Partnering to Remember

A few years ago I found the blog of a Christian pastor, Timmy Brister, who had the idea of reading through the Puritans, one a month, for a year.  The discipline of embarking on such a quest "with" someone else, following his posts through the year and reading the comments of others on his blog, was an adventure.  While I didn't make it through all of the books, it was a blessing to have read those which I did.


The next year was 2009, the 500th year of the birth of John Calvin, and so, with Brister's encouragement, and that of many others as I soon came to discover, I read through the Institutes of Christian Religion over the year, (and a little into the next, to be honest).  I was blessed beyond my expectations in reading Calvin's work, and am still reaping the benefits.

In looking over the renovation of my own blog this past week, I checked through the various links which I post as recommendations, and found Timmy Brister's site again and learned that he- along with thousands of others- is nearing the end of a new discipline which began 1/1/11 and will end at Easter.  They are memorizing the book of Philippians.  I'm a little late to this party, but this looked like such a great idea the kids and I are going to do it beginning now.

His plan includes a way to organize and keep track of the memorization schedule by using a "Memory Moleskine".  We put ours together last night, (call it arts and crafts- we are homeschoolers) and have begun our quest to drive the Word of God into our hearts and minds.

This is no mere exercise in memory skills.  We are pursuing growth in Christ and obedience to our Lord, which is a privilege and a joy, not only in the accomplishment thereof, but in the journey.

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105

Knowing God's Word is also a hedge of protection against false teaching.  As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man, (or woman) of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."  Only a couple of verses further he then exhorts Timothy in a solemn charge to, "preach the Word," giving as his reason the warning that, "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."  (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

And though I'm not giving an exhaustive list here, I'll conclude with the truth which has sustained me so very many times.  God's Word brings comfort and peace in the midst of trial.

"If your law had not been my delight, 

I would have perished in my affliction."

-Psalm 119:92

If you too would like to join us on this belated quest, just check out the link to Timmy's above to get a better idea than I've been able to provide of the reasons and ways to do this.  He put together a memorization schedule which you can download here.  And if you do join us- let me know; adventures are more fun when shared!