You Would Not Believe Your Eyes If Ten Million Fireflies Lit Up The World As I Fell Asleep…

Cuz they'd fill the open air and leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude but I'd just stand and stare... -a relevant stanza 
from Owl City   

Written at Summit, from my journal:

Tonight, I took a walk in the dark and looked at the stars. Contentedness. Peace. Joy in looking up at the canopy of stars and the wonderful feeling I love of feeling so small and the even more delightful feeling of God being so BIG! I felt so excited, so calm, and so happy. I sat down by the lake, letting the sound of crickets and buzzing frogs and all that typical night stuff pour into my brain via ears. A cool breeze came off the lake. The dew had come out, already. I felt at ease. The moon was gorgeous reflecting on the lake.
Then, I saw it. A little blinker. Blink. Blink. Blink. Blink. Slowly, but surely, this little girl- or was it a guy?- shone her light in the darkening evening. Blink. Blink…I watched as the firefly blinked for a long time- maybe 10 minutes. I never lost sight of him(-her-it?) as I looked around for others. But she- he- it was the only blinker out tonight. It made me feel kind of lonely. Wanting to find a mate…
At first glance, it appears the life purpose of fireflies is to mate. But it’s not. God created them to light up and adorn the darkness. No other flying bug has a chemical coding in them to make light. They mate the same way everyone else does. It’s the light that makes them unique.
That’s why he predestinated us to choose Him of our own freewill. To light up the dark, crooked, perverse nation around us. Our job is to find a life purpose bigger than marriage. It’s to find out why we’re here. Maybe we have no other purpose but to serve him. We aren’t lighting up the world around us to find a husband. We’re doing it for Christ. He’s all that’s worth living for.
But we get distracted. We start blinking for the wrong reasons. I have a neat thought every now and then. “Hey Lauralea, you’ve got no real prospects in sight!” Good grief! It goes downhill from there- daydreaming, losing sight of God, flirting with “Hot Dude Number A”… and then I realize I’m still waiting around, waving dust out of my face as my friends ride off into the sunset with their dudes.
Now I’m in the launch zone to life purpose, I wonder what direction to aim for? In other words; I have too many choices to aim for. I want to do SO much in say, 80 some years, 18 of which have already been spent. 62 left, if I’m blessed enough. Think about it. 62 more summers. 62 more winters. 62 more springs… when you break it down, not a lot. We make goals and plans; and we realize we have a little time to do it. Then we realize we’re too busy making the plans we actually accomplish nothing. We’re like that firefly. Blinking for… nobody at all, except ourselves. What am I living for?
My focus on life has changed today. Thanks to a firefly… and Jeff Myers. The world will keep turning, and I will keep living. Just because I’m not sure what to do doesn’t mean time will stop. It makes me think of Owl City’s Fireflies “I’d like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly…” It doesn’t, if you know what I mean. That’s why we need to devote ourselves to growth, the gospel, and the great commission. Our time is short.
Still blinking, Lauralea

I love looking back at the times I was on spiritual super highs. It makes me learn things all over again, even when I thought I had them down. 

There is always room for growth; in Christianity, you should never arrive. I am constantly changing and gaining new insight, learning something new, and becoming the someone that God wants and needs me to be. For example, I used to love being Baptist. Now I find it not completely in line with the Bible. Or the idea that skirts were modest. I went through a time where I would not wear skirts to now where I feel modest and feminine in them. Those are just some little  examples I’ve seen as I’ve ‘grown up’. 

Who are you blinking for?

Where are you headed?

Amazing Opportunity

Tonight at church, I had the privilege of meeting Syd.

Syd is a missionary to Muslims, a people I feel strangely drawn to or burdened for.

It all started when I was sitting in the pew my family selected (on the right side…as usual) when an older man in our church (who asked me questions about Islam earlier this morning) eagerly invited me to join in the conversation on Islam with a man near the back of the auditorium.

“Sure!” I replied and hopped up to join in. I try not to miss any chances to learn, talk about, or debate worldviews.

Syd, with a delightful British-y/Hebrew/Arabic accent told us of Muslims he’d encountered that have dreams of Christ; a person that stood up in the middle of the Jesus film and cried out “That is the man who healed my (relation)!”; and how, one average, it takes Muslims two years to come to Christ once a seed has been planted.  Though I’ve spent a couple years trying to learn all I can about Islam, hearing it firsthand from a seasoned missionary was amazing.

I wondered if there was any opportunity to help, when he mentioned a caroling group in Dearborn, where they bring literature, Christmas, and gifts into an outreach. Muslims don’t know what is going on when they hear singing outside, and become curious.

I’m planning on joining this group of carolers. It’s a start. It’s an amazing opportunity.

Is There A Wrong Kind of Comfort?

“Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond’s glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush.
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.”

I’ve heard it at funerals of good Christian people who didn’t believe in reincarnation, but this is what the poem implies.
Of course, those redeemed by Christ technically go on to live in heaven and eventually the new earth, but we aren’t found in rain, or in wind, or in snow, or in fields. When we look at the sparkles in snow, we don’t hear people say, “Hey, it’s Grandma.” Or think “Uncle Billy is out there waving in the field!” Those who do think so imply a sort of pantheistic theology.

‘All is of one, for life is an energy that is fixed and you do not die, your energy only renews itself in a new form’ view.

I’m afraid someone wrote this wanting to bring comfort to those suffering a loss of a dear one. This is a critical point for those suffering loss- a point where they either cling to The God or adopt a new view. Satan could easily trick people into believing false ideas through poems such as these.

Which leads me to the question, is there a wrong kind of comfort?

If so, what kind of comfort should we give?

—-

BTW~ I’m officially a college freshman! I’m studying for my first CLEPs- English Comp and Natural Science. I hope to be a sophomore by spring.

“This is Paul…”

An Almost Love Story? Nah…

A few ladies at my church approached my mom and dad a couple weeks ago about some new convert named Paul. They weren’t just casually mentioning this new Christian to mention this new Christian. They had an agenda.

“He’s 23, he’s going to a non-denominational church for a little while now and he’s met my parents. The parents are Roman Catholic, but they’re nice. He’s studying to be an electrician and they’ve told him about Laura. He’s already tried to go out with one girl but it didn’t work. His name is Paul, he’s very nice and polite, doesn’t smoke, tall  and lean, with light brown-dark blondish hair. We’re trying to figure out how they could meet. What do you think?”

My parents tried to explain I had some more standards than “regular church attender who doesn’t smoke and is making money.” But, the ladies plowed on: “Oh, but she’s so young, and she has ideas of what she wants. That all goes out the window when you fall in love!”

I’m glad these ladies and their husbands spoke with my parents, because my general unattraction to most guys with blonde hair would have made an outstanding opportunity to showcase my talent of sarcasm. Haha. Or, I could have jumped up and down with my arms waving in the air “He doesn’t smoke? YAHOOOOOOO!”

If I’m going to “fall in love” with some fellow, he’ll have to turn my heart first. It can’t be crush at first glance. I’ll have to know him for awhile before anything “happens.”

Avoid-a-Paul…

Ladies, when you are in question about a man, look to see if he’s going places: involved in some kind ministry or writing for a magazine; studying to become a missionary doctor or wanting to run for Congress, or even see if he owns his own business. Point is, observe, and don’t go for what others hand you. Take note of who’s doing instead of watching. We need more than “tall and nonsmoking”!

I believe having people set up guys for you to look at is interference with God’s way of doing things. People immediately claim “But God is using me!” when you argue “I don’t want you to get in the way of God’s plan for me.” People have strange ideas of what goes together, and they only want to see you married off. The old ladies in my church don’t really care about me or my life, but when it comes to love, they want to be in everyone’s business. Of course, the occasional “What’s up with college?” question surfaces, but nothing deeper than that. This tells me these ladies are manipulative. If I were to accept an invite to go to Paul’s church (Which I probably won’t…) it would cause me to start considering someone I may as well have no business considering. God works in surprises, and when I’m deliberately setting myself in places knowing a set-up dude like”Paul” will be there, I’m not letting God write the story. I’m a character trying to control my own future. I’m not saying be unfindable, it’s okay to be where the guys are (we all know that), but going into something thinking “I know they’ll be some great guys here… and maybe tonight I’ll meet the one…” will lead to our actions being controlled by the emotions and desires of wanting to meet the real deal. More often then not, our heads, muddled with desire, will settle for less. That’s when we make the mistake of settling for non-smoking nice guys like Paul.

Know for today you are called to singleness. Don’t let other people rush ahead for you.

Hyper-patriarchy vs. Biblical-patriarchy

Hyperpatriarchy is a type of demanding fatherhood and husband-hood ( ) that requires nothing less than exact obedience all the time- even on minute issues. Hyperpatriarchs like to dictate what his daughters and wife wear, what they do, and where they go. They like to be in complete control and have the final say. They often ignore what their family has to say and go with what they want.

Reading an independent-fundamental-Baptist-Reformed local magazine for women that somehow ended up on my desk; I was shocked at the articles on submitting to your husband/father. Some quotes from this magazine:

“You must let a man be man. (nothing wrong with that) If you interfere with any situation, even if it is sin, better to leave him alone for fear of ruining his testimony.” (Sounds faintly of Muslim honor and strongly of letting someone live knowingly in sin)

“When a woman shares her opinion, she is sharing the true heart within her. This nasty heart in manipulative and wants to see her husband’s ruin. Better to keep her mouth shut.” (So women cannot share opinions wit their husbands???)

“Your husband did not have to marry you. Do not complain about his strictness in keeping you in when he goes out. Being married is enough for him, why push him to do something you want when it is his turn to have fun?” (It’s the woman’s fault he’s angry/disinterested in her?)

I agree with being thankful for what we have, letting men be men, and that the human heart is sick. But when a woman has no say whatsoever, has to live in fear for her husband’s spiritual well being (because she can’t call him out on sin); and has to avoid dealing with even petty problems… that’s hyperpatriarchy.

I was accused once of being a victim of hyperpatriarchy. I bought a lovely maxi-dress recently at a store called Forever 21. I tried to wear it to church the next Sunday; and dad ended up telling me he didn’t like the cut. It emphasized the wrong parts of my body, and he didn’t want that at all. (“Not even a hint” as I like to put it) I really wanted to wear the dress, but obeyed. At church, my friend asked if I was wearing the dress I’d bought. I said “No” and explained the situation. She shook her head and said “That’s no way to live. Your dad is a total hyperpatriarch…”

Let’s take a look at Biblical patriarchy:

Christ is masculine. God is masculine. God so loved the world…HE… gave HIS SON. God is also the ruler of everything, but a gentle one at that. He doesn’t want harm to come to us, but sometimes obedience can cause suffering in some way from others. God is not a cruel taskmaster. He very nature is love. Christ is love. The man of the house represents Christ.  Both man and woman are made in God’s image and are both called to exercise dominion over the earth. They share an equal worth as persons before God in creation and redemption. The man is also the image and glory of God in terms of authority, while the woman is the glory of man. (Gen. 1:27-28; 1 Cor. 11:3,7; Eph. 5:28; 1 Pet. 3:7) God has also ordained gender roles. Adam already had headship over Eve before sin entered the world. (Gen. 2:18)

God has placed authority of fathers and husbands to be useful and good in direction family. There is a limit on a man’s power. He must be in the Lord. When a man is outside of God’s will or word, he is not leading well. When in sin, there is hardship for the man to lead. The same goes for a woman when she will not submit. A man’s authority should be exercised with grace and love as a servant, priest, and leader; following the example of Jesus Christ. Leadership is a stewardship from God. (Mal. 3:17; Ps. 103:13; Col. 3:21; 1 Pet. 3:7) A man should also be subject to the laws of the government. (Romans 13) The man and wife, (and hence kids) should also submit to each other and respect opinions, tastes, and views, as long as they are of the word.

The woman is called to be keeper at home- meaning she is to run the household in domestic affairs: cooking, cleaning, teaching kids (primarily- I want my husband to be fully committed to teaching our kids at home and pray he would want to take part in that); basically becoming more like a Proverbs 31 woman every day. This doesn’t mean she can’t “have a job”  it simply means her #1 priority should be home. My mom is really a Proverbs 31 woman! My mom and I have a business of sorts- every Tuesday we make 14 dozen cookies and my dad sells them at work. It’s extra income. It’s “working willingly with our hands”. My mom gets up early to start the laundry and she often stays up late to finish things. She is known for her artistic ability (especially working on VBS decorations, where she happens to be right now), her cooking, her get up and go spirit. People at church talk about her highly. She is frugal with our money, so much so, we have surplus of things. That frugality leads us to never do without (we are the thrift store junkies, but we have the nicest, largest, CHEAPEST wardrobes around, I’d say) I could go on, but you probably get the point. She is very submissive to Dad, her hubby, whom she’s been married to for over 20 years. Aww…

*ahem*

Father/husbands should oversee the family well; and do so biblically, gently, and firmly. He must also realize that everyone has an opinion, and his opinion may not line up the wife’s or kids’.

Now, back to the story I was telling about the dress. If my dad would have said “I don’t like that pattern on you, it looks outdated…” It would have been a matter of personal preference, and hyper-patriarchy if he told me to obey immediately without protest. But since he directly said “I don’t like the cut of the top part and how it draws attention to your bust,” I knew right away what exactly was wrong- and that it wasn’t right. Since my dad noticed something I’d overlooked completely, I figured the other guys at church would probably notice, too. I didn’t want to “accidentally” ”entice” a dude when I knew I shouldn’t be even wearing something enticing. And, since the Bible tells us women to be modest and cover up what should be covered ,-and I knew I shouldn’t cause any brother in Christ to lose sight of Christ if I could help it- I decided to do what I knew was right. I changed my outfit.

So, was my dad a hyperpatriarch or a biblical patriarch?

You can’t expect to submit to your husband one day if you can’t submit to your dad now. It’s not always going to be that BIG thing. It will more than likely be a small thing.

When I’m Stuck…

I freaked out today.

We’re getting ready for VBS, and in the excitement, there’s work.

While everyone is going off to celebrate 4th of July with family and fireworks, we’re painting cardboard in hopes of it adding to the spirit of the week. I’m going insane going over five lessons in hopes some kid will beweeve in Jeezus. But it’s worth it. I love VBS week more than any other week out of July. I enjoy any type of ministry. Painting or preaching.

I also enjoy putting rolls of tape on my upper arms. (You can laugh here) It started when I was a kid, cuz I liked to flex my muscles and try to get the roll of duct tape to stay put on my arm. (You can laugh here too)

I did it today, too.

It happened as I absentmindedly reached for a roll of painter’s tape. I was walking down the hall, lost in thinking about the behind the scenes near crises that arise the weeks before VBS. And something about deaf people not being able to think. Somewhere between the office and classroom, the painter’s tape roll was shoved on my upper arm. No problem!

Then my mom needed some. I turned around and she rolled her eyes.

Let the fun begin.

At first, she just thought it was funny.

The next five minutes were a scene of me and mom tugging and pulling at my arm. (With added ear splitting ”YOOOW!”s and “HOLD STILL WOULDJA?”s for special effect!!!!). We tried some Vaseline lotion we just happened had on hand. We tugged- or she tugged- the tape roll. And my arm. She ended up tugging me into her thigh. A wall. The floor. (Faceplant by the stunt woman!)

Finally we got it off, and I was normal again.

OUCH!!!

We were worried we’d have to cut the roll off and buy pastor some new painter’s tape. But no fear.

It makes me think of all the wonderful things we see everyone around us “fitting into” and “sliding on easily”. But we know as Christians, we don’t fit into that one thing everyone else seems to do. facebook. Raunchy music. Texting overload. Premarital s3x. Trashy books. Liberalism. The list goes on.

When we do them anyway, we get STUCK, and it takes a huge effort to get unstuck from sin.

If I had been paying attention instead of thinking about unlearned deaf people not thinking and ASL deaf people thinking in visual terms, I might have realized the painter’s tape inner circumference was only 7  inches around. And that I wasn’t 13 anymore and my arm is nearly 8 inches around.

If we had been paying attention instead of being preoccupied with something that didn’t matter, we might have realized our Christian convictions didn’t fit with that tempting thing. And that we aren’t baby Christians who don’t know any better. We don’t fit in with the world.

So stop trying to fit.

It Only Happens Once…

Life gets busy. Just when I thought graduation would be the end of my social life, I find myself loaded with projects and tasks, visits and meetings. It makes me grouchy, some days, because I’m getting sort-of ”plum-tuckered” out.

I didn’t want to go to church last night, but I’m glad I did. We had an interesting discussion on personal convictions and Romans 14-15.

After the study, we all split up into self-organized spontaneous groups. I noticed a elderly lady looking around the room. No one was sitting near her, people were praying with their friends. After prompting my mom to go sit by her, we went over and introduced ourselves. We ended up having a lovely discussion with Mrs. Powell, who must’ve been in her eighties! She talked of her growing up grandchildren, and her middle aged son, their missions work and then asked us what we were doing lately. My mom mentioned how busy we were with my graduation party. With her faltering voice, she shook a finger in my face and said “Enjoy it… it only comes once!” Shortly thereafter, her equally elderly husband came out and sat behind her. You could totally tell they were still in love! I was tickled pink when Mrs. Powell mentioned she was engaged to three other men at various point in life, broke it off each time and ended with ‘him’ (as she jerked a thumb at her man) for the last 65 years. Aww!! She patted my knee and said in a mischievous voice: “When you start courtin’ watch out!”

When I’m 80 something, I want to be alive and kickin’ like her!

In the midst of a busy point of life, I was reminded by someone far older than me that a successful life cannot be measured by friends, money, or status. Enjoy the experience. Make the most of every opportunity. It only happens once…

It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 1:10:

Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.

We need to find wisdom from ages before us. So, look to people from ages before us! We have some catchin’ up to do as young folks.

And then onto 14:

 I have seen everything that is done under the sun,

and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Life is nothing new. But, by the time 50 comes around, people realize there’s more to life then money. Then they wish they’d known that earlier in life. They were chasing after something that didn’t matter for half their life.

That’s why this blog is called Echoes in the Wind. I’ve seen all the chasing after the wind. Okay, maybe not all of it, I’m 15 days shy of being ten and eight years. But I’ve seen people wasting their young years on a lot of things that don’t matter. Music. Money. Clothes. Fiction not worth reading. Boyfriends.

Echoes come back to you.

Echoes haunt you, reminding you of what’s happened. Perhaps telling you of what could be.

Echoes will come back to you, and continue to, unless you stop making a ruckus. There can be good ‘ruckuses’ and bad ‘ruckuses.’

Echoes warn other people far behind.

Echoes can come from people on mountains. We’re all said to be climbing up a mountain toward God. Not sure if I like that analogy, but it’ll do. 

This blog’s original intent was to stretch and encourage and tell younger girls of what I’ve learned in life. To make you think. To make you want something better. To let God use my talent of writing and creating to inspire you on your journey up a mountain.

Life should be simple. Don’t make “it’s complicated” your life’s motto.

Life is not about frivolity. Clothes don’t make the man. Neither does your color of nail poish.

Life is not a show. Don’t pretend. Be REAL (the link will tell you the wrong definition of real)

Life has ideas. Be familiar with them. Know them. Study them.

Life should be colorful. Be vibrant. Don’t be dull.

Life should focus on serving. Look around for needs. Attend to them. Act like you alone know about a need.

Life should be ultimately about God, and the pursuit of Him.

Now, I’m not blogging to just younger girls anymore. I’m blogging to peers, older young women, friends, young men, married and single adults, and other random people who join for fun or for laughs .

Many people who are tired of chasing after the wind.

“Ishi”

“Ishi”

How I struggle with the idea of singleness! It only takes a happy newlywed couple to bring me to tears, asking God “Will I ever have a love story?” “Is it for me to be married?” “Am I supposed to be single?” No “real” answer. Just that little voice I love and sometimes hate at the same time: stop asking.

  It doesn’t help when I hear a few guys I know whisper things like “She’s holy, man!” ”Laura? Nah…” “She’s not a prude who asks you to stop doing things… but she sure is  moral.” “Do you know Laura’s got this commitment to never say I love you to guy until he’s engaged to her?” “I heard she wasn’t going to kiss a guy until her wedding kiss!” “Dude that is so wrong!”  (Interesting to note~ wrong is degraded to mean “not normal”)

It frustrated me to tears. God seemed farther way than usual, and I didn’t even do anything to run. Perhaps I was throwing a pity-party, but my view of God was turning into the classic pessimistic ‘God’s a cruel taskmaster.’

Last night, as I was praying through a Psalm, making it the cry of my heart, about to burst with those same questions; the Bible slipped off my lap. It fell open on the floor in Hosea 2. My eye fell on a paragraph that goes like this:

Ho 2:

 14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

 15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and thevalleyofAchorfor a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of thelandofEgypt.

 16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, which thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.

 (KJV)

I was in tears. I hastily ran a background check (as I humorously call ‘looking up the root words’) on the main words.

  After reading the translations, I wrote the literal meaning in my journal.

  Therefore, I will allure {make room for, call away}her, and bring {sweep, carry, loosely: steal}into the wilderness {desert-place} and speak comfortably there {speak to her heart}

To verse 16:

  …thou shalt call me Ishi (husband), and no longer Baali {master}.

  I smiled up to God in my tears and thanked him for his faithfulness. I figure if a man won’t have me for being crazy about God and obeying His unusual convictions for me, that man is crazy about the wrong things.

  Ishi… my soul’s husband!

Any verses pop out to you, girls?

 

Useful

When I was a kid, I used to hate crafts. Being the practical person I am, I wondered what cotton-ball sheep had to do with Jesus whilst in second grade Jr. Church. But recently, I realized how fun USEFUL crafts can be. Here are some tutorials and idea spur-ers to spark inspiration in your crafty pursuits…

First, from Phylicia, I got the idea of making “book cards”- using old book pages and pictures to plaster on scrapbook cards.

My mom went to the Sal Army and found a calligraph book, full of some person’s calligraphy; (which I guess was cool in the 50′s!).

49c! My mom got half-off pink tag, so it was 24c.  See how cheap it is to make beautiful USEFUL crafts?

So, you get the idea what that was like…

I liked the idea so much, I had my study group girls make some cards for our activity at our meeting!

This is one card that I made…

I used pictures from an old “Henry Reed’s Journey” book (immense liking for the series when I was a youngin’)

When I was completely done with the card I wrote what papers I had used for it on the back at the bottom…

And then I sent it to a friend!

Since we didn’t have much luck finding sheet music for envelopes, I decided to put my drawing skills to good use (I usually spend several hours on a drawing and end up thinking “what use do I have for this…?” I can’t stand to keep anything without a use around!!). I hauled out my colored pencils and scribbled on the backs of envelopes

Ready to send in the mail…

Sometimes I use a reference photo to copy completely, or to take the main feature and add my own effects, such as below…

\/ Reference photo…

And below is my rendition of it…

Some others I’ve made…

Pillowboxes!

Go to the following link and print out the template: http://www.carolynsstampstore.com/catalog/members/pillow_box_template_small.pdf

Find sturdy cardstock and cut out according to template… as you can see in the bottom right corner below…

Use blunt objects to make creases along the lines, then fold and glue the sides.  (You can find specific directions at http://www.ehow.com/how_4858390_pillow-box.html )

We put colored strips of paper around them that coordinated with the color scheme of the box \/

We cut with a cutting-board to ensure correct lines. You can find them at Hobby Lobby!

Most of my sudden ‘craftiness’ has come from the Homestead Blessings DVDs. I highly recommend the series. It has dairy delights, crafting, sewing, quilting, herbs, and cooking, to name a few. We have them all, and I will most assuredly watch them over and over. I never thought being “domesticated” could be so much fun! What are some projects you’ve done lately?

Next post: Who Taught Them?

:..The Game of Memory Just Became A WHOLE Lot Easier..:

Early on in the year, I had a challenge issued to my readers:

Memorize as many verses as you can in 2011. Though three people (including me) took up the challenge, I believe having a binder (or, notebook or 3 ringer) full of verses to memorize is a good thing to keep around. It’s cool to have a hard copy to study when riding in the car, sitting around bored, waiting for a n appointment… Regardless of your goal- if you have one. Just try a bit at a time and see how many verses you can memorize.

This is my binder, it’s one inch thick.

To the left, you see my highlighter, that’s what I use to mark the verses I know. It has a ring on the cap for looping to the binder rings. Of course, you mainly see the title page, where I put some inspiring Churchill quotes and a ‘return to me if lost clause’.

After the title page, I made two pages of columns with a check list. I’m the type of person who feels like they’ve done something amazing when checking things off. :-p

Highlighted= memorized

I copied and pasted KJV text from the internet, and gave each passage  a number, which is why 38 is in front of Ephesians 1:1-11. I count how many are in each section.  Section 38 has 11 verses. See what I mean?

 I really don’t go in order “cover to cover”. I skip around to whateve I feel like doing. I guess that means I’m a free spirit who doesn’t like routine. haha 

I keep a litle notebook in the back of the binder to write out verses in, so I see if I have it down word for word.