Tuesday, April 24, 2007

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People often ask me how memorizing scripture has changed my life. As I try to put into words the transforming work of the Word in my life, I am reminded of David's words in Psalm 40:5,"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare." As I reflected on all that the Lord has done through His Word the Lord gave me an acrostic that helps to declare all He has done:
H - Hiding God's Word in my heart gave me
O- Ownership of His Word and enabled me to
M- Minister to the weary and hurting and helped me to
E- Experience a deeper and more intimate walk with Jesus Christ.

Scripture memory is not the goal. Knowing God is the goal. I will be sharing some scripture memory tips in the days ahead. I would love to hear from those who have developed the discipline of scripture memory, those who are struggling with this discipline and those who want to get started on this most wonderful journey.
Feasting on the Word,
Nancy

Monday, April 23, 2007

Continual Feast


I have recently discovered a verse that has revolutionized my attitude and I hope it will do the same for you. Proverbs 15:15,says, “All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.” (NAS) The week I was memorizing and meditating on this verse I was to fly to California for a workshop. The morning my plane was to depart I arrived at the airport 2 hours early due to all the extra security. I checked my bags and went through the security line with ease. It was going to be a great day! Shortly after this thought went through my mind I was greeted at the gate with the word, “Cancelled” flashing at the check-in desk. The waiting area sat eerily vacant and my first instinct was to panic and enter into a really bad day. The Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and the words of Proverbs 15:15 swept through my mind. I laughed out loud and then looked around to see if anyone had seen me! God was up to something! He was calling me to try His Word and see if it is true. So, I took the challenge and set out to prove His Word. At that moment I chose to have a cheerful heart and looked to see what feast might await me.

After standing in a long line for about 30 minutes I discovered that all flights to Dallas had been cancelled due to bad weather. My itinerary had called for a stop over in Dallas and then on to Oakland. As I stepped up to the counter, I greeted the clerk with a smile, as I had chosen to be cheerful. She said, “I am sorry but you will have to change airlines and you will be on a non-stop flight, arriving in Oakland two hours early. My dimples deepened as I grinned even bigger and said to myself, “Continual feast!” I entered the airplane and discovered that I had the entire row of seats all to myself. I was able to read, study and rest for the entire three hour flight. It was quite a feast! I had tried God’s Word, chosen to obey its truth, and I found it to be true. People can choose to be afflicted or choose to be cheerful- it is a choice. Today take God at His Word and prove it in your life.

Enjoying His Continual Feast!
Nancy Taylor