How I Memorized Hebrews

I write this not to brag or to boast, but to inspire and to invite.  I want you to join me!

I was made RICH through the 2 + years I spent memorizing this book of the Bible, and I want anyone and everyone to join me, whether it is to memorize one verse or one book.

WHY=MOTIVATION

1.  Meditation through memorization

 “His delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season...”
Psalm 1
(A great starting point if you don’t know what to memorize first!)

What better way to meditate on God’s Word day and night than through memorizing it!?  I am not always staring at the pages of my Bible or looking at an app on my phone, but in places like stop lights, showers, sink dishes and school pick-up lines I am able to meditate as I mull over the words I am memorizing in my mind and mouth.

 2.  The voice of the Lord

“His voice goes out into all the earth...

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul...”
(Psalm 19, another great one to start with!)

The Psalmist says that the skies are declaring the glory of God, and He is speaking through creation, but the same Psalm goes on to exalt the Word of the Lord.  God speaks through His Word.  I want to hear his voice!

Through memorizing Hebrews, I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me and revive my soul in ways I would have never heard Him if I had not spent the time meditating and hiding it in my heart.  I could write a whole book on what He has spoken to me, and indeed I have even written songs!  But trust me, Hebrews is what sustained me and renewed me all these months of memorizing!

3. Become Rich!

“[The ordinances of the Lord] are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold...”
Psalm 19:10

It is hard for you to believe this if you actually have a lot of money.  Money can deceive us, or anything else for that matter.  But when I buried the treasure of Hebrews into my heart and mind, my faith was made strong and I became rich with promises and truths that will keep me alive and bring me reward! 

I want you to become rich too!  I found treasure that I can’t keep hidden!  I will not feel as much pleasure in memorizing Hebrews unless I share this with you.  Please join me!

HOW=PROCESS

1.  One verse at a time.  It is that basic.  People say to me, “Wow, you must have a good memory!  I could never do that!”  But marathon runners don’t just run 26.22 miles from a sedentary position; they work up to it and build endurance over time. 

2.  Through prayer and worship.  I pray often for Word hunger, and I ask my accountability partners to pray for me when I am reaching a plateau.  I have had many set-backs, and many breaks to memorizing!  I am not the perfect memorizer!  But I just pray again for God to pick me back up and keep going forward.  I could never do it without Him!  It’s a spiritual battle, just sharpening our swords for war!  (See Eph. 6!)

3.  Together with study.  I do not just want the words of Hebrews to go into my mind and rattle off my tongue; I want them to sink into my soul and become part of my life.  It sinks in so much more when you understand what you are memorizing.  (Example, Hebrews 7: “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most HIgh.”) 

I studied a commentary by Kent Hughes: Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul (Crossway 2015 Preaching the Word series).

I listened to almost every sermon by John Piper, which were full of insights for me! 

I mark my Bible with colors (this could be a whole separate post on my color codes and how I started doing this!). 

I encourage you to study along with memorizing as another way to dig deeper and meditate.  If this overwhelms you, because you are not used to deep theological study, then just go straight to memorizing!  Don’t let that hinder you; it just helps me!

4.  Using a system.  Look at the verse, say each phrase five times out loud.  Add the next phrase.  Say it five times.  Put the phrases together.  Write it on a sticky note and put on my mirror.  Then when I know I have it, I write in my memory review book using only the first letter of every word as a memory cue (writing out by phrase).

28 S C W S O T T A T S O M P;
A H W A A S T,
N T B S,
B T B S T T W A E W F H.

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time,
not to bear sin,
but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.”  Hebrews 9.28

I keep this book in my purse, by my bed, in my back pocket, and I can pull it out whenever I am wherever I am if I need to check my memory or review.  (Emphasize REVIEW!).

5.  Aware of Learning styles.  I am strong on visual, so I use colors, marking my Bible, and looking at the words and letters.  I am also audible, so I listen to recordings of Hebrews on my phone while I do other things, when my brain is too tired or lazy to come up with it myself.  Keep listening to the whole book, or chapter so you can get the big picture.  Kinesthetic, it helps to actually say the words so your tongue learns it and you can hear yourself saying it combining all learning styles.  What works for you?

WHO=ENCOURAGERS

1. Dr. Andrew Davis “An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture” is a little booklet for just $0.99 on the Kindle!  This man motivated and encouraged me to stick with it and to push myself farther.  He shows how he memorized the book of Matthew and how to review.

2.  Janet Pope “His Word in My Heart”  I found a lady who memorized 14 books and going!  She started groups, which I may someday do too!  She has so many helpful tidbits and tips.

If you are auditory or can listen while you fold laundry or do dishes, or don't want to pay money for the book, listen to these messages!

3.  John Piper and Desiring God.  Just type in “Memorizing Scripture” at www.desiringgod.org and you will find articles and sermons to inspire you far beyond what I have written!

4.  Jessica Becker---I want to be YOUR encourager!!  How can I encourage you to join me on this journey of meditation on God’s Word and communion with Him through Scripture memory?

Nebraska Heiress Turns Down $204 Million Jackpot

“The Powerball Jackpot is now $204 Million!” my older neighbor informed me as we chatted in the driveway.  The drawing for the potential winning ticket on Wednesday was newsworthy.  How kind of him to make sure I was not missing out!

“Oh, but you aren’t the gambling type,” he remembered, knowing we have talked together about the lottery and eternity many times.  What good is winning the lottery if you die?

“Oh, but I am rich!” I said, dead serious.  “I have an inheritance; I’m just waiting for that time.”

For a minute, my neighbor leaned in, “Wait, you have an inheritance?  Is that your grandparents? your parents?”  But then he caught truth, what seemed to him nonsense, “Oh-- that religious stuff you mean?”

The conversation launched into discussions of the Bible and faith, and even how men gambled for Christ’s clothing when he was crucified.  Yes, there is gambling even in the Bible. 

I brought up reason as a starting point to show how not believing the Bible is still a gamble.  Philosopher Blaise Pascal used his skepticism and reason to lay out what is known as the “Great Wager”. 

What you stake is finite and what you gain (or lose!) is infinite.

If you don’t believe God, and he doesn’t exist=you lose nothing
If you do believe God, and he doesn’t exist=you lose nothing
If you do believe God, and he does exist=you gain infinitely
If you don’t believe God, and he does exist=you lose infinitely

Reason alone can’t save your soul, but there is strong reason for our faith.  Even with a weak starting point like this, I feel it is worth staking my life and soul and eternity on the Truth of Jesus in the Bible.  If I don’t trust Him, I lose infinitely!

I have been meditating on the riches promised to me in the Bible so much that by faith my inheritance promised is as real to me as if written in my own grandparents’ will.  My response to my neighbor’s news about the Powerball that I am rich was not in jest but very much in earnest. 

The $204 million jackpot is pennies to me compared to the inheritance I am going to receive.  My hope to gain is not wishful but it is certain.

This is absolutely amazing!!  I am awake early with the birds because I could not even sleep thinking about this truth!

Listen to this prayer of Paul:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”  Ephesians 1.18

Riches!!  I am stunned to think that he has called me to receive an inheritance!  This is just incredible! 

I turn back a few verses and read “In him we were also chosen [NIV]...made heirs [NIV alternative rendering]...we have obtained an inheritance [ESV]...”
CATCH THIS:

“According to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”  Ephesians 1.11

Think “Last will and testament”...think of a will!  This is the plan of the King:  His will is written in ink, in blood, no less!  And it says that we who are in Christ have obtained an inheritance.

We are heirs of the Divine will!!

It’s all written in his will!  Think “New Testament”.

Oh!  I long for you to join me in celebrating these riches and putting your hope in Christ with me.  I cannot begin to detail all we receive, because we would end up quoting verse upon verse of the Bible! 

What I invite you to do is to receive this song I spent hours and days laboring to write, to put into melody and line the truth I have seen in the Word about the riches I am to inherit.  Nearly every single line of the song is a reference from Scripture, so for a delightful treat, look up the verses too!   

This can be your inheritance too if you have been adopted by new birth into the Royal family of the King!

Inheritance
original music and lyric by Jessica Becker
Listen On YouTube to Jessica singing

I’ve been given a glorious inheritance (Eph 1.18)
I’m an heir, according to the promise (Gal 3.29)
I’ve been called, chosen, predestined (Heb. 9.15, Eph. 1.4-5)
to become God’s own son (Gal 4.5-7)
A brother of the Holy One (Heb. 2.11-12 & 3.1; Ro. 8.29)

[Refrain A]
This mystery in Christ is just marvelous! (Eph. 3.6)
Unsearchable!--the riches of Christ (Eph. 3.8)
The truth of it makes me quite delirious (K. Hughes)
That by His blood he secured eternal life! (Heb. 9.12)

1. Long before time began (Eph. 1.4)
God wrote His will and plan (Eph. 1.11)
Eternal Son radiating Glory (Heb. 1.3)
Clothed Himself with humanity (Heb. 2.14 & 17)

2. Through Christ’s blood upon death
The Sovereign will took effect (Heb. 9.16-17)
A ransom slain, mediating for me:
His inheritance I receive (Heb. 9.15)

[Refrain A]

3. The dead alive?!  How can it be?!
Never before in history (Heb. 13.20; J. Piper)
The Executor working His will in me (Heb. 13.20-21)
The Spirit His Guarantee (Eph. 1.13-14; 2 Cor. 5.5)

[Refrain B]
The magnitude of Christ is Superior (Heb. 1.4; 3.3; 7.24-27; 8.6...)
Incredible--the greatness of Christ!
All other gods and men are inferior
I’ll worship Him for the rest of my life!

Christ’s been given a glorious inheritance (Eph. 1.18)
He’s appointed heir of all things (Heb. 1.2)
I’m adopted through Christ Jesus (Eph. 1.5)
And an heir, since a son (Gal. 4.7)
Rich in faith--to inherit the kingdom (James 2.5)


Fatal Lapse of Concentration

"The Moment" by Frank Crymble

What if you made a mistake for just one fraction of a second in your life which was so fatal that a statue was formed to immortalize that moment?

Or what if you had a goal you were trying to reach, and for just one moment you lost focus and compared yourself to another person instead, and that cost you your goal?

I would hate to make such a fatal error! 

Even worse, what if more than 35,000 people watched you live in that one moment, and through media it went viral?  We have seen many such moments!

My imagination was captured today when I learned about “the moment” in a famous race of the century, known as “the Miracle Mile.”

It was August 7, 1954, the historic day at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., when two men, who had both broken the four minute mile, would meet for the first time in one race.

It was one of the greatest mile-run-match-ups ever! 

I used to run track, and running is my favorite sport, so this story captured my interest for a number of reasons.

Most of us love to see amazing human feats in highlight videos or in dramatic shoulder-to-shoulder photo finishes.  I love an exciting and exhilarating moment in sports, especially in races on the track!

But I also love the metaphors of running and races that we find in the Bible for our faith.

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12.2

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4.7

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.”  1 Corinthians 9.24

It was during my study on Hebrews 12 when I learned from commentator Kent Hughes about this famous race, “The Miracle Mile.” 

“Roger Bannister and John Landy were the only two sub-four-minute milers in the world.  Bannister had been the first man ever to run a four-minute mile.  Both runners were in peak condition.
Bannister...strategized that he would relax during the third lap and save everything for his finishing drive.  But as they began the third lap, John Landy poured it on, stretching his already substantial lead.  Immediately Bannister adjusted his strategy, increasing his pace and gaining on Landy.  The lead was cut in half, and at the bell for the final lap they were even.

Landy began running even faster, and Bannister followed suit.  He felt he was going to lose if Landy did not slow down. 

Then came the famous moment (replayed thousands of times in print and celluloid) as at the last stride before the home stretch the crowds roared.

Landy could not hear Bannister’s footfall and thus compulsively looked back--a fatal lapse of concentration.  Bannister launched his attack, and Landy did not see him until he lost the lead.  Bannister won the “miracle mile” that day by five yards.”

Kent goes on to make this connection:

“Landy’s lapse serves as a modern visualization of what the writer of Hebrews implicitly warned against in his earlier charge to ‘run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:1,2 NASB). 

Those who look away from Christ--the end goal of our race--will never finish well.  And this was exactly what was happening to some treading the stormy waters mounting around the early church.  They had begun to take their eyes off Christ and to fix them instead on the hardships challenging them.”

As a result of suffering and struggles, “not a few were distracted.  Those increasingly longer looks away from Christ left some off-stride.  Others stumbled here and there, and tragically a few had quit altogether.”

My heart took a holy heed to the warning I saw captured in Landy’s left-shoulder look!

I must keep running!  I must keep my eyes on the goal, which is Christ!  I must not compare myself to others or get distracted or lose my focus!  Or worse than a statue could be made out of me, for more than forever.

Words Jesus once said ring in my spiritual ears:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9.62

Who does that remind me of?  I am a visual learner, so when I saw that someone had actually made a statue out of Landy’s lapse, I suddenly remembered another salty statue in Scripture:

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”  Genesis 19.26

Whereas for Landy, “A moment that took only a fraction of a second was frozen in time forever”, for Lot’s wife her salty slip-up at Sodom was cemented in Scripture forever.

Even Jesus reminded his disciples: “Remember Lot’s Wife!  Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”  Luke 17.32-33

Before fear turns us to fatalism or frantic striving, let us consider carefully two applications for the one metaphor of looking back.

We have two statues, and two spiritual realities.

 Lot’s wife, causes us to ask ourselves, “Am I really saved?”
 Landy causes us to ask ourselves, “Will I finish well?”

Some of my readers may not be saved, so this picture of looking back hopefully prods your soul on to seriously consider whether you love this life and the kingdom of this world or whether you would be willing to live instead for Jesus and his heavenly kingdom. 

Others of my readers have committed to living for Christ, but fear failing in faith.  I tend to see myself this way.  I take seriously the warnings from Hebrews, and I was so stunned to see that photo moment of Landy looking back.  Oh, how I do not want to be like that!

The good thing about Landy is that he did in fact finish the race, and he did in fact still get honored as an amazing athlete.  That part of the metaphor makes me believe that he is not a complete failure! 

But the challenge to my faith is to consider whether Landy might have won or tied Bannister if he had not broken concentration and looked back. 

In what ways do I get distracted from Christ? 

What in my life causes me to look away from the goal and take my eyes off Jesus?

What circumstances tempt me to stumble, sin or even think of quitting?

And what encouragement can I find to strengthen my faith and free me from fear of failure?

This is one of my favorite verses: “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.”  Hebrews 6.18-20 ESV

Oh!  What a balm to my soul!  To think that I don’t need to strive more or to fear more!  Yes, he wants me to take the warnings seriously, but then he assures me that it is not my efforts that will help me succeed, but my hoping in Christ that will hold me. 

“Hold fast!” it says.  “Our hope is an anchor for our soul!”

Jesus is our forerunner!  He went before us, and not only this, a hall of faith in Hebrews 11, a great cloud (crowd!) of witnesses, is now cheering like fanatic fans in the grandstands for us, that we will finish well with perseverance the race set before us! 

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!”

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3.12-14

Watch this 1 minute 43 second video to help you cement this metaphor in your memory.  I know I will not forget it.

Greater Worth Than Gold

“Hey, Kids!  We are going to see real gold!  They will even let us lift a 27 pound bar of pure gold!”
  
My four young children were as excited as I was to visit the Money Museum in Kansas City.  In all my years, I had not seen a bar of pure  gold, nor had I ever visited a Federal Reserve Bank. 
  
When I was a young girl I collected coins, and as I traveled around the world I also added foreign coins to my collection.  My kids love to look through my coin treasure box and to ask, “How much is this one worth?”  They love to learn about exchange rates, especially since I had given them their own Pesos from our years living in the Philippines. 
  
After all the anticipation, we finally passed security at the Money Museum.  The older boys were captivated by the display of the history coins lining the walls.  The younger two preferred to stick their heads in the large $100,000 bill and to design their own money on the touch screens for kids. 
  

Kids discover 40 million dollars!

We were amazed to actually get our hands on $40,000,000---real dollars!  Through secure glass, we watched the employees handling thousands of dollars and processing money through machines.  After watching robot carts transfer crates of thousands into vaults, my kids started looking for more.
  
“Where’s the gold?!” No, 40 million dollars was not enough for my curious kids.  They wanted to see and lift the most valuable form of money--pure gold.
  
We were a little disappointed that we couldn’t actually hold the gold in our bare hands! But being valued at $516,997, we could only look at it through the protected case.  We did get to take turns feeling the weight of the 27 pound gold bar by pulling down the lever on the side of the treasure box.  “Worth its weight in gold!” they say.  Now I know what they mean!
  
As I put my kids to bed, we chatted again about the gold.  I said, “You know, the Bible says God’s Word is more precious than gold...than much pure gold!  That means, even if you died and were buried in tons of gold bars, none of them could save you from sin.  But the Bible is worth more than gold because it holds the promises that lead you to Jesus, and only He can save our souls from death!  Do you believe that?”  My son nodded, yes.  We chatted about faith to see true riches, which are future, even though we had seen millions in the present.
  
I tucked the kids into bed and went to my room to open my own Bible.

“Hey,” I thought, “I should put that on Instagram!”

"Your Word is more precious than gold" Psalm 19

I got out my precious Bible and opened to that same passage in Psalm 19.  I started clicking on my phone and opening my layout app, then scrolling through my vacation pictures.  I got my post all ready and added the spiritual caption: “Your Word is more precious to me than gold, than much pure gold.” 
  
I clicked on my news feed to admire my post.  Yes, I liked the result.
  
I started scrolling.
  
“Hmmm....I wonder if I should check Facebook,” I thought, after flipping through Instagram.  I clicked on the Facebook app and started checking my notifications and responding to comments. 
  
I continued scrolling.
  
My attention was captured.  My mind was distracted.  I was getting hooked on finding more posts, more things to “like”, and more random articles to skim.
  
And then.
 
I was struck.  Suddenly I looked beyond the phone in my hand and saw the silent Bible laying open on my lap.
  
“More precious than gold, eh?  How about more precious than my iphone?” 
  

"More precious than gold, eh?"

Ohhh!  How could I say I was too tired to stay awake to read more of the Bible, yet I could waste an hour of mindless social media scrolling?!
  
Lord!  Why did I get so engaged in my iphone while Your Word sat silent?  Is Your Word more to be desired to me than my phone? 

“Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.”
Psalm 119.18
  
Lord, make your Word and Your promises more desirable to me than anything else!  Let me become engaged in your Word and stimulate me not just intellectually but stir me spiritually and warm me emotionally.  Uncover for me treasure in your Word worth more than gold.  Help me to see the value of it and to treasure You more when I meet you there.

“I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.”
Psalm 119.176

Lord Jesus, let me return to you today, my Good Shepherd.  I repent and confess my need for you.  Word Hunger comes from you, and only you can give me faith to see the great worth of this treasure.

“The law from your mouth
is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces
of silver and gold.”
Psalm 119.72

“I counsel you to buy from me
GOLD
refined in the fire,
so you can become rich.”--Jesus Christ
Revelation 3.18

Helpful articles that I am reflecting on as I pray for more wisdom and intentionality in 2017 on my phone use:
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Smartphone Usage
Facebook Obsession and the Anguish of Boredom
Smartphone Addiction and our Spiritual ADD