Spelling Champion---or God's Champion?

I recently heard about a spelling bee, held every year in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for contestants who are 50 years of age or older.  It piqued my interest since I was once a school spelling champion; and the fact that the first place prize is $5000 raised my eyebrows as well.  Hmmm…..I used to be fairly good at spelling, and who can’t use an extra few thousand dollars, I thought.  Maybe I should try out for this.

The current champion, a high school math and physics teacher from Tennessee, gave an interview that detailed his studying techniques. He compiled study lists of unfamiliar words from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary—8,400 words, in fact---and he reviews the words constantly.  He practices as he drives to and from school; he runs 3 miles a day, with word sheets in hand; and during the summer, he immerses himself in studying for the spelling bee up to 8 hours a day.  His daughter quizzes him, and when they get going, they can cover 400-500 words per hour.

Does that make your mind spin?  As I read those words, my initial reaction was this:  I would rather spend my time on words that make a difference, on words that speak life and hope and truth, on words that glorify God, on words that teach me about eternity, on words that have the power to transform lives.  I would rather memorize Scripture than find obscure words and practice their spelling. 

I would rather be God’s Champion, learning to know Him better day by day, than Spelling Bee Champion, with its accolades and monetary prize.  How about you?

Fellow Champions, let's see your verses!

Don't Lose Confidence--You Can Memorize!

Even though there are snowflakes in the air as I write, I am so glad to see April come because it holds the promise of spring after a long winter.

Just as April breathes promises of the earth warming and awakening to new life after a season of winter dormancy, so too the promises in the Word of God invite us to look into the future of today, tomorrow, and eternity.

I love finding those nuggets of truth that are for all of us who love and trust the Lord.  And I love committing them to memory because then they are with me wherever I go; whether I’m washing dishes at home or sitting in the emergency room of the hospital, whether it’s talking with a friend who’s going through hardships or counseling children with decisions to make, the Word is available and relevant and timely. 

Hebrews 10:35-36 tells us not to lose our confidence but to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what He has promised us.  So don’t lose confidence when it comes to memorizing Scriptures, but persevere—keep at it, even if it is difficult---because you are doing the will of God, the same God Who tells us over and over in the Scriptures that He sets great value on His Word and that we are to do the same.  He encourages us to hide his Word in our hearts, to meditate on it, to teach it to our children, to speak of it when we lie down and when we rise up. And we know that if He tells us to do something, He also gives us the ability to follow through—it is part of His faithfulness to us.

Here are 10 suggestions for Bible memorization from the pen of Robert J. Morgan, the author of 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart.  These hints are laid out in his book on pages 43 and 43.

            1) Resolve to memorize just one verse—only one. 

            2) Go over the verse daily, making it part of a routine.  For example, work at it while folding the laundry or exercising or while getting ready for bed.  If it’s part of another routine you’ve already established,  it’s more likely you’ll remember to work on your verse.

            3) Keep your memory verse in front of your eyes, ie. on the bathroom mirror, at the kitchen sink, by the computer, on the dashboard of your car, on whatever you are apt to look at regularly.  You can use post-it notes and applications to good effect here.

            4) Say it out loud and repeat, repeat, repeat!

            5) Put the verse to music and sing it (or rap it).

            6) Read the verse in context and study its meaning.  Write it out.

            7) Learn the reference as well.

            8) Review, review, review!

            9) Try to find some mental associations for either the verse or its reference. For example, if I were memorizing I Corinthians 2:16, I would associate the reference with my birthdate (2/16).

            10) Use your verse by praying it, preaching it, or quoting it for other people.

You can start today to apply any or all of these suggestions to your new verse for April 1.  Let’s see what you are memorizing!