our current failures are open opportunities for God to do amazing things in and through us...
These past few weekends have been busy and expensive. We've been working on Annabeth's nursery, which we have made significant progress on, however, the more we work on her room, the more house project ideas we come up with. And so we've been putting a dent into our "to do list" along with our bank account. We've wanted to make some updates to our home over the past few years, and there's nothing like having a short timeline to get these things accomplished. We definitely should have spaced them out along the way, but better late than never, right?
We spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon cleaning out our office closet because I have a feeling that we're going to need the extra storage. The more I clean out, the more I want to become a minimalist. I'm not one to hoard things unnecessarily, but sometimes I keep items thinking we may have a use for them in the future. And some things I can't bring myself to throw away. Since I was a little girl, I have been saving cards that I've received for birthdays, special occasions, or just notes I've been given throughout the years. I've always cherished written words, and I love going back to read what my friends and family have written me. Those cards and notes and full of emotions - both sweet memories and tough ones. But I am thankful for each one. And as I sat in the floor doing my best to consolidate my collection. one of the notes caught my eye.
Brittnye,
Dad and I are so proud of you. You've done a super job in Bible Drill. The purpose of Bible Drill is to put God''s word in your heart, and some day these verses will hold a very special place in your heart and help you thought some very rough times.
Love you bunches and forever,
Mom
Bible Drill is how Southern Baptist kids learn the Bible. At least, that's how we learned it in my day. From fourth to sixth grade, we went to an hour class each week and we memorized verses as well as the books of the Bible. I'm really hoping this is still around because I think all children should learn to hide God's word in their hearts early on. Anyway, for three years, I worked really hard to learn all my verses, key passages, and speed of looking up things in the Bible so that when I went to competition, I would earn my very own Bible. Of course, I already had a Bible, but I wanted the honor of earning a Bible Drill Bible. This, however, meant that I could make not any mistakes during the drills. I had to be perfect, and as you well know, perfection is one thing I've always expected of myself.
Well, years one and two didn't quite work out. I did well, but not perfect, And so this was my last year and my last chance to win a Bible. I was primed and ready for this one. We stepped into the drill room, and I felt good about my chances of successfully completing all of the drills. I had the verses memorized and I knew exactly where all of the key passages were located. We made it through the verse reciting portion and now it was time to look up verses. The announcer would call out a random verse and then we had 10 seconds to find it. If we found it in 10 seconds, we would step forward past the line and the announcer would call on one person to read the verse out loud. This was not only a test for speed but also for honesty. She called out the verse, and as I begin flipping through my Bible, the pages were stuck together. My little fingers did their best to separate the pages so I would have the correct verse in case I was called on, but time ran out. As the timer buzzed, my heart sank and tears filled my eyes. That was it. That was my last chance and now I would never have a perfect Bible Drill record. I had failed. Missed it by one.
I came home that night to find that very note from my mom. At the time, I still felt like a total failure and was really disappointed in myself. All I could think about was how close I was to having a perfect score and getting that Bible. I figured that by doing so, that would really prove my knowledge of God's word. And how could they possibly be proud of me? I had failed. They were there to witness it. And yet they were still proud? But they understood something I would come to learn many years later. They knew that all my hard work was not lost nor was it in vain. And my mom totally called it. She knew God's word was seeding itself deep into my heart and would one day be the only thing I would be able to cling to as I would walk through rough seasons that I never would have anticipated as an 11 year old girl.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us your Word. Thank you that it is true and that it never changes. Thank you for not making us figure out this mess of life on our own. Thank you for speaking to me and reminding me of your Word right when I need it. That when worry or fear enters my mind, you're quick to fill my mind with the truth and comfort of scripture. Thank you for planting your Word in my heart, for watering it, and for helping me understand it so that I can do my best to live it out. Thank you that you've always got the answers. That I can open my Bible and find peace, find help, find exactly what I need. That I can find you. And thank you for working and moving in our present to prepare us for what the future holds. Because you know what we need, and you know what we will need. And even when it seems that we've failed, I thank you that you use those moments not only to teach us, but that you use them for greater things that you have in store. That a current failure to us is really just and open opportunity for you to do amazing things in and through us. And thank you for always being there no matter what. Whether it be a missed Bible verse, a broken heart, hurt feelings, rejection, life's disappointments, or hard knocks, thank you for being our ever present help in time of need.
"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. I have tried my best to find you - don't let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your principles. I have recited aloud all the laws you have given us. I rejoice in your decrees as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your principles and not forget your word." - Psalm 119:9- 16
We spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon cleaning out our office closet because I have a feeling that we're going to need the extra storage. The more I clean out, the more I want to become a minimalist. I'm not one to hoard things unnecessarily, but sometimes I keep items thinking we may have a use for them in the future. And some things I can't bring myself to throw away. Since I was a little girl, I have been saving cards that I've received for birthdays, special occasions, or just notes I've been given throughout the years. I've always cherished written words, and I love going back to read what my friends and family have written me. Those cards and notes and full of emotions - both sweet memories and tough ones. But I am thankful for each one. And as I sat in the floor doing my best to consolidate my collection. one of the notes caught my eye.
Brittnye,
Dad and I are so proud of you. You've done a super job in Bible Drill. The purpose of Bible Drill is to put God''s word in your heart, and some day these verses will hold a very special place in your heart and help you thought some very rough times.
Love you bunches and forever,
Mom
Bible Drill is how Southern Baptist kids learn the Bible. At least, that's how we learned it in my day. From fourth to sixth grade, we went to an hour class each week and we memorized verses as well as the books of the Bible. I'm really hoping this is still around because I think all children should learn to hide God's word in their hearts early on. Anyway, for three years, I worked really hard to learn all my verses, key passages, and speed of looking up things in the Bible so that when I went to competition, I would earn my very own Bible. Of course, I already had a Bible, but I wanted the honor of earning a Bible Drill Bible. This, however, meant that I could make not any mistakes during the drills. I had to be perfect, and as you well know, perfection is one thing I've always expected of myself.
Well, years one and two didn't quite work out. I did well, but not perfect, And so this was my last year and my last chance to win a Bible. I was primed and ready for this one. We stepped into the drill room, and I felt good about my chances of successfully completing all of the drills. I had the verses memorized and I knew exactly where all of the key passages were located. We made it through the verse reciting portion and now it was time to look up verses. The announcer would call out a random verse and then we had 10 seconds to find it. If we found it in 10 seconds, we would step forward past the line and the announcer would call on one person to read the verse out loud. This was not only a test for speed but also for honesty. She called out the verse, and as I begin flipping through my Bible, the pages were stuck together. My little fingers did their best to separate the pages so I would have the correct verse in case I was called on, but time ran out. As the timer buzzed, my heart sank and tears filled my eyes. That was it. That was my last chance and now I would never have a perfect Bible Drill record. I had failed. Missed it by one.
I came home that night to find that very note from my mom. At the time, I still felt like a total failure and was really disappointed in myself. All I could think about was how close I was to having a perfect score and getting that Bible. I figured that by doing so, that would really prove my knowledge of God's word. And how could they possibly be proud of me? I had failed. They were there to witness it. And yet they were still proud? But they understood something I would come to learn many years later. They knew that all my hard work was not lost nor was it in vain. And my mom totally called it. She knew God's word was seeding itself deep into my heart and would one day be the only thing I would be able to cling to as I would walk through rough seasons that I never would have anticipated as an 11 year old girl.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us your Word. Thank you that it is true and that it never changes. Thank you for not making us figure out this mess of life on our own. Thank you for speaking to me and reminding me of your Word right when I need it. That when worry or fear enters my mind, you're quick to fill my mind with the truth and comfort of scripture. Thank you for planting your Word in my heart, for watering it, and for helping me understand it so that I can do my best to live it out. Thank you that you've always got the answers. That I can open my Bible and find peace, find help, find exactly what I need. That I can find you. And thank you for working and moving in our present to prepare us for what the future holds. Because you know what we need, and you know what we will need. And even when it seems that we've failed, I thank you that you use those moments not only to teach us, but that you use them for greater things that you have in store. That a current failure to us is really just and open opportunity for you to do amazing things in and through us. And thank you for always being there no matter what. Whether it be a missed Bible verse, a broken heart, hurt feelings, rejection, life's disappointments, or hard knocks, thank you for being our ever present help in time of need.
"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. I have tried my best to find you - don't let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your principles. I have recited aloud all the laws you have given us. I rejoice in your decrees as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your principles and not forget your word." - Psalm 119:9- 16
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