Day 41 - July 26 - Memory verse?
Something Kent said last night woke up the desire to memorize scripture again in me. I don't know about you, but the last time I seriously tried to memorize verses from the Bible was when I was 12 and my mom and dad were making me do it.
OK, maybe I memorized a few while I was at Moody Bible Institute, but it makes a better story the other way! Anyway, I've toddled along ever since on the lame excuse that "it's too hard for me to memorize things". Of course, that's bogus - I can memorize phone numbers and website addresses, and every line from just about anything Monty Python ever produced. The end result of my laziness is that I am woefully deficient in scripture knowledge, while I can recite the entire "dead parrot" sketch. Pathetic.
I can dredge up the usual suspects; John 3:16, Romans 3:23, and the like, and even some of the verses more appropriate to our current condition, like Romans 8:28 and Lamentations 3:22-23. But the fact remains that I need more Bible in my head.
What did Kent say that prompted these thoughts, you ask? We were talking with Shane, and Shane marveled that we were in Day 40 of our hospital adventure. Kent responded with "well, that's because if Connor had gotten up and walked out of here on Day 37, we would never have met you guys". The conversation moved on from there, but I got to thinking about perseverance. So last night, as I lay in bed, I looked up a verse I thought I remembered about perseverance, and it struck me so hard that I decided to memorize it on the spot. I'm going to type it out just the way I can remember it, and then I'll quote the NIV to compare. Here goes, and yes, it's off the top of my head -
Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You have to persevere, so that when you have completed the task which God has given you, you may receive the promise He has given. - Hebrews 10:35-36
Now I'm going to go check it! Yipes! I'm nervous!
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
OK, so I still have some work to do. My friends in AWANA must be rolling their eyes about now! But I'm getting it, and I thought I'd ask - anyone else want to memorize it with me? If so, make sure you memorize the Bible verse, not my lame attempt!
Finally, I received a request to post an invitation to fast for Connor on Sunday. I appreciate that very much, and so I'm going to be posting sometime today a list of his needs if anyone feels led to join my anonymous brother/sister in fasting and praying tomorrow. I'm not asking, demanding, coercing, or in any other way trying to make anyone take part - but I love the fact that someone cares enough to do so, and wants to try to coordinate a "group" fast. So if you feel the tug of God on your heart to fast alongside, watch the blog this afternoon or evening. I will post a list of the boy's needs for us to concentrate on when I update his status.
Love you guys. Have a blessed day.
posted by Eric Williamson @ 7:25 AM
12 Comments
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12 Comments:
Eric,
What a blessing you (and Connor and your whole family) are. We, too, are in the middle of a family medical crisis -- long hours at a hospital in San Jose for weeks on end -- and I, too, need the Word of God ready in my heart again. I'll join you in memorizing. I and my children continue to keep Connor and you all in our prayers.
Blessings to you, your family, and Connor for a sweet day in Jesus. May you all know his presence in a special way today --
Linda
San Jose
Eric - fantastic! I started working on memory verses again last year after a similar Very Long break from the discipline. See my posts on the subject (especially the first and last ones) for some useful techniques - one from me, and a few in the comments from others who have some very interesting things to say about the topic!
Sure - I'll memorize Hebrews 10:35-36 with you, though probably in NKJV :-)
What's next after those verses?
Lee
Eric,
You may have already done this research, but a little bit of checking on www.biblestudytools.net shows that confidence in 10:35 is the same word as used in 4:16 and 10:19 - that's a powerful word!
Hi there Eric and Chrerie,
this is Heather...Laura's friend...I have to admit that i was disappointed when Connor didn't get up and walk the day i visited. I was frustrated with God, but I know that this is about Him and not us...I know that He is going to fulfill His promise! So with that said I will absolutely memorize scripture as well as fast with you. I can't wait to see what God does. Please tell Connor that I am on board and how loved he truly is...by so many!
Just got off the phone with our prayer chain coordinator singing praises to our Lord regarding last night's blessing. Now called her back to suggest anyone interested in fasting tomorrow to do so on behalf of Conner. Just know that members of the Rogue Valley Community Church in Rogue River OR will be fasting and praying for Conner and the Williamson's family tomorrow. Can't wait to pass on the list of the boy's needs. Thanks for the update, Eric!
Wow! What an amazing perspective Kent illuminated!
When things like this (Connor's accident aka "on purpose") happen, it seems so senseless. Until you wrote the post entitled, "The Moment," I was sure Connor must have been diving off of high rocks. I was a springboard diver in highschool and know a thing or two about the injuries that can occur from hitting the water wrong. I was positive the few bits of info I had gotten about Connor standing waist deep in water before he dove in *HAD* to be wrong; there's simply no way you could generate enough force to do that kind of damage. Shows you how much I know! But once I knew the details for certain, I said to God, "Why? I don't get it. This couldn't have been an accident. You must have a purpose for this!"
But most of the time we don't get to see the purpose of the trial while we're in it. We just have to trust that God *does* have a purpose and that He'll reveal that in His time. Kent's comment to Shane reveals an understanding that God's ways are not our own...and good things can come out of bad circumstances. In fact, God promises that they will for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
You guys are a walking testimony to that verse. God's good is yet to be revealed in full. But I see that He's using Connor's injury and your time at the hospital for a higher purpose. He's producing an "eternal weight of glory."
2 Cor. 4 has taken on new meaning given your present circumstances. I continue to pray God's sustaining grace as you endure.
In Christ,
Jenann
P.S. I'll be memorizing Heb. 10: 35-36 with you. :)
Eric, Don't think we ever met, but I do know Conner and Joelle thru my son Joel (former lead guitarist of former band "Living For The End").Anyways, we have been praying for this situation since day one.
Well just wanted you to know, our family and church body (TBC of Gilroy) are keeping Connor and the family in prayer. I too at the young age of 45(ouch) have been recently challenged too memorize verses. What a blessing it is to pop up a verse when the need arises! So far I can recite 10 of them! Woohoo! So I leave you with one of em....Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the spirit is love ,joy,peace,longsuffering,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,self-control. Against such there is no law.
Michael,Whitney,Joel,Lindy and Emily of M.H.
Now is the time to begin whole hearted praise.
When we praise the Lord, it is a horrendous noise in the ears of the enemy and it STILLS his attacks. (Ps. 8:2, Matt. 21:16)
Before Satan rebelled, he was the leader of praise in heaven.
Often our situation won't change until our attitude does. NOW, is the time to have a attitude of praise - no matter the situation -
"Combine earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" Colo. 4:2
"In your darkest time, God will give you a song in the night."
Job 35:10
The faithfulness of praising God will release His blessings to us, in times of joy and times of need.
Praise God!
~SRB, Hollister
SRB...
A M E N !!!!!!
And we fight satan as Jesus did. With the sword of THE WORD!!!
Looks like a good time to add this verse into the mix:
Therefore by Him [because only Jesus could enable us to do so] let us continually [ouch] offer the sacrifice [at a time like this? Yes, it's a sacrifice!] of praise [!!] to God, that is [oh good - the writer is going to explain what he means], the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name [...continually].
Hebrews 10:15, NKJV
Hey, Lee - isn't that Hebrews 13:15?
8-)
Eric - Whoops, indeed it is! I have chapter 10 on the brain - thanks to you, I might add :-)
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