Do you want to memorize Colossians?

I saw that Money Saving Mom had posted that she wanted to memorize Colossians as one of her goals this year.  I am not going to make a huge list of goals this year because I am pregnant and I just hope to get through these next several months with my sanity in tact but I am making this one goal.

I am going to memorize Colossians, two verses a week for the rest of the year.  Want to join me?  There is a link here with more information but she has it in NIV and I don't like to  memorize in NIV so I made up my own document so that you could print it and memorize in whatever version you wanted to.

Here is the document.  You can print it from there.  Put it on your fridge.   Get an accountability partner to say it to. 

Keep me posted.  I will try to check in every so often and I will ask how you are doing too.

Simplify - Children's Bible Time

Some of you know that I tend to overdue things (I know that's an understatement).  Yes, its true.  For some reason I think that I can't do things unless it involves 7 different steps with crafts and 4 different books.  I have tried several things for the kids as far as Bible goes.  I have tried a Circle time technique where we sing hymns, do some coloring/writing and various other things but I don't tend to stick with them long because it is a lot of work for me and the kids aren't overly thrilled.

Now, this past December when I did the Advent/Jesse Tree with the kids - it was easy, it was consistent.  The kids did not let me miss a day.  They enjoyed it.  They learned things about the Bible and they retained it.  I wanted to keep the momentum going so I was searching for books that were simple.  They didn't require a lot of prep and where the kids would be interested.  I read a lot of reviews for a lot of books and finally decided on this one.  I rented it from the library to try it out before I bought it, but so far we really like it.  It is called "One Year Bible for Children".

My husband and I do it together after dinner or before bedtime.  I also made a prayer box.  I used an old wipes container.  You have probably seen this a lot of places, but I took our Christmas cards from last year and put them in the container.  Each  night at Bible time the kids each pick one out and we pray for that family (or person).

 I just hot glued some fabric and ribbon to the box so it didn't look like a wipes container - nothing fancy.



Lastly, to stay on track with Bible memory for the kids, I use the "My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God's Word in Little Hearts".  I type it up on a piece of paper and print it out and put it on the fridge and we go over it several times a day.







I am using this as my memory verse for the week too.  The book sometimes uses half the verse for the kids but I use the whole verse for myself.

 

The last thing I need to work on is maintaining the memorizing for myself and the kids.  I have seen this system so I am thinking of using that with a three ring binder and every week I just put the verse from the fridge into the binder so that we can go over it.  I will work on that next week.  If someone has a suggestion as to how they retain their memory verses I would love to hear that.  For me, I just try to go over a page of my verses at a time and my Bible study girls just randomly ask me them but right now I'm not doing too well at that!

This is what we are doing right now.  It is working for us.  You know how I know it is working for us because we are doing it!  I would love to hear what everyone else does.  Leave a comment if you would.

I just know that if things are fairly simple they will get done.  I want the kids to learn and I want us to memorize and this is getting the job done.

Memorize Sunday . . . I John 1:9

I already knew last week's verse so I just refreshed my memory here.

For this week's verse we are doing I John 1:9 (a very good one to know!):

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)

Remember to hold each other accountable, do your best and have a great week!

Memorize Sunday (I'm just changing it to Memorize Sunday instead of Monday)

I thought you might be interested in this post where he talks about where to start when memorizing Scripture. If you want to see what we have been memorizing, you can go here.

For this week's verse we are doing Philippians 4:8:

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV)

I know it is a long one, but it is a good one to know and repeat over and over to yourself when you start thinking negatively. Go here to choose the version of your choice.

I did slack off this week, but I plan to be back on top of things this week. Remember to hold each other accountable, do your best and have a great week!

Memorize Monday (on Sunday night) . . . Psalm 119:41

As usual, the verses we have been memorizing can be found here. I said my verse to my husband. What I need to work on more is remembering all of my newly memorized verses that I have memorized several weeks ago. Just so you know, I am getting these verses from our pastor who started this memorizing challenge at our church. This week's verse is Psalm 119:41:

41May Your loving kindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation according to Your word; (NASB)

Go here to see it in the version that you would prefer. Remember, don't be too hard on yourself. If you have never memorized verses before, start today! Also, if you choose another verse to memorize -great! Comment and let me know what it is.

Memorize Monday on Sunday, Psalm 119:18

If you need to see the verses we have been memorizing, go here. How are you all doing? Are you writing them down on a 3 x 5 card? I leave mine on my kitchen island so I can look at it whenever I am in there (actually I am barely in any other room it seems like). Don't forget to go back over your other verses and quote them again from time to time. I did say Psalm 119:11 to my husband this week.

This week's verse is also from Psalm 119. It is Psalm 119:18:

18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (NIV)

18Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (KJV)

18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law. (NKJV)

18Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law. (NASB)

Have a wonderful week!

Memorize Monday

Okay, so I will admit that I did not memorize my verse for this week. So I will pick last week's verse to memorize this week and add another verse - Psalm 119:11:

11Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (NASB)

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. (NKJV)

Here's last week's verses.
Proverbs 4:25-26 is this week's verses. You can look them up here, and pick the version that you use.

V A C A T I O N

I am going on VACATION! So I won’t be updating my blog for at least a week. With that, here is a few good posts that I have enjoyed that I hope you might enjoy reading while I am gone. Have a great week!

Modesty - it has been on my mind lately
I listened to a series from Revive Our Hearts. You can find it here.
Along those lines, here is a series my friend wrote on her blog.

Here are some posts and blogs that I enjoy reading:
Hope in a Slowing Economy by Passionate Homemaking
Preschool Activity Bags by Capturing Today
Handmade Daily - I like so many posts on her blog
When you see God at work by Choosing Simplicity
Sense to Save - lots of good financial tips
Tammy's Recipes - love her recipes

Also, here are some things that I wanted to post for the upcoming week. So I will just do them all here.

Bible Memorization - don't forget about the challenge
Click here for last week's verses.
Proverbs 4:25-26 is this week's verses. You can look them up here, and pick the version that you use.

Menu Wrap UP
I ventured off of my menu plan somewhat this week, but I have to tell you what I made that we loved/liked/didn't like. You can view last week's menu here.
One night, I decided to try this pizza crust recipe. I made my Alfredo sauce. I cooked chicken and cut it into pieces. So I made a chicken Alfredo pizza and we loved it! I also made some Pear Crisp. We loved this! It is so sweet and yummy.

We finally had our lentil tacos. I mixed in black beans with the lentils as well. I made the homemade tortillas (but I used half wheat flour this time. Then I made a peach and blueberry crisp (with some nectarines thrown in as well). My husband specifically said to say that he didn't love the lentil tacos. He said it wasn't bad and we could have it again, but he didn't love it. He is a meat eater after all. I loved it. I just put some taco sauce on it and I thought they were very yummy.

Have a great week. And with so many things going on in the world I have to constantly remind myself of this verse:

Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Memorization Monday, Week 3

Okay, so how did we do last week? Did you say your verses to someone? I said mine to my husband. Let’s review – Ephesians 2:8-9. Go ahead, say it to yourself. Then reach way back in your memory and say Psalm 119:2 from our very first week. Okay, onto this week’s verses. There are two, but they are short. They are from Matthew.

Matthew 7

1"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

5"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (NASB)

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (NIV)

1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye (KJV)

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (NKJV)

So this week, we will work on these two. They aren’t very long, just very convicting! Have a great week! Also, if you are working on other verses - great. You don't have to follow the ones that I put on there. Use ones that you would like to learn. The point is just to do it, and learn the verses.

Bible Gateway

Memorization Monday (on Sunday) . . . Take the Challenge, Week 2

Last week I posted about how our pastor challenged us to memorize Scripture. My verse for last week was Psalm 119:2. I took the challenge and I even had my 3 year old memorize it as well. I did memorize this verse and I said it to my husband. I am using my husband and a friend as my accountability partner. So that way I know someone will hold me accountable. How did you all do?

Here are some informational website links about memorizing Scripture

How to Memorize Scripture
What I have learned memorizing Bible verses
Memorizing Scripture

Onto this week, so for this week's verse I have chosen Ephesians 2:8 & 9. These next verses that I will be working on are from a class that I went through at our church. Ephesians 2:8 and 9 are great verses and many of you may have memorized them when you were young, but it is always good to refresh your memory. So now, say last week's verse to yourself, and then write down this week's verses and keep going over it.

Ephesians 2:8 & 9

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NIV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (King James Version)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (New American Standard Version)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (New King James Version)

Memorization Monday - Take the challenge, week one

Our pastor challenged us to either get better at or start memorizing Scripture. I used to be very good at this when I was young, but have slacked off the past few years. I am going to use my blog as a way to keep me accountable in this area. This week’s verse to memorize is Psalm 119:2. Here it is in various versions. Pick the one you would rather use.

Start by reading the verse and praying about it. Then write it down on a 3 x 5 card and carry it with you or keep it in your car. Look at it as often as possible and repeat it whenever you can. Pick an accountability person to say it to at the end of the week. Make sure the person is responsible to actually hold you accountable. If you are so inclined please leave me a comment about how you memorize Scripture and what way works best for you.

Psalm 119:2

Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
(New International Version)

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
(New American Standard Bible)

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart.
(King James Version)

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
(New King James Version)