Monday, March 12, 2012

Putting God’s Word in My Daily Life


Jesus - Putting God’s Word in My Daily Life



I have come to realize that it is very hard for me to commit to reading God’s Word every day. Sometimes, I get in these low points where I have such a hard time staying on top of reading a passage every day. I then feel guilty for not having read the Bible, for having not been in His Word. But what can I do about this? I have a very busy life right now, but that is no excuse… God’s Word must come first, He must come first. But still I struggle will filling my days and hours with God’s Word.

A few years ago I read a book called, His Word in my Heart. The book is by Janet Pope. Janet was featuredhere on JOY Blog a couple years ago. So a few years ago, I started memorizing the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). I made it through most of chapter 5 and then I kind of stopped. I don’t remember what happened now, but I think I started missing a day or two and then I just stopped…

For Christmas last year, I received the book from Janet Pope (I had read it from my library before). I have been struggling with reading God’s Word every day this year and I finally remembered this book. So I went and got it off the shelf. I have been reading it the last few days and I have been inspired to once again memorize God’s Word. It is my way of being able to stay IN His Word, all day, every day. (For more information on how I am memorizing,check out this post on my personal blog, there are also more links there). I have recommitted to His Word and the study and meditation of it.

Below is a quote from His Word in my Heart. It helps explain why it is so important to have God’s Word with you all the time. Janet is talking about spending time in God’s Word…“You will be acutely aware of His presence in your daily experience, and your heart will overflow with praise and gratefulness. Like a cup running over, you will not be able to contain your joy…You will have accomplished both the goal of meditation and the goal of memorizing Scripture”. (P. 33-34)

You can memorize Scripture, and I encourage you to try it. If you are not sure how to start, read Janet’s book or check out the other blog posts about this.

Remember, “Memorizing is never the final goal; it is only a tool to help us reach the ultimate goal of knowing God and loving Him” (P. 30). So try it out. Read His Word in My Heart. Follow me on my personal journey of memorizing His Word and putting it in my heart (through my personal blog). Apply what you have learned. Get in the Word. And let God change your life through His Word!

 Mandy H.


FOR MORE INFORMATION, check out the links below:
My inspiration for memorizing whole chapters and books of the Bible comes from Janet Pope. I heard her a few years ago on Revive our Hearts and it was very inspiring. You can listen to her here. I then read her book, which I am now reading again, His Word in My Heart by Janet Pope. I was then able to interview her on JOY Blog and learn more about her, By Faith - Janet Pope. I hope this is inspiring to you. Please join in memorizing! Here is another JOY Blog article that I wrote about Bible Memorization. Please check out the link that I have put in this paragraph!

Monday, March 5, 2012

YOU - You are Beautiful, Just the Way You Are

Each one of you ladies is beautiful! God created YOU. And in Genesis, He said what he created was good. He created you after His image. I want each one of you to always remember that God loves you just the way you are. You don't have to look like a movie star or a model. (In this movie, it shows just how unrealistic the final picture is, how the mom and daughter do not even look like themselves after everything.) I have nothing against dressing up and wanting to look beautiful, but I want you to remember, "there could never be a more beautiful you".

Genesis 1:27 (NIV1984)

  So God created man in his own image,
   in the image of God he created him;
   male and female he created them.

More Beautiful You - Jonny Diaz