Little Ones Love To Memorize!

Ever since Leah F. wrote THIS POST, I have really been wanting to start memorizing larger portions of scripture with my family. We really enjoyed doing our scripture verses last year, and had even more fun with our "questions," but I really wanted my 4-year old to start getting some context for all the random verses that she was learning. And then once I started reading all about Classical Education and how much children actually enjoy memorizing at a young age and how easy it is for them, I decided it was time to start.

We started with Psalm 1 and are now working on Psalm 23. 1Cor. 13 is up after that. I'm hoping to choose longer and longer passages each time and eventually be able to memorize a whole book without forgetting the ones we initially learned.

We have started adding one more line of scripture each night during our bedtime routine of singing, Bible stories, and prayer. I am blogging about this on our family blog to kind of keep me accountable in doing this with my family... hopefully we will be able to post a new video every other week or so of a new chapter of Scripture learned.

I have been amazed at how quickly little ones memorize scripture... they actually do better than Mark and I and are constantly correcting us when we make a mistake! This is a video of them saying Psalm 1 -- you will notice that they are much more familiar with the 1st part because we have said it so often, and they still need some cues for the last part. But that is ok, because each night that we say it, they remember more and more! Oh and the best part is that they really enjoy it! And at random times during the day, I will hear Karlie tell her My-na baby, "how blessed is the man..." Today Karis was reciting it as she was using the potty. Oh, how I love to hear God's word on the lips of my girls! It both blesses me and rebukes me because I wish it were on my mind more often!

I'd love to hear about your family's Scripture memory – what tips do you have for memorizing longer passages with your children and what chapters have been most beneficial to your family to learn?

Storytelling

Howdy from Texas, everyone!

This Shannon from Our Blessed Life, and I am so thrilled to make a “guest” apperance on Prayer of Hannah! Hollie asked me to do a little “write-up” on Tell Me a Story: Teaching Them to Walk in His Ways.

This little eBooklet is a project the Lord laid on my heart, to be a useful tool in helping other parents - especially busy, working parents - teach the Bible to their children.

In it, I depict how our family started telling Bible stories to our girls, and how storytelling His Word has become a cornerstone in how we disciple our children. It has become something we really enjoy, but, as I explain in the book, it was never something we were taught to do, or even planned to do with our children - the Lord just laid it in our laps.

Let me give you a sneak peak at Tell Me a Story, by sharing a few snippets from the introduction of the booklet:

“When you are telling exciting Bible stories to your children, it doesn’t need to be when you’re snuggled close with a Bible or storybook in front of you, though those times are nice. You can tell your children stories while you drive. Turn off the radio; you’ll have a captive audience. You can tell stories while you cook dinner.... And of course you can tell them stories while you tuck them into bed. The powerful, wonderful Word of God will be the last thing on their minds as they fall asleep..."

As you will read in the book, our family didn’t instinctively know the art of storytelling.  Our children didn’t learn a handful of Bible stories in one day. They learned each story a little at a time, over the course of days and weeks. And most of the time, we have stayed only a few steps ahead of them in the process. And we are still in that process...

Even if you’re a busy working parent, you can redeem those hectic moments and use them to fulfill your most important job... And the benefit and blessing we reap is meaningful, quality time with our kids.”
In this short, easy-to-read eBooklet, I share how our storytelling journey was actually prompted by my 3-year-old daughter, Maggie. You will read a few of our stories word-for-word, as well as be encouraged to begin telling stories with your own children.

Tell Me a Story may be purchased from my blog Our Blessed Life, for a small donation towards our adoption.  You will receive it in pdf format (Horray for no shipping charges!) And at this time, every penny from sales helps us bring home Kirk and Lori, two five-year-old, HIV+ beautiful children in Eastern Europe, whom we are blessed to (soon) bring into our home and call our own.

Thanks everyone!
Shannon

A little note from Hollie:

Let me encourage you to head on over to Shannon's blog to read up on their adoption of these two precious children, Kirk and Lori, and possibly consider buying her e-book. The amount of donation given for the e-book is totally up to you. Her book is awesome and really encourages/teaches you how to teach the Word of God to the little ones in your life in a way that makes sense to them and helps them to retain the Truth in their minds. Jeff and Shannon are waiting and trusting in the Lord to provide for their adoption, and this is just one way we believe He could provide. On their blog you can also see how much they've raised and how much left they have to go. Thank you again!
Hollie

A Psalm for my anxious heart

I quoted this psalm to a friend this morning who was feeling anxious and in need of God's peace and provision. I believe that God's word does not return void, and that has been the case today--as I showed this psalm to my friend, it has been comfort to me during stressful parenting times this morning when I am frustrated with my children (do you ever feel that way? :-) I pray that it might be a blessing to someone else who reads this!

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Scripture Memory in 2011--Partnering to Remember

As Christmas ends, we often turn our thoughts toward the New Year, and how we would like to do things differently or better. Call them goals or resolutions, many of us hope to improve ourselves in some way in the new year.

My husband and I do not often make New Year's Resolutions, but this year we are both working towards a goal of memorizing the book of Philippians. A friend of ours, Tim Brister, has put together a 16 week plan that has us completing the memorization by Easter week. You can read all about it here: Partnering to Remember--the 2011 Philippians Memory Moleskine. If you are interested in participating, it is easy to download the PDF and set up your little memory verse notebook. Tim helps with the set-up of a memory moleskine.

I have referenced this before, and Tim makes use of it as well, but my pastor Andy Davis's booklet on Extended Memorization of Scripture is very helpful for projects like this! Our church is encouraging its members to take part in this memorization 'project', and Nathan and I hope to encourage our small group and Sunday School class to participate as well. Can you imagine what a blessing will come from a group of believers partnering together to memorize God's word? I am very excited about it.

This may seem like a daunting prospect, especially for me since I am expecting a baby any day now. However, though I may not have time for in-depth Bible Study during the early (sleep deprived) newborn days, I have 6-8 times a day that I will be nursing--and what a wonderful time to review and meditate on Scripture! My memory moleskine is pocket sized and perfect for reviewing during midnight nursing sessions :-)

Just in case anyone is interested, I have posted pictures below of my notebook (I followed Timmy's set-up, but I did make my cover a little more 'girly'--it helps distinguish between my notebook and Nathan's notebook). I am praying for the Lord to bless this endeavor, and I would love for you to participate with me! Let me know if you decide to, and we can hold each other accountable!






Two last notes: Tim has a post up today with some Tips for memorization and meditation. Also, I bought my Moleskine notebooks on Amazon.com (in packs of three), and I have one or two left if any local readers want one. Blessings to you in the New Year!