Lisa Notes: No regrets for this

No regrets for this

It's Wednesday morning. The silent prayers around the table have ended. Now the group of ladies meeting each week are asked to recite the Lord's Prayer together.

There'd be no shame in not knowing it.
But I'm glad I do.

Another day, another group. This time around a gravesite. The pastor requests those gathered around to say Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd . . . .”

We do.
I'm comforted in the recitation.

There are certain things I have regretted learning through the years. Like lyrics memorized from some of Prince's songs. Or Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds watched one too many times. Or hours wasted reading books with no
intrinsic value whatsoever.

But there's one thing I've never regretted learning:
Bible verses.

It sounds corny, I realize. But time spent repeating Truth over and over hasn't disappointed me yet.

I'm slow at it, granted. And I might forget tomorrow what I learned today. But even so, some things do stick. And even when they don't, the value in the moment is rich.

The Spirit touches deeper than actual words.

Because I'm not just spending time with alphabet letters—I’m spending time with the Lord. I seek—and find—him in the words and under the words and through the words.

I don't have to memorize scripture to spend time with him.
But I’ve never had regrets when I do.

* * *

Comments (20)

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outsidemywindowinsidemyheart 38p · 624 weeks ago

I registered when you first mentioned this, Lisa, and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to refresh (and in some cases learn) these classic Scripture verses! :-)

My recent post The Way it REALLY Happened!

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

And I'm looking forward to doing this side by side again. It's my joy to have you as part of our group! You are such a blessing to so many, Dianna.
My recent post No regrets for this

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miadevries 31p · 624 weeks ago

Dear Lisa
Memorizing Scripture is such a delight! Even though this does not add one bit to the finished work of Jesus and can easily become just another law that needs to be adhered too, it nevertheless is such a joy when our Pappa will bring back some verse to your heart in full revelation just as you need it. You've got it right, dear sister friend, for it is time we spend with the Love of our lives. I think it would be nice in joining you.
Much love XX
Mia

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

Amen, Mia--we should never turn memorization (or any discipline, regardless of how good) into an add-on work to Christ's finished work. I've seen things like that happen too easily, so I love seeing reminders to NOT do it. Thanks for sharing that. Instead, these kinds of things can enhance our relationship with Him and that is all worthwhile. Would love having you join in!
My recent post No regrets for this

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barbarah 65p · 624 weeks ago

It's neat how some of the verses I memorized in high school still come to mind easily. The things I've memorized more recently are a little harder to retrieve, but still beneficial. I've heard time spent in the Word of God compared to meals in that we may not remember every single meal we had, but they all contributed to our health and growth.
My recent post Book Review: Introverts in the Church

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

I love your meal analogy, Barbara! Just as food sustains us daily, so the Word sustains us daily, too, even though we can't look back and list what we ate each day nor remember all the words we've learned. They still combine to make us who we are. Thanks for sharing this. I hope I do remember it. :-)
My recent post No regrets for this

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julie · 624 weeks ago

amen...it's just the neatest when God will bring up a verse or verses in "an apropos moment" that you had not been able to fully recall til then...Holy Spirit Recall trumps midlife forgetfulness!!!! RAH! Hugs sent your way Lisa. :-) :-) xo

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

Only you could put it this way, Julie:
"Holy Spirit Recall trumps midlife forgetfulness!"
Just another reason to love you for you! :-) Praying for you over and over and over, sweet friend. Love you!
My recent post No regrets for this

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beingwoven27 29p · 624 weeks ago

Thank you, Lisa, for writing this for it has sent me over to Do Not Depart to register and begin memorizing. Your post encourages me to keep on trying and not to feel a failure because I keep forgetting, lose half the Scripture, if not more. I will be joining you this summer to learn some classic Scriptures. Praising God for His compassion and forgiveness. Caring through Christ, ~ linda
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1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

I'm so glad you saw this and decided to memorize with us, Linda! I pray it will be a blessing to you. And don't feel bad about what you forget--what we learn is still in us somewhere and growing in us, regardless of whether or not we can pinpoint exact words. But occasionally we CAN remember and that is a blessing too. :-)
My recent post No regrets for this

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Rick Dawson · 624 weeks ago

Hi Lisa!

Just found my way over here from a comment you made on another blog, and love what I'm reading. You just added another subscriber :)
My recent post Work In Progress

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

Glad you stopped by, Rick. Just visited you back. Love the name of your blog! :-)
My recent post No regrets for this

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fsamons 60p · 624 weeks ago

Well said, sister. Of all the things we can do with our lives, repeating and leaning in our souls on the words of God and to God, is One that can never to much. It's the only thing in this life that doesn't need moderation... Excellent thoughts and perfect prayer... it is running through my brain now on auto pilot.
My recent post ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

"doesn't need moderation" - excellent point, Floyd. You're right that there's not many things we can say that about! But we can never depend on God TOO much. Amen.
My recent post No regrets for this

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dukeslee 37p · 624 weeks ago

Hiding God's word in my heart. Thank you for the encouragement to keep at it, Lisa!

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 624 weeks ago

Good for you, Jennifer! We all need encouragement to stick with it. Thanks for giving me yours.
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emily wierenga · 623 weeks ago

yes. it's spiritual food. living water. it's good. the church needs to get back into this habit... we're all so spiritually ignorant these days. i need to get back into this habit.
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1 reply · active 623 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 623 weeks ago

"spiritually ignorant" - ouch. I hear you, Emily. May the Spirit walk us right out of that. Praying your pregnancy is going well! Still so excited for you.
My recent post The practice of walking on earth: Go barefoot

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knitnmom 1p · 623 weeks ago

Love this! Yes, I too regret the Prince Lyrics (I didn't even try to memorize them!!). I'm using the Amplified version in order to open up the meaning a bit more in verses I find I take for granted "I know that one".
My recent post What is the first Bible verse you memorized?

1 reply · active 623 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 623 weeks ago

A great idea to learn this in the Amplified version. Love how it goes. I'm copying it here so others can see it as well. Thanks for sharing this, Amy.

"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
My recent post The practice of walking on earth: Go barefoot

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