Let Them Stay!

My back has been hurting the past few days. I'm sure there are multiple reasons, but when I eliminated most processed sugars and carbs from my diet last spring, I noticed that I didn't have back pain anymore. Well, it's hurting again, and as I evaluated my food intake of the past couple weeks, it has included breads, cookies, and other sweets. I have such a weakness for these! That chocolate hazelnut spread and cookie butter were bought special, just for me! The Amish Friendship Bread and the pasta meals have been so delicious! 

I was thinking about either throwing out the items that are tempting me or urging my kids to hurry up and eat them. 

But I need to develop self-control.

That's when I realized that this applies to more than just what's in my pantry.

When we have temptations out in the world, we can't always remove those. It is not in our power to remove them all, and I'm sure we'd encounter quite a push-back from some other people if we tried.

Sure, we can remove some temptations from our immediate environments, such as our homes, or our phones. We can remove alcohol, magazines, certain tv shows/movies/websites, other media sources. We can block people with certain language or behavior from entering our abode. It is good to have a safe place to rest from our battles, where we can rejuvenate and prepare for the next.

But since we can't erase all temptations, we must develop the fortitude to fight them with self-control, which is a quality of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

"For the fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

Galatians 5:22-23

A parable told by Jesus came to my mind.

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" - Matthew 13:24-30

• We leave the temptations - and those who may bear the temptations into our lives - much like the weeds were left with the wheat. 
• We can grow strong even in their presence when we are under the faithful care of the one who planted us where and when we are.
• Uprooting the weeds may cause us not to grow as strong as we should.

Unlike the weeds in this parable, 

who would never be able to change and become like the wheat, 

the people around us 

who are living their lives entangled by their temptations

 have the opportunity to change!

Praise the Lord! In view of God's great mercy, patience, and the grace that He has for every single person who will accept His great and free gift - let the weeds stay! May those who are the "wheat" have a profound impact on them so that they may also become "wheat!"

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9

Hiding the Word of God in Your Heart

Here are the Scripture memory tips that I shared recently with a Bible study group. They asked that I type up my notes and share it with them, so I did, and thought I'd share with all of you, too. One of the reasons to memorize Scripture verses and passages is so you can share them with other people. It is also nice to be able to recall them in your own circumstances, whether they be difficult or joyful.

 I don't use all of these techniques (just most of them!) so pick and choose what would work best for you.

- If it's a long passage and you're struggling to memorize it, break it up into smaller chunks. Focus on one phrase and then add the next phrase to it.

- Repeat, repeat, repeat.

- Write down your verse(s) on index cards or sticky notes and put them where you'll see them (near kitchen sink, on bathroom mirror, near computer,...)

          - If the cards get too familiar in a location so that you are not noticing them anymore, move them to another spot.

- Set alarms on your phone/watch to remind you to review your verse(s).

- Write a note on your to-do list to practice your verses.

- Have a set time of day at which you plan to practice verses (similar to having a set time for devotions/quiet time, exercise, etc.).

- Practice with someone else.

- Review previously memorized verses to keep from forgetting them. (Index cards or the app mentioned below are helpful for this.)

- Add motions. What hand motions can you use to recall the words?

          - I demonstrated using an imaginary walkie-talkie for Proverbs 10:4, and touching the wrist and forehead for Deuteronomy 6:8. We call Philippians 4:19 our "street preacher" verse and, as such, have stood atop things to say it.

- Find or create your own music or rhythm/beat for the verse(s). Acts 5:29 has a good beat to it. Many Scripture songs can be found online, on Youtube, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc. - whatever listening platform you have on your devices - or on cd. Some sources for Scripture songs that our family has used:

          - "Sing the Word from A to Z" by the Harrow Family (for kids, but can be helpful for adults as well; I know I learned 26 verses this way!)

          - "Seeds Family Worship" - They have 18 cds available on their website, and we have found many of their songs online, too (YouTube, Spotify).

          - "Hidden in My Heart" - Scripture lullabies but good for any age

          - The Corner Room and Sons of Korah are two groups I've listened to on YouTube who sing Psalms

                       - Psalm 91 by Sons of Korah and Psalm 46 by The Corner Room are ones I've listened to while memorizing those passages.

- Install the Remember Me app on your phone. This app lets you input which verses you want to memorize, choose your Bible translation preference, and will help you review your verses. Your practice moves up levels (i.e., Level 1 - you practice the next day, Level 2 - you practice three days later, Level 8 - the highest - you practice 99 days later). You can even choose different practice methods, such as a flashcard review (5 of your verses/passages or ALL your verses/passages).

- Say it out loud. Incorporating the oral motor movements and the auditory system helps make stronger neural pathways than just saying it in your head. This is also why writing the verse is helpful - strengthening neural pathways by engaging another modality (actually two - the kinesthetic/fine motor act of writing and the visual act of seeing the words).

If you have any questions about finding Scripture songs, using the app, etc., I'll be happy to help however I can.

Happy memorizing!

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11