Lisa Notes: To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

The very same grace that brings salvation also trains us to live lives that are pleasing to God.

All of God’s disciplinary processes are grounded in His grace—His unmerited and unconditional favor toward us.

We tend to equate discipline with rules and performance standards; God equates it with firm but loving care for our souls.
- JERRY BRIDGES, The Discipline of Grace

Dear Jenna,

You've been my memorizing buddy for so long. I wondered after you went to college if we would continue memorizing the same verses.

No. However, we both are still memorizing.

As I memorize with the believers at Do Not Depart, you’re now memorizing with a group of college friends. God provides.

Here’s what I want you to remember about memorizing:

It’s a discipline.
But it’s also a grace.

It’s something we do.
But it’s more what God does.

Learn the words; rehearse each verse; practice them over and over.

But as you do, stay dependent on grace not only for retention, but also for deep growth. Stay in tune with the direction the Spirit wants to take you with his thoughts.

So as you jump through James, I’ll plod through 1 Peter. (We’re still side-by-side, yes?)

Neither of us will be memorizing to make ourselves better. Not as a legalistic law to keep or a performance to uphold.

But both of us will be memorizing as a discipline of grace, thanking him for even the desire to do so.

As Paul said to the Philippians (scriptures we memorized together!) and then as Jerry Bridges says in The Discipline of Grace:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

Our spiritual growth is not left to our initiative, nor is it dependent upon our wisdom to know in which areas and in which direction we need to grow. Rather, it is God Himself who initiates and superintends our spiritual growth.

I’m glad we’re both continuing to be disciplined by God’s grace. May we learn his words well, use them generously, and thank him always for them.

I love you, sweet daughter,
Mom

P.S.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:4

...May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Peter 1:2

* * *

Do you have a favorite scripture you’ve memorized?
Please share in the comments.

Comments (38)

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roelliott 38p · 658 weeks ago

I love this...makes me think of Ann’s post yesterday...you and your daughter both under the same moon...together...sweet blessings.
My recent post My Hazardous Faith Story...When I Left All

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

So I need to go read Ann's post now . . . :-) (I'm so behind on reading blog posts so thanks for a push in the right direction.)

My recent post To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

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Lauren · 658 weeks ago

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ~Psalm 73:26

My recent post James 2:8

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Such a beautiful verse! That was actually one of the Fighter Verses that I memorized with Jenna, so it's very fitting here.
My recent post To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

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greenpeach06 25p · 658 weeks ago

This is beautiful, Lisa! And I love how you tie together our work with God's grace. So true. We must discipline ourselves to memorize, but He will make the words come alive for us. He works in us to do His good pleasure.
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1 reply · active 658 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

It's a total work of grace that I'm even able to memorize anything. ha. And yes, He makes the words come alive; love that. We are blessed.
My recent post To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

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emilytwierenga 46p · 658 weeks ago

well, this made me cry. i so long to spend time memorizing yet can barely make time just to read the bible in the morning. i love that you have this relationship with your daughter. i hope i can have this with my sons, one day. love you lisa.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

It's just not your season for this yet, Em. But it will come. You're living out the scripture with kisses and bathtimes and singing solos to the beautiful boys in your care by birth and by God. You continue to inspire me.
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Elizabeth · 658 weeks ago

What a rich inheritance you are passing on! Wonderful. Thank you for your kind comment on my post, "A Journey to Forgiveness". The story, I'm happy to say, has a wonderful ending. I'll post more each Wednesday.
My recent post A Journey of Forgiveness - Part One

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

I do feel blessed to share this memorization journey with both my daughters. It became part of our homeschooling curriculum early on, and I'm so thankful it stuck. God is good.

I'll look forward to hearing "the rest of the story" then next week on your blog!
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Dolly · 658 weeks ago

what a wonderful gift to share this with your daughter; you are inspiring me to be more intentional with our girl...Isa 41:10 is one of my favorites...blessings, Lisa, and thank you :)
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Copying and pasting Isaiah 41:10 here, because yes, it is a beautiful message of love and hope and courage for me, too:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Thanks for sharing this one, Dolly.

My recent post To my daughter . . . Memorizing grace

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nikolehahn 45p · 658 weeks ago

I don't even try memorizing. I retain scripture pretty good, but not in the way of being able to quote word for word or verse, but when I need it it comes to me and when I need to find it God provides the right key word search, and there it is...the verse that comes to mind. Maybe one day I'll learn to memorize. Meanwhile, I'm reading His Word and learning that daily discipline. Good for you for taking on such a difficult challenge.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Ironically, around 8 years ago I discovered that it's easier for me to memorize whole chapters than just individual verses, so that really propelled me to memorize more. Prior to that I learned individual verses, but they didn't always stick so well. ;-)

But the main thing is to have the Word in our heart anyway, which you're doing. He's alive and at work there!
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barbarah 65p · 658 weeks ago

This was such a helpful chapter. I easily identified with Bridges' experience of starting out with spiritual disciplines but then lapsing into thinking my standing with God and before others depended on my keeping up with those things. Yet a reliance on grace doesn't mean we toss the disciplines, but rather that we do them with the right motives relying on Him to work through them in our lives, doing them as pleasing to Him. I so appreciated the balance he brought to the topic.

This was a sweet note to your daughter. I wish I had continued to memorize with my sons. That's something we did when they were younger but as they got older and had more to memorize for school and such, they had their own things to memorize and I kind of dropped off. :-) I'm amazed at how much harder it is to get things to "stick" now. But I am trusting that the process of getting God's Word into my mind is beneficial even if I can't always requote it without peeking.
My recent post Disciplined by Grace

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

I appreciate the balance he brings too. I've noticed that in several of his books. He's wise to point out that GOD enables US to work. It's all grace from God, but it's still a partnership in which we're not meant to be passive.
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Susan · 658 weeks ago

I am new to your blog today and I feel like I shared in this letter with your daughter. Thank you for including an audience in this beautiful example of mothering. For a moment I was blessed as if the mother I never had was talking straight to me and encouraging me in the pursuit of God. I look forward to reading more...

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

I'm so glad you stopped in and shared in this letter with me. While we don't all share the same experiences growing up, we can all still experience God's mercy in other ways to help fill in the empty places we have leftover from childhood. May the Lord bless you in many ways now for the lack of the mother you missed as a child...
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Katie · 658 weeks ago

Oh I love this relationship you have with your daughter. I use to memorize and memorize. I am in a season now that I just soak in reading the Word. However it is done, it is grace provided. Thank you Lisa for all you do and how you inspire others to lean on grace. (Well at least you inspire me).
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Yes, Katie, there are many ways to receive his grace. Memorizing is only one among many. I go through seasons with it as well. I'm glad you are soaking in the readings. How valuable that is. We can draw such strength from Jesus there.

Thanks for your encouraging words. Love you!
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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bicroce 44p · 658 weeks ago

so thankful for you, Lisa, for you are the one who stirred me to start memorizing His Word again and I am so blessed through it. THanks for the fruit of your labor, friend.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

I'm so glad that you are memorizing with me, Barbara! You're such an encourager.
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fsamons 60p · 658 weeks ago

What a wonderful gift and encouragement to your daughter... How blessed both of you are through our Father. Nice job, Mom...
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Thanks, Floyd. We are both blessed indeed. Even though she was blessed with a much superior memory. ha. It has its pluses and minuses to have a daughter with such a fantastic memory. :-)
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Faith Barista Bonnie · 658 weeks ago

It's touching and moving reading this letter you wrote to your daughter, Lisa... a lump in my throat ... it's healing to read this, sensing what I missed & joyful to know your daughter is receiving all of you, even know, as you're willing to sit beside her and learn to grow together side by side, as His word travels deep in you.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

I'm sorry you didn't get this as a child, Bonnie. It's hard to understand sometimes. But I know you're giving to your boys in ways that are blessing them in the Lord. You are precious.
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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Rachel · 658 weeks ago

What a wonderful letter to your daughter thank you for sharing. The discipline of grace is the best discipline of all! May your week be filled with it!
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

You said it, Rachel: the discipline of grace is the best! Hope your week is filled with grace also.
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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Caroline · 658 weeks ago

"It’s something we do.
But it’s more what God does."

You're so good at pinpointing such powerful (wham!) truths and observations, Lisa.

What a beautiful relationship with your daughter to be able to memorize Scripture together. Love it.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Thanks, Caroline. Anytime I even *think* about taking credit myself for any discipline, I'm quickly reminded that I'm not quite as strong as I think I am. ;-) It has to be God or nothing.

I'm thankful for young moms like you who are raising their children to know all about Jesus. I know you are depending on His grace to do it!
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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panda444 30p · 658 weeks ago

Memorizing Scripture is so important and helpful to daily living. When I first read your post title, I thought you were participating in Five Minute Friday. Our word for today is ...graceful.

Blessings and love,
Debbie
My recent post Am I Graceful Enough?

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Nice serendipity there with the topics. I always read your post and see the topic for Five Minute Friday, but I only read this week instead of also writing. :-) Hope you're having a blessed weekend, friend!
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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Ollie · 658 weeks ago

yes - very wise words. The discipline of grace is something one needs to let God do. Is 'let" the most important word int he Bible?

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Nice question for thought, Ollie...I'll ponder that one!
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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Debbie · 658 weeks ago

How blessed to read this! What a picture of a God-centered mother/daughter relationship.
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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Thanks, Debbie. We have had a few bumps in this area, gotta be honest, but overall it's been a wonderful gift.
My recent post Two years missed and counting

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Jenna · 658 weeks ago

thanks, mommy... I love you!!
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Brooke Espinoza · 657 weeks ago

Aww, that is so sweet that you and your daughter have been Bible memory partners over the years. What a blessing! My girl is turning four next week. I hope we'll have fond memories of memorizing God's Word together, too, when she is all grown up and out of the house. She's learning a verse a week right now and loves it. I can't wait to learn whole passages with her when she is old enough. :) God bless you richly, Lisa!
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