Father) reigns, and His Son (Jesus Christ)!!
July 26, 2012
Scriptorim 2012
Our family just returned from a trip to MO for the annual Scriptorium. This was our first year attending and it was absolutely an amazing experience!!
It was such a blessing to hear God's Word being recited by so many people and to meet many like-minded believers that have a heart for Scripture memorization. When you go to Scriptorium you can recite as few as 1 chapter or as much as you would like to sign up for. There is also great times of fellowship, Bible games, and music shared throughout the week. We are looking forward to next year with much enthusiasm. (I pray that next year they will be able to host the week long conference and present the whole New Testament). :) The website for the Scriptorium is www.recitescripture.org I hope you can come next year!!
Do any of you have any personal memory goals this year? I would love to hear about them! Please post a comment on this blog. I will be working on finished 2 Corinthians.
BTW if any of you are looking for a great Scripture memory site I would highly recommend MemVerse.com . I absolutely love this site, especially for review of verses.
It was such a blessing to hear God's Word being recited by so many people and to meet many like-minded believers that have a heart for Scripture memorization. When you go to Scriptorium you can recite as few as 1 chapter or as much as you would like to sign up for. There is also great times of fellowship, Bible games, and music shared throughout the week. We are looking forward to next year with much enthusiasm. (I pray that next year they will be able to host the week long conference and present the whole New Testament). :) The website for the Scriptorium is www.recitescripture.org I hope you can come next year!!
Do any of you have any personal memory goals this year? I would love to hear about them! Please post a comment on this blog. I will be working on finished 2 Corinthians.
BTW if any of you are looking for a great Scripture memory site I would highly recommend MemVerse.com . I absolutely love this site, especially for review of verses.
July 12, 2012
Happy Birthday Kaylee
Happy 15th Birthday Kaylee!
Happy Birthday Kaylee!
You are such a wonderful sister!
I am so blessed to know you and to call you my dear sister.
I can hardly believe you are 15 years old already! It just seems as though it was just a short while ago I first met you and called you my little sister. I have loved watching you grow into the beautiful young lady you have become. I love you Kaylee!!!1. She has a great sense of humor
2. Her favorite color is bright orange
3. She absolutely loves holding babies and little children
4. Her joy is contagious
5. She plays the flute beautifully
6. She is a great photographer and is trying to save up to buy her own camera one of these days :)
7. Her name means "crowned"
8. She is an wonderful artist and storyteller
9. She has an amazing memory (one she memorized over 20 verses for the Bible Bee in about a half an hour!)
10. She has inspired me to be more consistent will my Bible reading (I don't think she missed a single day in the last month!)
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| Kaylee in Haiti |
12. She saves every single letter and card she receives (sometimes even the envelopes!)
13. She can make some amazing stir-fry dinners
14. She is one of the best younger sisters a girl could ask for
15. She loves the Lord Jesus Christ dearly!
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| Kaylee in 2005 |
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| Sisters forever!!! |
Please stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday!!!
Summer events
I am looking forward to attending several conferences this year.
Soon we will be heading to the Scriptorium in MO. It is a place to share memorized Scripture and to listen to God's Word being recited. This will be the first time I have attended this event. I am also excited to get "reacquainted" with some of the girls I met at the Bible Bee nationals the last few years.
Once of my favorite conferences I will be at this summer is the Bright Lights conferences hosted by the Mally Family. I (and some of my friends) will be helping at the Cedar Rapids conferences. Once of my dear friends, Monica, has been helping me with Bright Lights groups for a few years now and I am excited to help at the conferences with her. Several other of my "new" friends from church will be helping as well (Annie, Elizabeth, and Lily) After I get back I will post some photos from the trip.
Another opportunity I will have this summer is to volunteer for a Joni and Friends Family Camp. I have been accepted as a STM (short term missionary, kind of like a camp counselor) at the Joni and Friends family camp for special needs children and families in northern MN. Please pray for my time volunteering at the retreat that God would work mightily. You can read about this
ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada here.
July 3, 2012
Bible Bee Greetings and Advice
All Bible Bee participants and others who love to memorize God's Word please look at this post here. It is a short letter I wrote about Scripture memory, and especially about the Bible Bee for all who are currently participating in it.
Below is a copy of this letter.
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Below is a copy of this letter.
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Greetings and Advice from a Bible Bee Almuni :)
As I look on this year of BB I am excited yet somewhat sad. This is my first year of not officially participating the Bible Bee. :( But... I know that all the verses I learned over the past three years and all the books we studied (Genesis, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Matthew, Acts, Romans, Colossians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter) will remain forever. And all the study habits we all learned and shared with each other will last a lifetime. As each of you are endeavoring to continue to study God's Word through another year of Bible Bee I would like to share with all of you some things I have learned along the way.
First, always remember the purpose of why you are memorizing and studying the Word. That is to develop a closer relationship with your Savior. Never forget that or get caught up is all the practicing, reciting and memorizing that you for get the purpose, "...to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (see if you can find where this verse is from) :)
Second, meditate on God's Word. Don't let your knowledge become just head knowledge about the Scriptures, really "know" God's Word and make it a part of your life, make it heart knowledge.
Third, memorize 2 Timothy in its entirety so that you can recite it to others. (this is something I wish I had done with the study books in the past). Even if the locals are as far as you get you will be able to share that book of the Bible with those you know.
Fourth, remember that if you diligently study and seek the Lord through this summer, no matter where you place in the scoring, you have won in the sight of God. There are no losers in the Scripture memory except those who do not start. Even if you only memorize 1 passage that is still 1 more passage you did not have before you started!
Fifth, include your family in the studying process and share what you have learned with your family and friends. Include your siblings as much as possible (even if they are not actually participating in the Bible Bee)
Sixth, use what you have learned as a conversation starter to share the Gospel with unbelievers. (the Bible Bee T-shirts are a great starter) :) Also, ask friends to help listen to your verses and share with them what God has taught you through His Word.
Seventh, always keep a humble attitude. This may be one of the hardest things in the entire Bible Bee. It is God who has given us His Word, He is the one who gave us the ability to memorize it, He is the one who gives us life. He is the one who is to receive the glory! Remember "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Eighth, remember that the most important thing is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Back in 2009 at the Nationals, the Harris brothers gave a sobering warning, "You can participate in the Bible Bee, memorize all the verses and the entire study book, you can even win first place at nationals but it would all be in vain if in the end you did not have personal relationship with the Lord"
This is my prayer of each of you, that you may know Christ, that you may walk in obedience to His commands, that you delight in His Word and in His Law, that the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart may be pleasing in His sight, that others may see the light of Christ in your life, and that you delight with your whole heart in obeying the Savior and following His commands!
Your sister in Christ,
Marie
First, always remember the purpose of why you are memorizing and studying the Word. That is to develop a closer relationship with your Savior. Never forget that or get caught up is all the practicing, reciting and memorizing that you for get the purpose, "...to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (see if you can find where this verse is from) :)
Second, meditate on God's Word. Don't let your knowledge become just head knowledge about the Scriptures, really "know" God's Word and make it a part of your life, make it heart knowledge.
Third, memorize 2 Timothy in its entirety so that you can recite it to others. (this is something I wish I had done with the study books in the past). Even if the locals are as far as you get you will be able to share that book of the Bible with those you know.
Fourth, remember that if you diligently study and seek the Lord through this summer, no matter where you place in the scoring, you have won in the sight of God. There are no losers in the Scripture memory except those who do not start. Even if you only memorize 1 passage that is still 1 more passage you did not have before you started!
Fifth, include your family in the studying process and share what you have learned with your family and friends. Include your siblings as much as possible (even if they are not actually participating in the Bible Bee)
Sixth, use what you have learned as a conversation starter to share the Gospel with unbelievers. (the Bible Bee T-shirts are a great starter) :) Also, ask friends to help listen to your verses and share with them what God has taught you through His Word.
Seventh, always keep a humble attitude. This may be one of the hardest things in the entire Bible Bee. It is God who has given us His Word, He is the one who gave us the ability to memorize it, He is the one who gives us life. He is the one who is to receive the glory! Remember "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Eighth, remember that the most important thing is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Back in 2009 at the Nationals, the Harris brothers gave a sobering warning, "You can participate in the Bible Bee, memorize all the verses and the entire study book, you can even win first place at nationals but it would all be in vain if in the end you did not have personal relationship with the Lord"
This is my prayer of each of you, that you may know Christ, that you may walk in obedience to His commands, that you delight in His Word and in His Law, that the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart may be pleasing in His sight, that others may see the light of Christ in your life, and that you delight with your whole heart in obeying the Savior and following His commands!
Your sister in Christ,
Marie
4th of July Conference
I just got back from an amazing conference with our church, Lake Country Bible Chapel and several of the other chapels in Iowa. I absolutely loved the speaker, Dr. Steve Price and his messages about the life of David a Man After God's Own Heart. It was so inspiring to listen to God's Word being expounded in such an interesting way (think about the story of David and Goliath being acted out on stage by one person with a great sense of humor) :)
I was so blessed be be able to play piano and harp at the conference.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the conference was on Saturday night there was a baptism and after each person was baptized the entire group (over a hundred people) started singing a hymn of praise to the Lord. I loved how the sound echoed off the walls in the swimming pool room. It was one of the most beautiful baptisms I have ever seen.
I loved getting to spend more time talking to some dear friends from church (April, Annie, Elizabeth, Lily, Rebekah and so many others) and getting into long discussions about God's Word and sharing what the Lord has done in each of our lives and to share Scripture memory with each other.
I was so blessed be be able to play piano and harp at the conference.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the conference was on Saturday night there was a baptism and after each person was baptized the entire group (over a hundred people) started singing a hymn of praise to the Lord. I loved how the sound echoed off the walls in the swimming pool room. It was one of the most beautiful baptisms I have ever seen.
I loved getting to spend more time talking to some dear friends from church (April, Annie, Elizabeth, Lily, Rebekah and so many others) and getting into long discussions about God's Word and sharing what the Lord has done in each of our lives and to share Scripture memory with each other.
God's Greater Plan
I love seeing how God's plans are so much greater than our expectations. Do you ever look back and say "so that is why such and such happened"? God has been teaching me this more and more. It seems as if prayers I had given up to God thinking that the answer He was giving was "no" turns out that it was just a "wait a little while and see what I will do". God's purposes are greater than what we can imagine. It is amazing to think that God would care about the minute details of our lives when He crated the entire world. Yet He does care about every aspect of our lives. Though I do not see the whole picture on this side of heaven, I am ever grateful to see the little glimpses the Lord give us as we follow Him.
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