(photograph from Karrie Denise Photography)
It’s hard for me to sit and write my story as I am just an ordinary woman. I pray the Lord’s name will be praised as I convey my heart in this short story.
In 1998, Steve and I were married and made our first home in Anchorage, Alaska where Steve was raised. In 2000 we were overwhelmed when God blessed us with a baby boy—Alex.
When Alex was 4 years old, we began a journey of memorizing scripture together while I struggled with infertility. I wanted to see if a young child could actually do it, not realizing the impact it was having on my own life. It helped to take my mind off my current situation and helped me focus on the Lord. I remember sitting in the doctor’s office after years of infertility treatments and surgeries and the doctor telling me that we had a less than 1% chance of ever getting pregnant. Oh how the tears flowed. However, I knew that the Lord was good so we continued to put our trust in Him.
After 5+ years and much prayer, our precious daughter, Adria was born in 2006. Oh the joy to our family! I stayed committed to helping both my children memorize God’s Word.
Our Memorization Journey: Over the subsequent years, Alex (and Adria many as well) has memorized the book of Jonah, John 15, Romans 12, Luke 2, Matthew 2, 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 6, John 10:10-18, Psalms 1, 37, 42, 43, 103, 119, 139.
In 2010, I miscarried just one day after we had shared the wonderful baby news with our two children, who were then ages 10 and 4. Alex sobbed like I’d never seen him cry before. He kept asking “Why would God take our baby away from us?” I remember sitting on the couch holding our crying children, and asking God all the same questions they had. With tears in my eyes, I explained to them that although I didn’t have the answers, I did know the One who held the answers. I told them that we were going to memorize Psalm 139 together, for in those verses lies a deep sense of satisfaction of God’s great love for every child. A few months later we all had these verses memorized. When times of doubt resurfaced, we would remind each other of God’s promises. I could never doubt God’s love for me and our precious baby while listening to a 4 year old recite these verses by memory.
God’s Word can be powerful and life-changing even for a small child.
October 2012 brought another surprise—Allie Grace. I turned 40 that year and Steve was 46. God has spaced our children 6 years apart for some reason and now we have the privilege of raising them to trust and honor Him with their lives and to hide God’s Word in their hearts. It’s another opportunity to live out this commitment to memorize God’s Word.
As the time of high school drew near, Steve and Alex entered into a “Proverbs contract” where over the next 3 years they will memorize the book together. It’s been a great way for a father and son to lovingly press on as they memorize words of wisdom together. We want Alex to be equipped for life and what better way than to hide God’s words in his heart.
So we attempt to begin again with memorizing scripture, and a two year old. God’s Word is a guaranteed investment because not a word of it will return void.
Awesome testimony! Thank you for the encouragement to press on with scripture memorization! God saw fit to space our children 11 years apart, so I can relate to much of your story.
In the midst of some very trying circumstances, your story (His story) was so encouraging. God’s timing is always right. Reading this reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6 to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight”.
Hi Lana:
How great is the power of a scripture memorizing mom and wife. Through multiple trials you taught your family how to turn to knowing God’s word as opposed to falling prey to hopelessness. God is using your story to show others the importance of storing God’s word in our hearts so that when adversity comes we will already be equipped with his promises, hope and wisdom. Thank you so much for opening yourself up to us. What a great story…What a great God.
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you Lana for sharing your story. It has been a tremendous blessing to have gotten to know you these past several months. You have a wonderful heart for the Lord, for your husband and for your children. May the Lord richly bless your life this upcoming year. You are an amazing lady of grace.
Extraordinary is the word that comes to my mind as I read your story! What a solid foundation your children will have as they go out into the world! Thank you for sharing!
Lana, what a testimony to the grace of God and His empowering love to carry you through heart ache. Your faithful walk has touched many. Thank you for sharing.
Lana,
You and Steve are such a wonderful example to all of us! To God be the Glory forever and ever!
Lana, thank you for your truly amazing story! I know you think you are an ordinary woman, but it is easy to see that God has done extraordinary things with your life because it was yielded to Him. I love the way you’ve shared your love for the scriptures with your children and how your husband and son are memorizing together. You both are an inspiration to this community. May The Lord richly bless you and your family!
Wonderful and encouraging testimony, Lana, thank you for sharing
What a legacy you both pass on to your children in hiding God’s Word in their hearts and in finding their source of truth, satisfaction, joy and peace in the Lord! Glory to God who says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. You all are a beautiful example of this truth. Thanks for sharing your family testimony with us. Love in Christ, Chris
Thank you so much for all of your kind and encouraging words. What an encouragement each one of you has been to our family as we have read these comments. This story is one that God has been weaving for a long time and I am convinced that He is not done with us yet!! Thank you, Janet for the vision and hard work of bringing this community together to inspire one another to hide God’s Word in not only our hearts, but those little hearts of children all around us. If your children are grown, please find young ones in your community you can encourage to memorize. I am convinced that it’s not just about memorizing, but about living God’s Word out in our everyday lives and allowing Him to change us. Memorizing helps us to do that more intentionally. Again, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share our story…May only God be praised and worshiped for every “good work” we ever do here on earth.
Thanks Lana, Your story is bright and full of hope. I hadn’t looked at Janet’s blog for a bit and for some reason decided to take a peek at it this morning. Your reminder of God’s ability to carry us in times of troubles brings memories, hope and tears. I too have had my children join me in bible memory. Of all the child raising things I have done (Some maybe good?? others less so???), this is one I am sure is best. I know Jack, Amanda And Marcus have this living, active, powerful companion with them every day.
Peace, Mark Z
So thankful you shared this, Lana. I can think of several moms with young kids that I definitely will pass it on to!!