I recently found quite a few unpublished blogs...a whole lot of nothing, mostly. But this one...I feel like I should share this one, because of the Scripture in it...so please bear with me as I offer you my Previously Unpublished Blog. Sounds like a pre-owned car, no? That's what I thought when I read this...it's definitely still got some miles left in it.
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As I've prayed for the people who survived the earthquakes and tsunamis this week, I've been reminded that I take so much for granted. I believe I'll wake up tomorrow morning. I think I'll talk with my husband and kids. And friends. That there will be groceries on the shelves at the store. Gas for the car. And the list goes on.
I can not begin to imagine what it's like to lose those closest to me. Or for the very earth beneath me to shake. Or waters to sweep away life as I've known it. Losing electricity for 10 days after Hurricane Ike doesn't begin to compare.
I want to find words, but there are no words to
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blog ended mid-sentence, then I had added this:
Next day, I thought of this blog as I turned on my lamp and opened my Bible to this passage. Some years ago, I'd written in the margin "memorize this, Eva. Learn it."
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
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Now, May 29, 2012. Looking back, I still haven't memorized that passage. Nor have I learned it.
But I want to, because I need it tucked away, deep in my heart. I don't want to take you for granted, people. I want to live out those verses. Every one of them. All the way from not receiving God's grace in vain, to having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
I don't know about you, but it's not easy for me to learn. And it's just as hard to memorize. But I know I need to.
Maybe you have photographic memory. Not me. But I'm going to try to memorize this. And I feel like I should share it...partly for accountability, but also to challenge and encourage you to hide God's Word in your heart.
You don't have to choose the same Scriptures as me. But choose something that means something to you.
The best way for me is repetition. I start at the beginning, and read down, looking for what might be the first favorite (or most challenging) part of the verse. And then I try to memorize from the beginning to that place. In this chapter, "Now is the time of God's favor" is that place where I feel like my heart lands.
So, as I try to memorize, I'd start out with a phrase, then build on it, repeating what I'd already said, then tagging on another phrase or two (out loud if possible). It would look something like this:
*As God’s co-workers
*As God’s co-workers we urge you
*As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
*As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
*As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you."
*As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Sometimes it might take a few minutes, or it might take days. I'll write it. Speak it. Type it. Whatever it takes, until I know it. Then start tagging on the next parts.
Before long, we'll all be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Join me.
