A little over 4 years ago, I walked back into church after an act of disobedience. I knew I needed healing when I walked away from the Lord. I also decided to follow my mom’s example by starting each morning with a cup of coffee, a Bible and a small devotional guide. For I knew only God could make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The verses in the 1st devotional were Ephesians 6:14-18. I pondered on these verses for months, identifying my real battle – not with flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world. This passage also encouraged me to take up the Sword of the Spirit – not only to defend myself but to remove the rebellious spirit within me. So at a 2010 Goal Setting Party, I decided to take up the Sword of the Spirit by memorizing scripture.
But what passage to start with? I spewed out Psalms 119 at the party. I didn’t remember that Psalm 119 has 176 verses – was I surprised! Thankfully, the verses are grouped by stanza. Each stanza has 8 verses which made a mini-goal for me each week. That seemed a little bit more manageable than the whole chapter. So on January 3rd 2010, I began to memorize Psalm 119, and then went on to memorize entire books.
His Word has brought about so much healing in my life. It’s as if the Lord led me on a counseling path through the books I memorized. Each of these books and passages that I have memorized are an integral part of my journey back to the Lord:
a) Ephesians 6:14-18: Identifying my real battle
b) Psalm 119: God holding me as he spoke truth to face my guilt and shame
c) James: Encouraging me to live a Christian life again
d) Song of Solomon: Understanding to learn what I destroyed (my marriage)
e) Hosea: Feeling His arms wrapped around me as I faced my sin (my affair)
f) Matthew: Opening my eyes to see Christ as my King and Deliverer
g) Psalms 120-150: Seeing more of the Lord’s gift of grace upon my life
h) Joshua: Showing me the depth of sin to grasp His resurrection power.
I’m not sure what the Lord has in store for me next as I venture through memorizing the Book of Acts. But I am excited.
I do love how God’s word heals and teaches and comforts! Thank you for sharing your story-so inspirational and encouraging!
Tammy,
I appreciate your transparency and the beautiful Godly humility that flows through your words. Please keep us posted, because the Book of Acts will undoubtedly take you somewhere significant! Can’t wait to hear!
Karen
Tammy, When I first heard you reciting Scripture at a Sunday morning service at church, I knew I had to find you. Your connection to God was so evident in the way you handled His Word. That was a year and a half ago, and our Scripture memory group has benefitted so much by having you join us. I’m sure some of the online community are astounded by what you have memorized in 4+ years. Will you share about your daily morning routine? I would love others to hear from you how this is possible.
Thank you again Janet for asking me to Share-My-Story. I truly believe God has turned this discipline of memorizing His Word into a gift to be used for His purpose. Though it may sound old school, each morning I spend approximately 60 minutes re-quoting the last 75 verses which were memorized in previous weeks, then I add in the new verse for the day. I do this Monday-Friday. On Saturday, I journal my thoughts on the scripture that pentrate my heart; and, Sunday is simply a review day for the verses I memorized that past week by writing them out. It is a great way to start off one’s day. Thanks again Janet for asking me about my story. 🙂
Tammy,
You are absolutely precious. I so loved how you identified the main lesson from each book you have memorized. You are a bonafide MMS! (Mega-Memorizing Sister). I love how you also allowed The Lord to show you that He indeed is the “Wonderful Counselor”. How beautiful to recognize through Hosea that your past sin is a picture of the sin each of us are automatically before we choose Christ. (Eph 2:12-13). I wish I could give you the biggest hug for sharing the beauty of your uplifting, redemption story. I pray you will share it at every opportunity so others might make the decision to take the leap into our special world of memorizing. You are an amazing inspiration Tammy. Seriously.
Thank you so much Cherie for your kinds words. Never been known as a MMS before! LOL, that was funny. Saturday mornings is the day I set aside to journal; it is amazing how the Lord encourages me from the pages of His Word. Many times I am in awe of goodness and amazed at what He is teaching me. Hope you have a beautiful day.
Tammy, you are a beautiful woman. Thank you for sharing your story and giving encouragement for the day.
Me too!! When I heard you share Psalm 119 at church, I turned to my husband and said, “I want to know that girl.” And I am blessed. Thank you for your genuine, authentic and sincere faith. I love how each of your passages you listed are significant markers in your journey. God bless you my sweet friend. I am excited to see where the Lord takes you on your journey and grateful that the Lord has crossed our paths.
Thank you so much Susan for reaching out to me and asking me to be a part of BMW. I feel so honored to be in the presences of such godly women. My heart is richly blessed because of you.
Thank you so much, Tammy, for sharing your story. You are an inspiration to me in our Scripture memory group. I love how you identified what the Lord has taught you in each passage you’ve memorized. That encourages me to ask the Lord to help me learn what He wants me to know from what I’m memorizing! Continue on, dear comrade!
I have always admired you and your zeal for the Lord and your love for people! You are a special person. Thank you for the encouragement in your story!
Tammy,so inspired by your journey over the past several years and blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for sharing – your example has been a great encouragement to me to stay in the Word.
Tammy,
Wow…the way you chose to write your story makes it FULL of “gifts” for all of us – hope in God’s redemption, value of God’s Word as the best counseling option, how to take on large sections of scripture, specific healing related to each section and some new ideas for deciding what to memorize next. I can already tell that what you shared is going to impact how I move ahead in this process.
Thank you so much!!!!
Helen
Wow Tammy! Like Janet said, I am astounded by how much you have memorized in just 4 years! Your story inspires me. I’m wondering how and when you review your “older” verses/books.
Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging us with your beautiful testimony! God bless!
Since going BMW, Janet has challenged me to review the “older” verses/books. And, it has definitely has been a challenge to find time. I tend to use long car rides and evening walks to refresh my memory. On several occassion I have been asked to quote these “older” passages; and surprisely, with the Lord’s help, they have come back to memory rather quickly. I think it is because I quote each verse for 21 straight days from the day I first memorize the verse. Lord willing, I am planning to review all the verses I have memorized thus far when I hit the 7th year mark. A Sabbath from memorizing to re-calling.
I’m so glad that people are seeing that there are many ways to memorize and review. It’s important to find a system that works for you. The main thing is – stay in God’s Word throughout the day, commune with Him, enjoy Him.
Tammy,in the short time I have known you, you have been such an encouragement. Thank you for your honesty in your struggles and how God has done the work of healing and changing you to be more the woman He wants you to be. I am so excited to see how God will continue to grow you and use you in His service. It is a wonderful example to us all of how He can work in and change us too.
Way to go my friend. You have traveled quite a road. Glad to have known you all the way through, since that day of meeting for lunch at Simon & Sieferts in Anchorage, AK through Carol. Glad you have found a home church. That’s a blessing. Hope I will too someday.
Thank you so much for sharing, Tammy! So blessed by your testimony.
You are the real deal friend. I love you!
Tammy, I am so thankful for you, for the work of the Word in your life and or your willingness to share. What a blessing to allow the Word of God transform you! Love you!
Thank you so much, Tammy. I was thinking, before coming online and reading Janet’s post and then yours, that I cannot cling to my circumstances or to others or to anything else found in this life but to His word alone and to the sure mercies of David. It’s such a great encouragement to be among you all.
Tammy, wow, oh, wow. THAT is why we do this! To be transformed, to learn the deep things of God, to live close to Him, to know his will so we can DO his will. Your story is both fascinating and inspiring; fascinating because the volume of scripture in your heart is enormous and inspiring because you put a real face on your experience and where you came from which encourages me and others to remember that everyday struggling people are equipped with the ability to mega-memorize, as Cherie so eloquently puts it! 🙂
Thank you Richie for your encouraging words. You are right, God’s Word transforms – and its an absolutely amazing journey!! May the Lord bless you this week as you have me.