Monday's Resolution {Studying the Scriptures}

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same. 


This, friends, is where I struggle. I read my Bible every day. I try to ponder it and meditate on what I've read. Memorizing portions of Scripture also finds its way into the regular rhythm of my life.


Actually studying it more deeply though?

I've tried different products and books and methods, but I have yet to find something that works for me and sticks nicely to my every day schedule. This is not the fault of the products and books and methods. The problem is with me! Despite my acknowledgement of its importance, and my supposed desire to be a better student of the Word, I have yet to act decisively and consistently in this area.


I listen to sermons regularly, and am blessed to sit each week under excellent exegetical preaching from a man who has done and continues to do a lot of studying. These means of grace do cause me to grow in my understanding and application of the Scriptures. But I am ashamed to admit that I myself am not a deeper student of the Word.


Today's Resolution comes as a blessed challenge to me- its time to change! I would love to be able to say with Edwards that I can plainly perceive myself to have grown in my personal knowledge of the Scriptures. I would love to become a steady student of these life giving Words.


So I'd like to ask you more diligent studiers- how are you regularly digging deeper into the Word? What tools and routines have you found to be essential and accessible? I'm looking for all of the help I can get. Thank you!

12 Projects for 2013

Last week I gave a little glimpse into a few of the new projects I've attempted over the last year (though I forgot to include homemade baby wipes and flower pins/headbands- oops!).

I look forward to keeping up my "domestic momentum" in 2013 by attempting one project per month. Some of the projects are quick and easy, some more involved, and some include dabbling in various recipes and endeavors over an extended period of time.

Here's my list:

1. Make homemade deodorant.
2. Go shampoo and conditioner free.
3. Try the Oil-Cleansing Method of face wash.
4. Learn how to knit.
5. Make homemade vanilla extract.
6. Try Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day.
7. Soaked grain recipes (utilizing Trina Holden's ebook, Real Fast Food).
8. Make a scrapbook of our engagement photos (someone gave me the perfect book and paper for them years ago, yet its sat collecting dust on my shelf!).
9. Print and organize our family photos.
10. Put together a wedding album (yes, I've been married for nearly five years and don't have one yet).
11. Publish an ebook with my daughter's birth and NICU story.
12. Sew a curtain for S's room.

Why these 12 projects? Some of them will save us money. Some of them will save me time. Some of them preserve precious memories. Some beautify my home. And some of them are to improve our health. These are all important aspects of my role as a homemaker!

Each month I will {attempt} to update you as I complete the projects. Stay tuned!

What projects do you hope to accomplish in the coming year?

Book Review: 21 Days To A More Disciplined Life

Are you famous for making lofty goals, keeping them for a few days, and then crashing and burning?

Yeah, me too.

I plan out ambitious routines on paper, and manage to measure up for about a week before I'm back to sleeping in and struggling to keep up.

Ultimately, we must learn to master ourselves if we're going to grow in the area of self-discipline. But Crystal Paine's new ebook, 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life, may be just the ticket to boosting you on your own journey towards self-control and goal realization.

Crystal Paine is the owner and editor of Money Saving Mom, one of the top personal finance blogs on the web. A successful author, entrepreneur, and homeschooling mother of three, Crystal has a lot to share from her personal experience and success on this topic. She is realistic, reasonable, exceedingly helpful, and to the point. Personally I find her to be incredibly inspiring!

With a short and succinct chapter a day, this three week journey will guide the way for you to install one new key habit, and to complete one major project. The principles can be applied again and again, fueling you on as you seek to get out of debt, get into shape, and even start getting up early. Whatever areas of your life are out of control, you are sure to find help here!

I am personally hoping to run through the challenge with my husband over the next several weeks. Although our personal goals are different, by completing the readings and tasks in the book together, I'm hoping we can keep each other accountable and grow, individually and as a couple.

Do you want to know what's super exciting??? Crystal is offering 21 Days To A More Disciplined Life for only $.99, from now until Thursday. After Thursday, the book will go to its regular price of $4.99 (still a steal in my opinion!). If you'd like to purchase a copy, you can find them here.

What areas of your life have you struggled the most to get under control? How do you guard against burn-out when it comes to goal completion? 

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. There are affiliate links in this post! If you purchase your copy through the links in this post, a portion of the purchase supports me and the work I put into this blog. The opinions I've shared, however, are 100% mine.

Casting All of My Anxieties on Him...

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  "...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

My Anxiety: The uncertainties of pregnancy; miscarriage, preterm labor, and other life and death complications.

He Cares for Me:  
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

My Anxiety: I am completely inadequate as a parent. I feel overwhelmed by the pressures of always having to the decisions and tough calls. I don't have anywhere close to all of the answers!

He Cares for Me:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

"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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

My Anxiety: Tight finances.

He Cares for Me: 
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked." Psalm 37:16

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34:8-10

No matter what your anxiety may be today friend, cast it on the Lord. He will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.

The Cost of Social Media

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For the last month of my life, I have not spent more than a minute or two browsing the Facebook Newsfeed.

The only updates I see are those which appear on my screen immediately after logging in, and friends or blogs that I specifically purpose to check in on.

I desperately needed to make this change. I was spending way too many hours of my life pouring over it, neglecting other things that really mattered. And I often walked away from online time feeling rotten.

While I know this kind of change isn't necessary for everyone, and I have no desire to make it a "law of holiness" that everyone who wants to be godly must adopt,

I would like to share the reasoning behind my decision, in hopes that if you are having the same problems as me, this will be an opportunity for you to reevaluate your use of social media.

Social media comes with a cost. We spend our time, our mental energy, and our emotions on social media.

Time. Maybe, like me, you often decide to spend "just five more minutes" surfing your feeds. But five minutes turns into ten, then fifteen, then twenty... and you are left wondering where your day went, why you haven't accomplished your "to dos", and why your children are misbehaving (starved for attention!).

Instead of investing extra chunks of time into projects or people that you value, you have nothing to show for it, and you are barely keeping your head above water.

Mental Energy. Christians are called to renew their minds in the Word of God. Everything that we spend time reading or watching fills our mind, making an impact on our attitudes and thought processes.

The problem with a social media stream is that you don't have much control over what sorts of messages will be coming your way. Reading excessive complaints or rants, unnecessary vulgarities or profanities, and blatant glorifications of immorality and idolatry will have a negative drain on your brain.

Emotions. At the beginning of this year, Slate posted an article about a Stanford study entitled, "Is Facebook Making Us Sad?" Researchers found that after browsing Facebook, people (especially women!) actually felt worse about themselves.

Because Social Media allows us to present the best side of ourselves, we see all of these happy, healthy, and prosperous people... and think that they have their lives all together, unlike us... which makes us feel depressed.

The reality? Nobody is perfect! We all have issues, sin struggles, heartaches, and trials. When I spent all of that time reading my newsfeed, I kept myself busy comparing, coveting, and complaining about those people who "had it all together."

"She's the same age as me, yet she already has a really nice house, while we're still stuck renting."

"Why does everything work out so well for them? I've worked hard, and I got the same degree as they did!"

"Wow, she has really done well for herself. Why didn't I take that course load in college? Would I be just as successful as her if I had?"

"Wish we could have gone on that amazing cruise for our honeymoon..."

And on it goes.

Beyond the coveting and comparing, certain status updates would seriously grieve me.

That girl that went to youth group with me all through high school? She's now denied the Lord and is living a blatantly sinful life, which she loves to proclaim from the rooftops of her social media status'.

The guy that I attended Bible college with? He's no longer claiming Christ, he is now "out of the closet," his back turned to the clear teachings of Scripture that he once received.

Friends supporting causes and politicians and opinions that I personally find to be offensive, unbiblical, and/or foolish.

While I loved finding out who was getting married and who was having a baby and what life was like for the so-and-sos as oversea missionaries, one seriously negative post from a former friend was enough to send clouds over my otherwise lovely day.

As much as I got a kick out of finding out that the girl I went to 5th grade with was expecting identical twin boys, this fact made no significant difference to me. I still don't really talk with her ever... I wish her the best and am overjoyed at her blessings from the Lord... but if we're no longer keeping up, why do I need to know?

I've found much freedom in letting go of the feed, and stepping back from the hundreds of "friends" that I haven't spoken with in ages.

Instead I've chosen to invest my Facebook time in checking up on the people that I really do care about, intentionally catching up on how they are doing, and how I can be praying for them. Leaving a message or a wall post just to say "hello" and leave a few words of encouragement.


You see, time is short, and the cost of the Newsfeed was just a bit too pricy for me. I don't want to be a slave to Facebook (or Twitter, or blog reading/writing, etc.)- I want it to serve me. When those roles are reversed, I have a problem.

What personal boundaries have you found helpful with regards to Social Media? How do you maximize its positive potential, and limit its negative potential in your life?

A Proposed Plan for Studying Scripture

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One of my goals for the year is to start actually studying Scripture, not simply reading it. Consequently, one of my last posted "weekly goals" was to make a plan of attack for said study (yes, I know I haven't posted weekly goals in a couple of weeks... tomorrow, I promise, I will do so!).

Here's my ideal plan. In an ideal world, every morning I would take a deeper look at the passage in Mark from my Bible Reading Plan by:

• Reading it three times.
• Writing down every question that perplexes me about the passage.
• Reading one or two free online commentaries about the chapter (such as Matthew Henry, or John Calvin, perhaps).
• Finding the answers to my questions (as best as one possibly can), via the commentaries or other tools (online and off). 

Like I said, ideal. Each day I am also reading three other chapters from my Bible Reading Plan, and working at developing a stronger habit of focused prayer time. I'm also working on memorizing Scripture.

This is a lot to do every day... and I don't know if I can keep up with it all in my current season of life. 

Part of the problem could be that I've slid out of my habit of early rising. I'm down to pumping only once a day now (woohoo!!!!), but pumping times were what I used to work on these things. So now I have to figure out a new way to incorporate them into my every day routine.

Over the next few weeks I will be working on a new routine, and attempting to cement these Bible study habits into it. We'll see how it goes and if it is feasible. So far in the past two weeks I've done it maybe twice :).

What methods and tools have you found most helpful in personal Bible Study? And how do you squeeze time for study into your daily routine? I'd love to hear!

A List of Scriptures for Memorization

In the back of our Catechism, there is a list of "Scripture Passages for Learning By Heart." My husband thought that it would be a good list to work our way through as we memorize Scripture. I mentioned it in my Goals for 2012.

That being said, it is quite a long list! It might take me three years... or I might end up taking a different approach before I get any where close to finishing it. The point is that I am systematically working through something! No matter how far we get, any Scripture memorized is valuable and beneficial.

I'm not sure that I will memorize it all in order. Right now I am about half way through the list of Psalms. I might start skipping around the list just to provide some variety for myself in the types of passages I am meditating on.

For your benefit, if you want to memorize Scripture but don't know where to start, here is our list:

Exodus 20:1-17 (The ten commandments)
Psalm 1, 16, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 51, 84, 90, 92, 95, 100, 103, 115, 116, 130, 139, 145.
Proverbs 3:1-20; 6:6-11; 10;11; 20.
Ecclesiastes 12
Isaiah 40; 53; 55.
Matthew 5:3-16; 6; 7; 25; 28:18-20.
Mark 14:22-25, 32-42.
Luke 15:11-32; 16:19-31; 18:1-14; 24:13-35.
John 1:1-18; 14:1-15; 20:1-23.
Acts 17:22-31; 20:17-38.
Romans 5:1-11; 8:28-39; 12.
1 Corinthians 13; 15.
2 Corinthians 5.
Ephesians 3:14-21; 6:10-20.
Colossians 3:1-4; 4:2-6.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Titus 2:11-14.
Hebrews 4:14-16; 11:1-12:3.
1 John 1:5-2:6; 3:13-24; 4.
Revelation 1:9-20; 7:9-17; 20:11-15; 21; 22.

Okay, phew! Make that 8 years...

Do you have a list of verses you are working your way through memorizing? Or do you take more of a random approach? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

It's Never Too Late to Start (Goals for 2012)

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Perhaps you recall that in January I set a goal of reading six books a month. I struggled and staggered underneath the weight of the goal, only to collapse in March or April and give up.

 I wasn't going to set a number of books to read, I was just going to read as much as possible, and try to be intentional about it instead of just wasting free time.

The number of books I was reading each month after that basically nose dived.

There is nothing wrong with changing a goal that you find to be unattainable or unrealistic. But I'm figuring out that if I change it, I need to keep it specific. I can always readjust or change it if it is still unmanageable. But I need to make it specific!

I've always been challenged and inspired by Crystal at Money Saving Mom. She sets great goals annually, monthly, and weekly. She posts updates each week on how she is doing to enlist the accountability of her readers. Nothing makes you stick to a goal like posting it for the world to see!

This week I was further inspired by Sarah Mae, who (also inspired by Crystal) has made goals for 2012 just recently, even though the year is half way over (can you believe the year is half way over?!?!?). 

I am one of those weirdo perfectionists who wants to start fresh in January. Start a year long Bible Reading plan in the summer? I can't do it. Something in me just bristles at unusual starts.

Yet late is better than never.

Thank you, Sarah Mae, for reminding me of that, and for courageously posting your "goals for 2012" in July.

I've been striving each week to follow through on my daily routines, yet I feel that I need more specific, measurable, and attainable goals that will get me moving towards my bigger picture each week.

My Goals for the last half of 2012:

Personal

• Finish reading through the Bible in a year with McCheyene's Plan .
• Read four books each month
• Never read my Facebook Newsfeed again (it's been three weeks, and I am seriously loving it!)
• Spend 30 minutes daily in prayer
• Continue to memorize Scriptures from the recommended list in the back of the Catechism (I'll post the list next week)
• Start studying Scripture, not just reading it
• Exercise 5 mornings a week, whether it is taking a walk with S in the stroller, or doing a yoga or pilates DVD

Marriage

• Really, faithfully pray for Niall daily
• Work on gentle, kind, encouraging, and supportive speech (my biggest struggle)
• Find one sweet thing to do special each week (a massage, special dinner, love note, etc.)
• Dress nicely for him, specifically work on presenting myself to please his tastes   

Parenting

• Read to S every day
• Have intentional and focused playtime daily, even if only for 15 minutes
• Pray intentionally and faithfully for her, daily

Home

• Spend 15 minutes each week day organizing/purging
• Spend 15 minutes each week day cleaning
• Cook one new meal each week (I've got to get out of my current kitchen rut!) 
• Do one new "domestic" project every month
  

Blog

• Post every day, Monday-Saturday
• Get a more professional look and layout (we're thinking of switching to Wordpress, and purchasing the Genesis Framework... thoughts on that anyone?)
• Continue going through Jonathan Edwards' 70 Resolutions, one week and Resolution at a time
• Get up early on Saturdays (before Niall and S) to write, uninterrupted 

Each week I'll be posting breakdowns of each goal, my bite-size pieces, one 7 day chunk at a time. I will also report my progress from the previous week. 

Do you have goals for 2012? How have they been going so far this year? 

Emptied Time Is Quickly Filled

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Today, it has been two weeks. Two weeks since I said farewell to wasting my time endlessly scrolling down my Facebook Newsfeed.

I have only been on to check notices and messages. The only status updates I've read (for two weeks!) have been those that pop up on the screen when I sign in.

My number one observation has been that the time I used to spend wasting on Facebook has quickly been filled with other time wasters.

Like listening to novels I've already read, for sheer entertainment. I listen to them while I'm working on other stuff- so that the house isn't too quiet, my mind is kept occupied, and at the same time I won't miss anything if the baby or whatever job I'm working on gets too loud.

It's not a bad way to pass the time ironing or doing dishes, but when it crowds over into the time that I should be investing in good, not-yet explored books I mean to be reading, it has become a problem.

With self-control, I need to guard the time I've allotted for educating myself and nourishing my mind.

It's not enough to say "no" to one thing. We must say "yes" to what we are replacing it with. Or lots of other "yeses" will quickly step in.

Time will fill. I must be intentional with how I am filling it. 

I'm reminded of the Biblical Principal of "putting off" and "putting on." When Scripture instructs us to put off one sin, we are told to replace it and "put on" something good. For example, "put off" stealing, and "put on" honest hard work so that you can give to others (Ephesians 4:28).

It's not enough to declare what I won't be doing. I need to declare the positive action- what I will be doing!

So not only will I not be reading Facebook Newsfeeds, I will be reading good books!

Do you seek to spend your time intentionally? What are your priorities in spending it well? What things do you need to cut out, and what will you replace them with?

Reflections and Resolutions

Yesterday my daughter napped for TWO CONSECUTIVE HOURS (which has never happened before...can you tell I'm excited???), so I sat down and had a quiet time of reflection.

First, I read Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions, slowly, savoring them.

Then I took out a pen and paper *gulp* and started making lists (I love lists, don't you?).

List number one was besetting sins I see in my life. I came up with 17... what is scary to me is the ones that I didn't think of. The Lord only knows how sinful we really are ( though my husband might be a good one to ask. I'm sure he could think of a few I've missed).

The second list was "Culprits in Feeding My Flesh"- e.g; manifestations of my besetting sins, or things that help to sustain them. For example, one of my besetting sins is time wasting. One big way I waste time is browsing the internet without intention or purpose (can we say Facebook Newsfeed especially?!?!). This went on my "Culprits" list.

Finally, I flipped the paper over and wrote out some resolutions. Here are a few of them:

• To not stare at screens all day. To look people (especially Niall and S) in the face while in their presence. 
• To NEVER AGAIN read my Facebook Newsfeed (drastic? perhaps, but I have a drastic issue here).
• To only go online with a detailed plan, check list, and time limit.
• To identify when I'm in the mood for wasting time or needlessly vegetating, and to instantly choose something worthwhile to do and take a purposeful course of action.
• To take rest and relaxation when needed intentionally, with a time limit and plan.

Most of these resolutions have to do with my time wasting, internet and entertainment addictions, and laziness.

While specific resolutions like this can be good for identifying particular areas of struggle, when comparing my resolutions to the great Jonathan Edwards, I noticed some glaring differences.

His resolutions centered on a desire to glorify God, and dealt directly with his heart and mind, his inner man as well as the outer. 

All of his resolutions are good, things that any committed and true Christian ought to be willing to adopt. They focus on obeying God, loving God and others, doing ones duty, and not wasting even a moment of time.

As I read them, I realized that my own heart was hesitant to adopt such radical life guidelines. Why is that?

Maybe its that I realize how hard they are and how sinful I am, how impossible it is to accomplish them on my own (a realization Edwards himself was fully aware of, at the top of his resolutions is a humble acknowledgement of his own inability, and a pleading request that the Lord enable him to fulfill them only as they would honor Him).

Maybe I am intimidated. Maybe I am lazy. Maybe I just want to be a good wife and mom because it makes my life happier and easier, or pleases others around me. I think that all of these things factor into it.

What it really comes down to, however, ultimately is this: , I don't really love God as I ought to, and I would much rather do things my own way than live a life of bond slave obedience.

There. I said it. I love myself more than I love God. This is the heart of idolatry. This is my heart.

Father, forgive me. 

In an effort to mortify my flesh (which again, can only be accomplished by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit), I am going to do the very thing which I'd rather not.

I'm going to be reading Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions once a week, and picking them apart, one resolution and one week at a time.

Do I think that Edwards' words are of ultimate significance and importance? Only so far as the infallible and unfailing Word of God is communicated therein. Obviously, Scripture is of far exceeding value, and the ultimate literature to be studied for the rest of my life. I get that.

But there is very much gospel grace living in his words. This man was a biblical, godly man, who really nailed a lot of big Christian life issues in the head.

Starting Monday, I will be beginning with Resolution #1, and sharing my observations and thoughts here on the blog.

Join me? It will be 70 hard weeks (Lord willing!) of mortifying our flesh and striving to live lives of sacrificial obedience to God.

It won't be easy. But by God's grace I hope that it will be beneficial, even life changing- for His glory.

*P.S- I have also come to a Pumping Resolution (for now at least). I'm going to start slowly weaning, and see how it goes. So far I've cut down to five pumps a day, and already I'm noticing a dip in supply, which is emotionally difficult in ways I did not expect. If I can deal with my emotional self :), I hope to cut one daily pump out per week, which should stretch my weaning out to S's first birthday.*

Linked With: Finer Things Friday and Weekend Whatever.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards and Becoming the Woman I Want to Be

Lately I've been feeling very introspective. Stress (over pumping, as I mentioned yesterday, and the busyness of life, among other things) has made me stop and examine myself.

 *Side note: When you are stressed out, it is a red flag and warning sign. Pay attention to it! Stop what you are doing, and ask yourself 1)WHY you feel stressed out, 2) WHAT you ought to do about it. Make a point of seeking the Lord in prayer right then and there, and refocusing your eyes upon Him, getting back into fellowship and communion with Him. I've found that when I'm stressed, I am anxious, and not trusting Him or walking with Him.*

I've been taking a deeper look at my life and what I am really accomplishing with it.

What I'm finding is that I have grand ideas about the kind of Christian, wife, and mother I want to be. But I am not living like that woman right now. Subconsciously I've tucked her away into the future, and haven't given much heed to becoming her right now. 

I am never going to be that woman in the future if I don't start heading in her direction today.

Have you ever read Jonathan Edwards' 70 Resolutions? If not, please take a few minutes and do so! You will be challenged.

When he was only 19, Jonathan Edwards sat down and make some conscientious, thoughtful decisions about how he wanted to live life (in light of God and His goodness), and the man he wanted to become. He wrote these things down on paper in the form of 70 statements, and made a point of reviewing and rereading them weekly for the rest of his life.

Jonathan Edwards went on the become a great and godly Pastor, highly influential in America's Great Awakening of spiritual revival. Today he is still known as the most brilliant theologian in American history, and is respected by all (even those who reject Christianity) in academia for his intellect and accomplishments.

He and his wife Sarah (another great lady, by the way!) went on to have 11 children, and their descendants have been some of the most prominent and outstanding American citizens in the history of our country. His legacy did not die with him.

What does this have to do with my week of introspection?  Well, Jonathan Edwards has challenged me to form my own list of resolutions. Not the New Year kind that fade and are quickly forgotten, but the kind that become an integral part of my daily life, that I review weekly, that help to shape the woman I long to become.

I'm taking time (while my daughter naps) to think and pray about these things, and to put them to paper. When I've cemented them a bit more clearly, I will happily share them with you.

What guidelines are you living by? Do you know what kind of woman you'd like to be 5, 10, even 20 years down the road? How are these desires shaping your life today?

Linked with: Beautiful Thursdays, and Hearts for Home.

My Home is Buried Under Piles {Of Laundry, Dishes, Clutter}

After two fun-filled weeks with my in-laws, this is what I am facing today:

They've been gone since Monday, and every day I've thought "TODAY will be the day that I get my house back in order." Yet every day there have been errands to run, people to see, places to go... and at the end of the day I'm still staring at the same discouraging old pile of dishes. And laundry. And clutter. 

These piles can really get a girl down. But today I am no longer making excuses, or putting things off, or hiding under my covers...

I'm going to take womanly dominion and tackle it, one piece at a time. Because each little step I take is one step closer....

Closer to the finish line of an orderly domain. And an orderly domain brings peace to my heart (and my husband's too).

Each little step of progress leaves me with a wholesome feeling of satisfaction, the knowledge that victory is drawing nigh. I can almost taste it!

Today I'll be rolling up my sleeves, turning up Pandora, and taking my home by storm. No more living by feelings, its time to live by faith!

(After pictures to come! Knowing that I have to post them will be extra motivation to just GET IT DONE!)

How long does it take you to get back in your groove after company? What do you do to inspire yourself when you feel weighed down under a messy home? 

Linked with: Heart for Home, Proverbs 31 Thursday, and Passionate and Creative Homemaking.

My Scripture Memory Program Part 6 (Conclusive Summary)

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My one fear about this series of posts is that you will write it off as too complicated. After all, a Scripture Memory program that requires SIX posts to explain it must be confusing, right?

Wrong! My goal in spreading this out so much was to bring clarity to each aspect of the system, explaining it with detail in order to eliminate confusion. I hope that it makes sense!

More importantly, I hope that whether you adopt this system or not, you will come to see Scripture memorization as important, and integrate it into your daily life (in whatever form works best for you).

Just to tie our ends up neatly, here is a summary of this system:

Learn the verse- It takes 5 days to learn a verse. Day 1, you read the verse out loud 25 times. Day 2, 20 times. Day 3, 15 times. Day 4, 10 times. And finally, day 5, 5 times. You should have it pretty well down by day 5!

Review it daily- After you've learned it, for 30 days review the verse by just reading or saying it out loud once.

Review it weekly- Now, for the next 7 weeks, review the verse by reading/saying it out loud once.

Review it monthly- Finally, for the rest of your life, once a month you will review the verse by reading/saying it out loud once on whichever day you've selected.

If you've missed the other posts and this seems to simplistic, go ahead back and read the rest of the series for further details.

Part 1, Introduction
Part 2, The WHY
Part 3, Learning
Part 4, Daily Review
Part 5, Weekly and Monthly Review

This system is great because:
1. It starts small and grows over time, so you can work your way into it.
2. You can take breaks for more strenuous seasons of life and always pick up where you left off.
3. You can multitask while memorizing (fold laundry, cook, nurse, etc.)
4. It engages three senses- your eyes, ears and voice. This really helps to cement things!

May the Lord bless you as you strive to better know Him through His Word!

My Scripture Memory Program Part 5 (Weekly and Monthly Review)

Photo Credit

Missed the previous posts? Read them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

You've memorized your verse, and have completed an entire month of reviewing it daily. To prevent it from growing dusty in the neglected corners of your brain, you will need to review it weekly. Time to pull out some more envelopes.

Seven, to be exact. Label your envelopes with the days of the week, Sunday-Saturday. Place your verse card (that you have already memorized and reviewed for thirty days) in one of the seven envelopes. It doesn't matter which one, personally, I started with Sunday, just to keep things in order so that I wouldn't get confused.

Say you put the card in your Sunday envelope. Every Sunday for the next 7 weeks, you will pull the card out of your Sunday envelope and review it once by saying it out loud. I keep track of what week I am on by again, making penciled tally marks. Because even before having a baby my brain was incapable of keeping track on it's own :).

6 tallies on this one, only one more week of review to go!

As you memorize more and more verses, you will stick them in your other day of the week envelopes. It is a nice feeling to watch them slowly fill with life-giving Words you've stored up in your heart.

After the seven weeks of once-a-week review, you are going to need a lot more envelopes. Because now we are talking about monthly review- the way that you will keep these verses in your mind and in front of your eyes for the rest of your life (Lord willing!).

Count out 28 envelopes, and mark them numerically from 1-28, for each day of the shortest month. This way you'll get through all of your verses every month, even in February. The months that have more days (which is 11) gives you room to catch up if you miss a day or two here and there.

Apparently I took this picture around the 18th, because that is where I happened to be in my stack.

Now EVERY month for the rest of your life, you can quickly review previously memorized Scriptures by quickly reading or saying them out loud once. It will take a whole 30 seconds (more or less depending on the length of the passage), but the dividends you will reap in keeping it fresh are manifold.

Ta Da! Here it is, my magical Scripture Memory system. Guaranteed to get the Word in your head and to keep it there. Now comes the trickier part of applying these verses to your life and using them in the daily battle against sin.

Does it seem overwhelming? Please, do not think so! It is quite simple in practice. You can go as slowly as you'd like. It took me at least a year to fill all of my day of the month envelopes with verses to review. Now (three years in) I've got two verses in each envelope up to Day 20.

I've taken breaks in busier seasons (such as when pregnant and working, when all I wanted was extra sleep in the morning!), but my envelopes and cards are always waiting for me, ready to be picked up wherever I left off.

Any questions? Tomorrow I'll be finishing this series up with a quick, comprehensive review. All of the instructions in one place.

My Scripture Memory Program Part 4 (Daily Review)

Photo Credit

If you've missed the previous posts in our Scripture Memory series, you can find them here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 

You've chosen your verse(s), and have it memorized. Now you are going to need a new envelope to transfer it into. Pull out a second envelope and label it "Daily Review."

Every day for the next thirty days, you are going to review this verse by saying it OUT LOUD once. Only once, no big deal. When you are done reviewing it once each day, mark a tally in pencil on the top of the card.

Again, you don't have to mark these things in pencil, but it will help to keep you on track when you miss days, as is bound to happen.

When you've reached thirty tally marks at the top of your card, erase them. Tomorrow we'll discuss what happens next, with weekly review.

The verses I am currently reviewing daily.

My Scripture Memory Program Part 3 (Learning)

Photo by Ryk Neethling

All right, finally! Here we are, ready to learn the first step of the Scripture memory program I've found to be so helpful: the initial learning of the verse.

Necessary Supplies:

• Index cards
• A box of small envelopes (that the index cards can fit into)
• Your Bible
• A Pen
• A Pencil

First, you'll need to select a verse or passage to memorize. If you are just starting out and are unfamiliar with the Scriptures, here are a few basic verses good to memorize to get you started: John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:28, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Psalm 119:105, just to name a few. Older believers- what verses would you add to this list? Please share in the comments!

If you're more familiar with your Bible, I recommend selecting verses that strike you in your daily reading, or finding a verse that addresses a struggle you are having with a particular sin or trial.

I have been memorizing a list of verses in the back of our catechism booklet, and my husband has been memorizing the Scriptures used in Matthew Henry's book, A Way To Pray (an excellent resource, by the way!).

 Mark one envelope with the word "Learning."

Copy your selected verse from your Bible onto an index card using your pen.Then take your pencil, and next to the verse write the numbers 25,20,15,10 and 5.

I apologize for the small writing, it's a little hard to see, but here are my cards for Psalm 25, which is what I am currently working on.

 It will take you five days to have the verse memorized. On day one, you are going to read the verse OUT LOUD (this is the key- you are engaging your eyes, mouth, and ears) 25 times. Then, using your pencil, cross off the number 25 on your card.

The next day you will say the verse out loud 20 times, and again, will cross off the number 20 on your card. Day three, you will say it 15 times, day four, 10 times, and day five, only 5 times (crossing the number off each day as you complete it).

You don't have to mark these things with a pencil, but I do just to help me remember where I am it in the process. This is especially helpful if you miss a day (which does happen to me, more or less depending on the season of life which I'm in). Just pick up where you left off!

When you've crossed off all five days worth of numbers, erase them. Now you should have the verse pretty well memorized. In order to ensure that it stays that way, tomorrow we will be taking a look at the daily review process... :)

Does everything make sense so far? Please let me know if something doesn't, and feel free to ask questions in the comments!

My Scripture Memory Program Part 2 (The WHY)

Photo by Ryk Neethling

Yesterday I shared how the Lord used a godly older woman in my life to encourage me in the spiritual discipline of Scripture memorization. Today I wanted to show you from God's Word WHY we are to be memorizing.

It is easy to create a list of things we ought to be doing, and to go through the motions of doing them with little passion or zeal. When we understand the WHY behind something, all of a sudden the task is rich and ripe with purpose!

As I see it, here is a Scriptural case for memorizing Scripture:

• Psalm 1. The blessed man who isn't led astray by the wicked, but is prosperous in all that he does, meditates on God's Word DAY and NIGHT. It is difficult to meditate on something so constantly if you don't have it stored in your mind. I don't know about you, but practically speaking, I cannot walk around with a Bible in front of my face all day! Memorizing the Word is food for your holy meditations.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Scripture is literally "breathed out by God"- how precious! These words have come straight from the mouth of the Lord. They are profitable for teaching us, reproving us, correcting us, and training us how to be righteous, so that we can be competent and equipped for every good work. If people memorize beautiful poems, how much more should we, the people of God, memorize the life-giving words that come straight from our Father's mouth? 

• Deuteronomy 6:2. We are called to obey the Word of God. It is hard to obey what you do not know by heart.

• Deuteronomy 6:6-9. These words are to be on our hearts, we are to teach them diligently to our children in all the ins and outs of day-to-day life, we are to keep the Word of God always before us. Memorization is the BEST way to accomplish this! Which reminds me, are you helping your children to memorize God's Word?

• Psalm 119:9. We keep our way pure, and our feet from sin when we guard our hearts with the Word of God. 

• Psalm 119:11. This is probably the strongest proof text for Scripture memorization. "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Knowing the Word of God protects us in the daily battle against sin. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list or study, just the basic framework for a biblical understanding.Psalm 119 as a whole is a wonderful text for better understanding the benefits, delights, and results of knowing God's Word. Why not carve out some time today for sitting and reading it slowly and intentionally, savoring each verse? You will be encouraged friend!

All right all you Bible Scholars ;). What have I missed? Please share Scriptures that have encouraged you in your pursuit of Scripture memory!

My Scripture Memory Program Part 1 (An Introduction)

Photo by Ryk Neethling

 Three years ago my husband and I started attending the Reformed Baptist Church of Scranton, PA. Niall and I were so blessed by the clear preaching of God's Word, and the warm compassion of its members. People were truly concerned and interested in us, what the Lord was teaching us, how we were growing in grace.

I'll never forget the Sunday morning after service when Rose approached me. At 76 years old, she looks not a day over 60, and beams with exuberant joy in the God of her salvation. After a few minutes of chatting, the question came.

"So, Rachel, what Scriptures have you been memorizing lately?"

I stuttered and fumbled for a minute, and then admitted with embarrassment that I wasn't memorizing any.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, with earnest concern. "It is so important for us to be hiding His Word in our heart! It's one of our biggest tools in the war against the flesh."

She was absolutely right.

Growing up in Bible clubs, and then attending Bible college, I had memorized many verses because it was the thing to do. People encouraged me, prodded me, looked over my shoulder to make sure I was keeping in line...

And when I got out of that environment, I tried to shake away some of the legalism I'd been ensnared in. Tank top straps must be at least three fingers thick, I must spend at least thirty minutes reading my Bible each morning, if I wear jeans on Sunday I must not love God, etc.

I'm not disparaging the Bible clubs or schools entirely. God used these people and places in my life for very much good, and I am thankful for those lessons and experiences. However, I had to make my faith convictions my own, the result of personal study of the Scriptures, not an institution's rule book.

Unfortunately, Scripture memory was one of the good habits I'd shaken off with the not as good things. But reflecting on Rose's words as we drove home, I knew she was right and I'd been wrong. This was something that I needed to do if I was going to obey the Lord by meditating on His Word day and night.

I shared the conversation with my husband. He to, was convicted, and the Lord was pleased to use one gracious, godly older woman to change the course of our family's spiritual disciplines, and the entire tone in our home. Isn't He gracious?

We both decided that we needed to be memorizing the Word, but where to start? I am terrible with numbers, and memorizing references has always been a challenge. And though I'd memorized many verses over the course of the years, I'd forgotten the majority of them.

I was reminded of a scripture memory program someone had told me about while still in college. I contacted the man who had shared it with me initially and asked for the instructions. He shared them with me, and I've been memorizing verses with this system for the last three years.

What I love about this system? 1) It gets the verse stuck in your head with a simple formula that engages your eyes, ears and mind. 2) It incorporates life-long review of the verses you've already memorized so that you cannot forget them.

This week I'll be sharing how it works, one piece at a time. I'm not sure who came up with the system in the first place, so I am sorry that I cannot give proper credit to whom it is due. I'm sure that whoever it was would just be glad that people are using it as a tool to hide the Word of God in their hearts.

The system may seem a bit complicated at first, but I promise in practice it really isn't, once you get the hang of it. Bear with me! 

Coming Tomorrow: I'll be sharing the WHY of memorizing Scripture, as the case presents itself in the Word of God. Because before we do something, we need to understand WHY, right? Then later this week I'll be sharing the details of the system itself. Stay tuned! 

Have you committed yourself to regular Scripture memory? How has it positively impacted your spiritual life? If not, I encourage you to make the commitment now! There is no better time than the present.

Part 2- The Why
Part 3- Learning
Part 4- Daily Review
Part 5- Weekly and Monthly Review
Part 6- Conclusive Summary

The Deadliness of Self-Indulgence

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Today I'm sharing with you one of the verses in the Bible that I find to be the most convicting as a woman.

Paul is talking to Timothy about widows, which ones qualify to receive the church's charity and which ones don't. I am not a widow, yet I still find 1 Timothy 5:3-7 ripe with information relevant to myself.

"She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives." 1 Timothy 5:5,6

 And suddenly I see myself in the mirror, a dead woman walking. Oh how I love my indulgences. My 3rd cup of tea or coffee for the day. One chocolate chip cookie after breakfast.... or two... or three. Sitting on the couch reading a novel while my kitchen lays in ruins from the weekend.

I am self-indulgent. And according to God, I am dead even while I live. What does that mean? That I am useless? Without purpose? Dead in sin? I'm not too sure, but I know it isn't a good thing.

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Proverbs 25:28. Defenseless, open to temptation, no barriers or boundaries, not a chance of flourishing.

When I let down my "city walls" and indulge in one area, I am opening the door to indulgences in every area. This is the big lesson I took away from chapter 13 of Jerry Bridges Respectable Sins, entitled "Lack of Self-Control."

"Despite the scriptural teaching on self-control, I suspect this is one virtue that receives little conscious attention from most Christians. We have boundaries from our Christian culture that tend to restrain us from obvious sins, but within those boundaries we pretty much live as we please. We seldom say 'no' to our desires and emotions. A lack of self-control may well be one of our more 'respectable' sins. And because we tolerate this, we become more vulnerable to other 'respectable' sins." (Respectable Sins, page 110)

Bridges defines self-control as "a governance or prudent control of one's desires, cravings, impulses, emotions and passions. It is saying no when we should say no. It is moderation in legitimate desires and activities (like a cookie, cup of tea, or reading, say), and absolute restraint in a areas that are clearly sinful (gossip, for example)."

I really can't remember the last time I said no to a piece of chocolate. Or just five more minutes of reading (or ten, or fifteen, or twenty... you know how that goes). I eat what I want when I want, and I do what I want when I want. As a stay-at-home mom, I am my own boss. No one is looking over my shoulder, checking up on me.

I am selfish and self-indulgent. I consider my own desires to be more important than the desires of others, and allow my indulgences to inhibit my service of others. Like indulging myself in wasted time when I should be serving my family by cleaning my home or making dinner.

But I'm really not my own boss, am I? Scripture instructs me to "work heartily, as unto the Lord and not as unto men." And my precious Savior bids me to deny myself, to take up my cross daily and follow Him. The man who came not to be served, but to serve. Who did not do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.

So what will I choose today? Will I be self-indulgent, as good as dead in the eyes of the Lord? Or will I choose self-control, to deny myself and follow Him? To give life to my family by lovingly putting their interests before my own...

I don't have it all together. This is a battle I fight every day, almost every minute. Self-control "covers every area of life and requires an unceasing conflict with the passions of the flesh that wage war against our souls" (Bridges, 111).

To equip myself for the daily battle, I've memorized Galatians 6:7-10.

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." 

In the day to day struggle, I am trying to remind myself to sow unto the Spirit. Pick up the cookie, or turn away because I am not hungry? Pick it up, sow to your flesh. Turn away, sow to the Spirit. Sit on the couch for just five more minutes, or get up and start making dinner? Sit and sow to the flesh, or get up and sow to the Spirit.

 I am still frequently losing the battle and sowing to my flesh.

Lord, please give me the grace to sow to the Spirit more often...

How are you doing in the battle against indulging your flesh? What means of grace have you found to be the most helpful in your struggles with self-control?

Linked with Teach me Tuesdays @ Growing Home.

Goals for April

Just had to share this picture- what a silly face :)!

 I know, I'm a bit behind in developing and sharing my goals for this month.

Inspiration alluded me. Some of the goals I'd meant to pursue throughout the year (reading six books a month, organizing and purging one room a month) seemed less than effective and needed to be revised.

With reading six books a month, some of my reading was less than comprehensive and quality. And some books require longer digestion processes.

Organizing one room a month allotted more time than necessary to the task. Each room took about two weeks, and I spent the last two weeks of the month lazily lolligaging on other things.

I'm learning the importance of evaluating what it is I am trying to accomplish, and if my means of doing so are effective. It is a profitable lesson.

Our little Easter girl :)

 My goals for April?

1. Read books, not facebook updates. This was the real purpose behind my six books a month goal. Instead of wasting time mindlessly meandering the realm of social media, I wanted to invest my time in things of value. Reading good books. This goal no longer has a number. So I will keep reading, and finish as many books as I can, trying to waste less time online.

2. Read to my daughter every day. S is nine months old (yikes! how did that happen?), six months adjusted age (if she'd come on her due date, that's how old she'd be, and this is the age she's more on track with developmentally). Her value from reading time with mommy might not be huge yet, but I want to start making it a priority now. Having this on my "to do" list every day allows me to set aside the business of my housekeeping agenda, and take time to be still and focus on her. Because she's the reason I'm home in the first place.

3. Try to cement my ideal daily routines. Every day I want to strive to do the things I'm supposed to do, when I am supposed to do them. Sometimes life happens, and my little check list is impossible. But as much as it is in my power I want to work towards it! Because keeping up with these little things has a great pay off- a peaceful, orderly home and heart that blesses my husband, baby and me.

Me and the babe

So far these goals are going well. I'm reading Elie Wiesel's Night, Jerry Bridge's Respectable Sins, Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food, and Douglas Wilson's The Case for Classical Christian Education. All good. I'll be posting reviews as I finish them. Good soul food, good exercise for my mind.

I've read to S most days, but there have been a few when it didn't happen at all, and a few when it was pushed half-heartedly to the end of the day. I'll just keep working at it! And the same goes for my routines. Little by little, day by day, I am seeing growth and progress.

What are your goals for April? And how are they coming? Do share!