REMEMBER HIM!

The phrase, "don't let me forget" is probably one of the phrases I use more often during the day than I should be allowed! I always say to my girls, "don't let me forget to_______________" . Usually it has to do with something I need from the grocery store. Do you know what I mean? Well, if you are on the upward side of 40, maybe you do!  I remember how easy it used to be to memorize things in school. I always used to have a pretty easy time remembering dates and formulas. I especially had an easy time if I put the words to music. Funny how I can remember all the words to a song from the 70s but can't remember where I put my car keys!  One thing that I sometimes have trouble remembering that I shouldn't is scripture! I have tried several different methods of scripture memory including, but not limited to, Index Cards, Sticky Notes, Spiral Index Notebooks, Journals, Spiral Rings-these can go on your key chain which makes them convenient and close by (if you can remember where you put your keys, that is ;-)). 

Lately, I feel like God wants me to remember Him. All of Him. Always. Period. He wants me to remember Him and remember His word. God's Word says, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." Deuteronomy 11:18 God wants us to fill our minds with thoughts of heaven (Colossians 3:2). But why? Why does God want us to memorize scripture?  There are many, many great benefits for memorizing scripture. Through remembering scripture I can:

Glorify Him

Reflect Him

Share Him

Love Him

Serve Him

Grow in relationship with Him

Pray scripture to Him

Be cleansed through Him

Learn instruction from Him

Instruct my children in Him

Fight temptation through Him

Encourage others through Him

Shepherd a small group through Him

Make it through a crisis with Him

Remember Him

I know there are many other whys for scripture memorization. What about the "how to" of memorization? I think starting small is a good way to begin. To start, try a verse a week. Possibly pick a topic or a word and then do the following:

Remember by Writing It

Remember by Reciting It

Remember by Repeating It

Remember by Reviewing It

Remember by committing yourself to His Word

  Ready, Set, Remember!! Let's get to it! Grab a cup of coffee, your Bible, a pen and some index cards and let's "Remember Him" together!!  If you have any secrets to scripture memorization, comment below and let me know! I would love to know what works for you!! I can't wait to go on this journey with you!!

Psalm 119:9, 11

Memorizing God's Word enables use of the Sword of the Spirit to overcome Satan and temptations...to have it readily available for witnessing or helping others with a "word in season."

Valentine Craft For Volunteer Appreciation...

How do you show appreciation to your #kidmin volunteers?

Since Valentine's Day is next Monday, I thought this would be a great opportunity to show our team how much they are appreciated. We have about 70 Small Group Leaders on our K-5  Team. They work hard, really, really hard, and I just want them to know how thankful I am for their hard work.

I came up with the slogan, "Thank You For Your Heart Work". I know that they are planting the seeds in the hearts of the kids and I know that they put their whole heart into the kids so I thought it was kind of a catchy slogan.

I decided to bake brownies and I found the cutest Wilton Heart  Combo Cutter at JoAnn's that was absolutely perfect for making heart shaped brownies.

 

The best part of the project was definitely trying to figure out how to present the brownies in a cute way.
I cut out a bunch of hearts from red card stock and wrote the slogan on each of them. I used CD Sleeves which I found at Target and put the hearts on the sleeves using small round circle stickies. Here is how it looked:

 


I actually decided to do cookies as well as brownies since I had so many to make. Here is the finished project:

Total cost for this project was less than 20.00!!!


I hope this makes their heart smile!! I can't wait to hear what you are doing for your volunteers or your family and friends for Valentine's Day! Post a comment below and let me know!!






Have a blessed day!

Running with Him,

Lori

A Twitter Challenge From Beth Moore

Today, Beth Moore posted a challenge to all of her followers on  Twitter . The challenge was this: See if you can go all day without criticizing anyone or complaining at all. Hmmm. I reluctantly took on the challenge and would like you to know that it isn't as easy as it sounds, especially if you, like me, are dealing with daily issues such as traffic (Atlanta)! I know you know what I mean! I was a ready and willing participant of the challenge because frankly, I do tend to complain way too much! 

Well, during the challenge today, God reminded me of our 252 Basics kids curriculum virtue for the month-Kindness and The Golden Rule-Do Unto others ( Luke 6:31). My prayer was that God would fill me with His spirit of kindness during the day and that I would treat others the way Jesus would treat them. Easy enough, huh? Well, it was easy the first few hours, but as the day grew longer and longer it became harder and harder! God had a lot to teach me during my challenge and boy did I have a lot to learn! Here are a few of the lessons I learned:

•  I learned to take my complaints to God! Too often I take my complaints to others. Maybe it is because I think they will join me in my complaining and in some way that will validate that I am right about the issue. 
• I  learned that there are some complaints that are truly legitimate complaints or issues which need to be solved and then there are others that are not legitimate! The others are more like whines. Again, I know you know what I mean! 
• Third, I learned that I want to bring value and encouragement to others, not stress and discouragement. 

Well, I made it almost the whole day without complaining but alas I lost the challenge towards the end of the day. I am going to try the challenge again tomorrow and then the next day and the next! Who knows, maybe it will become a habit! I think it would make God smile, don't you? 

So, are you up for a challenge? This week, I am challenging all of you to try going one day without criticizing or complaining. Maybe even throw in a random act of kindness for someone who may need it. It may be exactly what they need at the exact time! For some of you it will be an easy task. For others it may be a little more difficult. But I promise, like me, you will learn a lot. It may be a good teaching experience to share with your family. 

Let me know if you decide to take on the challenge. Seriously, comment below and let me know! Then come back and tell me how you did and what you learned! 

I am praying that you will all be filled with the kindness of Christ this week!

Running with Him,

Lori

In the Quiet of the Storm

In the Quiet of the Storm...

...He speaks. Can you hear him? 

If you listen carefully, you can hear His whispers. His gentle nudges. 

                        He stilled the storm to a whisper. Psalm 107:29

The Quiet Sound of Snow...

Being a southern girl, born and raised in Georgia and now living in Atlanta, I just can't help but feel like a kid again when we have a major snow and ice storm. I love a good snowstorm. They don't happen very often, but when they do, there is just something about the quietness of the snow falling that I just love. 

Have you ever just listened to the quiet sound of the snow? Especially late at night!

It is the most peaceful, quiet sound I have ever heard. There are no birds chirping, no squirrels running, no cars, no horns...just quiet!!

I started thinking today that maybe the reason I love the snow so much is because we are all home, spending quality time together as a family. No one has to go to work and school. No appointments, Only a feeling of contentment and quiet. So, maybe sending the snow storm is God's way of just slowing us down. It is His gift to us to just sit back and relax and enjoy the quiet and family. Rest and be still! 

Such are the storms of life...

I was thinking earlier this morning how a snowstorm is similar in so many ways to a life storm. Like a snowstorm, a life storm can immobilize you. It  can give you a feeling of being stuck and it may give you a feeling of anxiousness and  loss of control. But, maybe the life storms are God's way of telling you to just slow down and be still! And while you are still, seek Him, cry out to Him  and listen! Listen to Him in the quiet of the life storm!! 

What do you hear when you seek Him? When you really listen?? 

Do you hear His peace and quiet? If you really slow down, seek and  listen you will hear Him! 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13

Don't wait for a life storm to experience His quiet!

Are You a Runner?

ARE YOU A RUNNER?

RUN... a simple but very profound 3 letter word, and it is my "Theme Word" for 2011.

I have never had a "theme word" before, have you? I don't  like resolutions, so I decided to give this "yearly theme word"  a try.  I prayed about the word God wanted me to use this year. What word encompasses my life? What do I need to change? God then gave me the word RUN but I really needed confirmation from HIm on the word and boy did He ever confirm it!  When I was looking over the January 252 Basics curriculum for this Sunday, there it was, right in front of me..

RUN...One short syllable with so much meaning that can be used in a multitude of ways:

...run from or run to.  

...run for or run against.  

...run with or without

...run fast or slow. 

...run with God or with the world.

When I think back about the accomplishments in my life, as well as things that I have not completed but had every intention to, the main reason for not finishing them was simply because I quit running the race. It is just so much easier to quit the race then it is to keep on going to the end. Don't you agree? It takes determination, stamina, perseverance, endurance and a deep reliance on God to finish the race that He has called us to complete. 

God never said our race would be easy. He never meant for it to be easy. It takes faith to run the race. God's word tell us in Hebrews “Let us keep on running the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1, NIrV) But how? How are we supposed to keep running the race without giving up? Sometimes I stand on the mark and can't even get started. I hear  "ready, set, go"  and I am not always sure exactly where to go! What about you? Are you standing on the mark ,not knowing which direction to run, much less finish? Not knowing which step to take?

There are 5 simple steps I truly believe following will keep me on the road God has marked out for me. (1) Seek, (2) Listen, (3) Believe, (4) Obey.... Then RUN!!  Run to God, Run for God and Run with God."  The end result of running with God will be rewards. Not just any reward but heavenly rewards!  Eternal rewards! Well worth the run, wouldn't you agree? 

This year, I am going to run the race full steam but I am not going to do it alone. What about you? What race are you running right now? What about your kids? What kind of race are they running? How can you, as a parent, help them get to that finish line without giving up or getting stuck in the middle somewhere?

Are you ready to R-U-N? Running with God is the only way to finish the race!!

Running with Him,

Lori