resolved.... a look back at 2012 resolutions

Well, here it is January 2013, a brand new year!  Let’s look back at last year’s resolutions…

1.       Memorize more scripture… well, originally I started out verse by verse, and then got involved with memorizing the first book of James when I participated in the James Bible Study by Beth Moore. I memorized James 1:1-25.  I’m a little disappointed in myself that I memorized all but 2 verses of the first chapter.  However, memorizing 25 verses is quite a feat, and that’s nearly 1 verse for every 2 weeks out of the year, so that was pretty good.  I’m considering whether to continue the challenge to memorize the entire book of James this year, or to see about memorizing different parts of scripture.  What do you think?  I’m also pretty disappointed that I didn’t do a good job documenting the other verses I memorized this year.  I’ll try to do better J

2.       Cash only budget for food… yep, didn’t stick to this one.  We followed our spending much more closely this year, but by and large, still spent a VAST amount of money on food.  Going to continue this as a goal to help us save some more this year, except we won’t do the cash-only version since I can never keep up with cash.  We’ll just be tracking carefully on our budget in the giant excel file (yep, I'm a big spreadsheet nerd).   

3.       2^nd Half-Marathon – DONE!  And with a PR to boot!  And I’m in the midst of training for my 3^rd half, coming up in just a few weeks, so I’d say I kicked that resolution’s behind!    Overall, I could definitely stand to continue making strides in the healthy food choices department and need to figure out what my next fitness goal is after this half marathon!

Me, Jenny & Jennifer after the Georgetown, SC Half-Marathon

4.       Figuring out household chores… definitely NOT done.  Teamwork is key here, as clutter doesn’t bother me and dirt doesn’t bother my husband.  So, if he can help me keep the clutter in check, I can work on the dirt.  Still LOTS of room for improvement though! 

So 2 out of 4 isn't too bad, considering it's not often that resolutions are kept.  Did you keep any of your resolutions or goals from 2012??  Check back later this week to see my goals for 2013.

The Return of Memory Verses

I got away from blogging about my memory verses a while back.  Probably, because I got away from memorizing them weekly when our last Bible study ended several MONTHS ago. (New Year's Resolution FAIL).  I tell you, accountability is KEY to help keep you on track!  We're back started now, reading an incredible book Lord, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur.  But anyway, back to memory verses. 

 

Currently, I'm working on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.  I've written the whole passage here, but it'll probably take me a few weeks to get the whole thing down by heart. 

 

"Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory which far outweighs them all.  So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal." 

 

When I read this passage this week, it hit me that for the last little while, my mind has been focused on the "light and momentary troubles" we have been facing lately.  I've written and erased a few whiny posts about things that have been going on in our lives, because ultimately, as this verse reminds me, those things that have been troubling me are just temporary, and the things that should fill my mind are things that have eternal significance. 

 

I feel so incredibly blessed to serve a God who uses His word to remind me at just the right time.  In fact, I am over a month behind on my "Read-the-Bible-in-A-Year" plan, and if I was on schedule, this verse may not have spoken to me quite as much.  So God can use every situation for good, even my failure to fulfill my committment to daily Bible reading.  That's the beauty though, when we fall down, He picks us up.

memory verses

Last week I memorized Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither things past or things to come, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

And this week I'm working on Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 

I have several ways of working on my scripture memory, first I write my verse for the week in a little chubby notebook, then I copy it into my day-timer so it is there for me to look at each day when I check out my schedule.  For especially long verses, I break it into pieces and write them on sticky notes, and sometimes practice writing/typing them out.  I'm trying to go back a few times each week and read/recite the verses from earlier weeks, just to keep them fresh.  Also, I recite the weekly verse to Ryan and to the girls in my Bible study. 

Speaking of, I'm so thankful for our Wednesday night Bible study to help keep me accountable for learning my verses each week.  I've had the privilege of meeting with this group of women since the summer of 2009, and they have had a major impact on my life.   That summer, we started memorizing scripture just by picking verses that spoke to us individually.  It amazes me each week the varying scriptures that we learn, and often I find new verses that other women have learned speak to me and I write them down to memorize myself. 

We are reading Nancy DeMoss' Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free, and I think everyone would agree that just two chapters in, this book has been eye-opening and extremely convicting.  The main focus this past week was removing the focus from ourselves, accepting responsibility and not making excuses, and trusting God's love to change us and fulfill us.  If you're looking for a challenging and inspiring book, I would definitely recommend this study.

Hope you're having a great week :)

Memory Verses

A little late on posting the last two weeks' verses, but here they are.  I think the greatest thing about scripture memory is just having the Word of God on the tip of your tongue whenever you need it.  The more I work on scripture memory, I realize more and more how God has a way of bringing just the right verse to my mind at just the right times.  

1 Timothy 3:11

"Women must be likewise dignified, not malicious gossips, but faithful and temperate in all things." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 

This week's verse

"Listen to my words, Lord, Consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my king and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, lord, hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."

Psalm 5:1-3

I especially love this verse because it reminds me that an important factor in prayer is waiting for God's response, and having the faith to wait expectantly. Expecting him to answer, to act, and realizing that it might take time, but he WILL respond.

Bible Reading & Memorizing in 2011

This year, I'm planning to read my Bible daily, in order to read it completely through in just one year. The plan I'm using splits the reading into 2 Old Testament and 2 New Testament passages daily. In the past, I have tried and failed to read "cover-to-cover", so I'm hoping this different plan will make it easier.

I also hope to increase the amount of scripture I have memorized because I find the more verses I commit to memory, the more I find their applications in my life. Last year with my Bible study, we memorized verses weekly, and Psalm 1 was one of my favorites. I know this verse will encourage me this year as I endeavor to read all of God's word and tuck away more and more of it in my mind and heart. My aim is to have 52 passages under my belt come 2012 and I'm starting by re-committing Psalm 1:1-3 to memory:

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in the steps of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law both day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."