Memorization
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moreThe Habits that Make all the Others Possible
On Wednesday, January 12 th, 2011When I told her that a habit is something that you wear, I felt it, how I caught on something, snagged. For days, I unravel. Forget figuring out how to form a habit. I’m not there yet. First, what are the few habits worth wearing? You can only layer so much. We put away the Christmas tree, box up the Jesse Tree ornaments, leave the infant in a manger figuri...
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moreColossians in a Year: 2 Verses a Week {The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Bible Memorization} Habit #1 for a New Year
On Wednesday, January 05 th, 2011W e’re reading this book and when the little girl on page 54 puts on her “habit,” a little hand here pats my shoulder and asks, “What’s a habit?” and I tell her this: a habit is something that is worn. She flickers recognition, nods, turns back to the page, waits for me to read the next line, and I’m still sitting there realizing: A h...
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moreReturning to Your First LoveBible Memorization: Make a Commitment Booklet
On Wednesday, November 03 rd, 2010I do have one of her pans on the top shelf. And under its warped blue rubber lid you can see it right there on the underside in faded black marker, her name still. A memory on pyrex. And I’m not the only one who can still taste her cherry cheese cakes from that nine by thirteen dish. And Dad Voskamp gave me her spices just last month, when he moved out of the house, moved far...
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moreWhat the heart really knows: Why Memorize Scripture
On Wednesday, October 27 th, 2010All the heart really knows — is what it knows by heart. This may be why I know so little, why my heart pounds hard with a thundering panicking emptiness, why it’s time to return to memorizing, return to my first love and the slow turning over again of His words, words my heart need to learn by heart, words that feed my frame of dust animated by the breath of His Wo...
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When Life Heats Up
On Wednesday, November 18 th, 2009I‘ve got the squash peeled, gutted, chopped, November’s sun food, and water’s bubbling in grandma’s pressure cooker, the one with the decades old, hand-smoothed wooden handles, and I only need the weight, that thing-a-mo-bobber that will dance in the heat. And she not on the shelf by the stove where I tuck her away, or in the cutlery d...
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Why Memorize Scripture: The Habit of Repeating Words
On Wednesday, November 11 th, 2009He comes Friday for lunch, like always, and we meet in the doorway and, always, we wrap arms, me the daughter-in-law, him the worn father of the man whose ring I wear. He pats my back, and I brush his cheek. He’s seventy-five and he takes my seat and I bring the dish of squash, the plate of pork roast. Children wash hands. “I saw Pete today over at the home farm....
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moreWeekend Wanderings
On Saturday, March 28 th, 2009May your weekend wanderings keep you in His Light, dear friends…. Memverse — free, online tool to aid in memorization of Scripture Related: Convert verse to just initial letter of each word — then print it out and carry with you. Engages brain and has made memorization infinitely easier for this old brain...
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Table Talk
On Wednesday, March 11 th, 2009We lay ours aside, the words that normally fill our mouths, and sit around the table, slipping our forks under squash from our dirt, meat from our barns, and we offer each other words, living out words of the Psalmist. “God raised the sun today!” Hope grins, lighting. “I don’t hurt anywhere.” Levi looks up from his plate, fingers curled around fork. His scars curl too...
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moreGod Speaks the Language we Know
On Monday, February 16 th, 2009I’m blow drying this mop of hair, this hair with the cowlick, so heavy and thick and full, and the dryer howls and I’m rolling the wild strands all under, glancing at the quote beside the mirror, the one with a black and white picture of a long ago mama with her laced child on lap, words scrolled below in Edwardian script, “There is no higher height to which humanity can...
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moreLive Ready
On Wednesday, February 04 th, 20091 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones. Deuteronomy 32:39 “See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to...
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moreWhen all else blows away…
On Saturday, November 01 st, 2008October blew away. But I’ve held on to words, His: Him, the Word made flesh. Remember October as Mega Memory Month? Ann Kroeker’s offered an invitation to a memorization celebration. Not necessary to bring a salad or a dessert— just a little token from your month of memorizing. So, I’ve hemmed and hawwed (I’m shy!), but am gulping...
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moreExtreme Faith
On Monday, October 20 th, 2008The red sea of maples divides and we drive through on a part of dry gravel road, waves of color lapping in wind. A gust of autumn sprays brilliance. A splash of light carpets the way. We’re led through. “They say the colors are exceptionally vibrant this year.” He knows that’s what’s holding me rapt, silent. From the passenger seat...
