>How do you sustain consistency????

I now have stacks of 3x5 cards with verses that I have learned in the past,
a stack for each day of the month. When I review these verses, presently in
the evening just before bed, I write the date on the card at the top of the
stack that has the day on which to review that stack. I try to see how
consistent I can be, and can check whenever I do a stack of cards by
looking at the dates on which I have reviewed that stack in recent months.
I have my 30 stacks of cards arranged on a shelf near my bed, and always
keep a few stacks right on my dresser where I lay my watch, etc., so I
always see them before I drop into bed.

I also use the Memlok program on my computer, learning some new verses that
way. I have it programed to come up on my computer when I turn it on, and
since I use my computer every day, it is always there to remind me. I
usually take a few minutes for that early in the morning when I have my
devotions, also on the computer - Bible reading, various prayer lists on
Word files, etc.

I've found when I really work to be consistent, and ask the Lord to help me
do so, I almost always remember later in the day if I do forget in the
morning because of some extraordinary situation. I also use a daily
calendar program, and sometimes if I don't get my devotions done in the
morning, I put a note on the calendar for later in the day to remind me to
take some time then.

I have had times when I've gotten lax, and had to confess my lack of
faithfulness, lack of prioritizing, or whatever, and just start again. "God
never tires of new beginnings!" (Prov. 24:16)

Yours in Christ,


Roger Doriot

http://www.jesus-connect.net/world/jesus/Doriot

I have tried several times to memorize Luke. The main reason I have failed
is the huge hump at the beginning that is just history, I want to get to
the
part where Jesus is speaking and doing.

Even though I have failed (and God is leading me elsewhere at the moment) I
have learned a few valuable lessons that I would love to share.

The first is to realize you are not memorizing the dictionary :-) I "hid"
the Lord's Prayer in my heart when I was young, but it is almost more a
recitation then a true knowledge of what it is I am calling back to my
memory.

When I started Luke I was inspired by a man who had memorized Mark and did
it in a play format. This, to me, is by far the best way. Most of the books
of the Bible are stories of what happened. It is a lot easier to memorize
stories than word order. When I turned it into a play, or talk, I found it
a
lot easier to continue my train of thought and really listen to what I was
saying. Imagine you were their telling this to someone else.

The other thing I found out was how important it was to be touched by a
verse before trying to memorize it. While the family decedents of Adam is
useful and interesting, it really doesn't inspire much in my heart :-)

Thanks for your time.
********************************************
Ian Smith
e-mail: tacomcn.net
********************************************

This is a note to introduce myself.  I am a 56 year old new widow.  My =
husband went home to be with the Lord the last day of May this year. =20

I have been a Christian for 16 years.  I love the Lord and some of my =
family call me a Jesus Freak.  Some of the family began the title to =
belittle me.  I took the name and ran with it.  My daughter, Patti, =
lovingly calls me a Jesus Freak.  She is very proud of that title for =
her mom. =20

I have the one child and one grandson named JT, which is short for =
Jonathan Tyler Gregston Cruce. He was the love of my husband's life and =
he helps my mother and I have great days.

I recently moved to Lake Elsinore, Ca, after living for 6 years in =
Orange County, CA.  Patti is there and we lived there until I was priced =
out of that beautiful oasis.  I moved over the mountain and am about an =
hour's drive from the little one.
Mother lives with me and has many problems.  JT stays with us from =
Sunday night to Wednesday.  We take him home on Wednesday and spend the =
night with Patti and Todd.  We come home late on Thursday.  I don't know =
how long Patti will let us keep the 4 year old munchkin, but I am just =
enjoying it now.

Thank you for allowing me to join this list.  I began memorizing the =
Scripture when I was a new Christian and promptly quit.  I am glad to be =
back at it.  I relearned John 1:1 day before yesterday and John 1:14 =
yesterday.  I read the bible daily and stayed on schedule for 4 years.  =
This year with many family problems I have been off track.  I am now =
back on, praise God. =20

This 56 year old woman is ready for the Lord to come get me and take me =
home.  I must find out what I need to do so that my work will be =
finished and he will call me home.

Love to each and everyone of my Christian family on this list.
Doris Gregstonemail.msn.com

Heather, a brief note of encouragement from Lloyd Douglas on an island in
the Pacific in the Northwest.

There are a few Christians who can maintain consistency in their Christian
walk, including memorizing Scripture but most of us need ongoing
encouragement and challenge.  The encouragement and challenge only happen
when we are accountable to someone else.  If you truly desire to grow in
your Christian walk with Christ through Scripture memory, and if your heart
is set know Christ then your memory work will result in growth --
guaranteed, then begin to ask the Lord to provide one or more Christian
friends who will memorize with you.
Set a realistic goal (taking on an entire book may not be the place to
start) but selecting verses from your daily time in the Word of God is a
beginning.  And oh, by the way how is your daily quiet time.  Memorizing
Scripture as an activity is not the way to go.  Setting your heart to know
God (Col. 1:11) will reflect the priorities you set for the use of your
time
including your daily time in the Word and prayer.  EVERYONE has the time to
spend in the Word and prayer, including memorizing Scripture.  NO EXCUSES!

A young fellow in our men's Discipleship group went on a short term
missions
trip this last summer to Romania.  He commented recently that he noticed
the
extensive knowledge young people (college age) had of the Bible.  He
attributed some of that to the fact that they have very little in the way
of
other Christian books, fiction or Bible study helps or general Christian
reading, so they use God's Word.  Hmmmmmm!  I thought.  The challenge for
us
in North America is to limit our time spent using other books and spend the
time in the Word.  At least it would be a good beginning.

Just a note to encourage.

in Christ,
Lloyd Douglas,
wdouglasnanaimo.ark.com
1 Cor. 15:58
-----Original Message-----
From: Heather-Dawn Small 
To: biblememistar.ca 
Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: Moderator's Note


>Dear Stephen:
>
>I have the same problem.  It's so bad with me that I feel guilty all the
>time because I know it's something I should be doing but don't seem to
find
>the time to be consistent.
>
>I guess the problem is all about prioritizing.  But for me that's hard
when
>most things seem to be priorities.  I am a working mother of two and a
>pastor's wife.  It's real hard to be consistent.  I wish there was some
>easy
>answer.
>
>Heather
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>

Greetings in Christ!
I am 29 years old (trying to look 20).
Good gracious God has blessed me with a lovely home, kitties, a wonderful
job, school, etc.
I am divorced, but I believe that it was not God's will for us to have
married in the first place, but Romans 8 says He works all things together
for our good!
I have been Christian all my life, but am just recently beginning to trust
Jesus more and more.
love me

Mrs. Gregston,

I am sorry to here of the loss of your husband.  I am glad you are back
on track so quickly, after having to deal with that.  I am also glad you
are
getting to enjoy so much time with you precious little grandson. I have a 4
year old son, as well as 10 and 11 year old daughters.  I know it is a
blessing being able to spend so much time with you grandson, as I am sure
it
is a blessing to him, because you can teach him things, that only a
grandmother can teach him, and he knows of your love for him.  Thank you
for
sharing. Be blessed in all you do.

In Christ
Elaine Ruiz

Making a story out of it is a great idea. The human mind needs "pegs" to
hang thoughts on. Stories can provided the pegs and cues that are needed.
Another very effective peg is to memorize verses to which you have specific
applications, and create applications for verses you have memorized. For
example, as a young Christian I memorized Matt 6:33 and it became a key
verse in my life. I had a major application as I changed my career
ambitions
and trusted Jesus to provide for me as I stuck around the university to get
further training in how to train and develop laborers for the harvest. This
for me was how I pursued Jesus first and depended on him for my physical
needs. As a result of this specific application Matt 6:33 is seared into my
brain along with a handful of other verses that I have hung my life on.

While not all passages are "life pegs" lots and lots have specific
applications in our immediate lives. It is so important, as Ian stated, not
to memorize word order, but rather the Living Word. Application makes the
Word alive. This type of application is one of the things James talks about
when he says "faith without works is dead."

This type of memory tool is not best suited for whole books, but can really
change your memory process for passages.

In Christ,

James



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Smith [mailto:tacomcn.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 8:34 AM
> To: biblememistar.ca
> Subject: Making a story out of it...
>
>
> I have tried several times to memorize Luke. The main reason I have
failed
> is the huge hump at the beginning that is just history, I want to get to
> the
> part where Jesus is speaking and doing.
>
> Even though I have failed (and God is leading me elsewhere at the
> moment) I
> have learned a few valuable lessons that I would love to share.
>
> The first is to realize you are not memorizing the dictionary :-) I "hid"
> the Lord's Prayer in my heart when I was young, but it is almost more a
> recitation then a true knowledge of what it is I am calling back to my
> memory.
>
> When I started Luke I was inspired by a man who had memorized Mark and
did
> it in a play format. This, to me, is by far the best way. Most of
> the books
> of the Bible are stories of what happened. It is a lot easier to memorize
> stories than word order. When I turned it into a play, or talk, I found
it
> a
> lot easier to continue my train of thought and really listen to what I
was
> saying. Imagine you were their telling this to someone else.
>
> The other thing I found out was how important it was to be touched by a
> verse before trying to memorize it. While the family decedents of Adam is
> useful and interesting, it really doesn't inspire much in my heart :-)
>
> Thanks for your time.
> ********************************************
> Ian Smith
> e-mail: tacomcn.net
> ********************************************
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi,
These reasons for memorizing Scripture were brought to my attention while
surfing the net.
Deut. 6:6-9; 11:18-21;
Joshua 1:7-8;
Col. 3:16
And to add the New Testament I would put in Matt. 5:17.
doris
ITT
(It's the Tongue) Paul speaks of the trouble it causes.

The make a song out of it sounds very familiar. This year the music
teacher at my kids school got them to memorize all the counties in the
state musically. I forget the number but thought to myself this would be
incredible if I used the old fashion memory of so many pieces at a time.
So the Music idea is great.

Just a litttle church history:  A lot of doctrine and even some
scripture was put together musically as hymns to help people back in the
days when the Reading was not a priority. Look at Wesley's material or
even your own hymn book or overhead music pieces at church today.

Don

Hello All!

My name is Ron DuPlanty and I live in Texas. I am very excited about =
being a part of this list. And I am striving to learn to memorize more =
of the Bible.
Thank you very much for having me!

Ron DuPlanty
***********************************************************
"Come near to God and he will come near to you."
James 4:8
***********************************************************
http://home.swbell.net/elijah62/