Week 28: Baaaa

Day:  195          Verses Memorized:  442          Working On:  John 10:1-21

The John Squad
Please click here to chart your own progress - even though I'm the only one still doing this


My Progress:
My review week did not go well.  Sometimes I spend a week reviewing and I'm committed and diligent in spending serious time looking over previous chapters.  Other times (like this time), review just means I don't have the pressure of moving forward so in my laziness, it translates to "taking a break".  One day I spent almost 2 hours reciting all 9 chapters.  Then I did nothing for 3 days.  After that, I got disgusted with my lack of motivation and decided I had to move on to Chapter 10.  So I just went ahead and memorized the first 5 verses.  At least I can say I accomplished something this week.  On a more positive note, I am enjoying Chapter 10 and look forward to learning more.

Some Thoughts:
I'm only five verses in, so I'm not totally blown away yet, but it doesn't take a genius to realize that this chapter is very rich indeed.  I can see already the depth of Jesus' words and that one could probably spend years studying this chapter alone.

Addtional Thoughts:
I am no longer allowed to listen to the Bible CD while I am operating a motor vehicle.
Let's just leave it at that. 

Week 27: HALF WAY!

Day:  188          Verses Memorized:  437          Working On:  Review

 

The John Squad
Please click here to chart your own progress - even though I'm the only one still doing this

 

Halfway!  Wahooo!

I am so beyond thrilled that I've made it halfway.  I'm about 6 months ahead of schedule.  I have to admit, when I started all this, I had some serious doubts.  Looking back, last April I would've been so proud of myself if I had learned over 400 verses.  But after going through this experience, I do not have an ounce of pride.  I have 100% grattitude to God for enabling me to do this.  I can't take a shred of credit for a single verse I've learned.  It is by His grace that I was given the time required to spend in His Word.  And it is by His love for me that my mind and heart were able to receive these verses.  I am so grateful because not only do I remember them, but I have learned and grown from them and my life is vastly different as a result.

 

 

Chapter 9:

Week 26: This is REALLY Hard

Day:  181          Verses Memorized:  430          Working On:  John 9:35-41

The John Squad
Please click here to chart your own progress - even though I'm the only one still doing this

My Progress:
I am moving right along and almost finished with Chapter 9.  Hopefully I will polish that up this week and be able to set aside another week for review.  Unfortunately, the further into the book I go, the harder it is to remember previous chapters.  I am getting all mixed up.  I had the opportunity of being in the car by myself this week so I tried to listen to the CD and was disappointed with how many mistakes I was making.  Chapter 6 is just treacherous.  Chapters 1, 2, 3, and most of 4 are great.  Then it's all downhill from there.  I just wonder where all these verses will be in 10 years.  But each day has enough trouble of its own, right?  So I will continue to focus on spending time memorizing each day and celebrate my victories.

Some Thoughts:
I think that this chapter is right up there as one of my favorites (which is surprising because initially I was aggravated that it was 41 verses of a single healing story).  I still love Chapter 2 because we see Jesus' power revealed.  And I love this chapter because we see how life-changing that power can be.  This is one of those chapters that is just so rich with truth and promises of God's love.  I truly never would've even noticed if I hadn't take the time to memorize it line by line.  Earlier, I would've read through this chapter and thought, "okay so Jesus healed a blind man."  But now that I've memorized it, I am in awe at how many observations God has shown me. 

• Jesus performs a miraculous healing of a man born blind.
• The healing requires initial faith and obedience (the man has to go and wash).
• Immediately people begin to doubt his testimony.
• My favorite verse:  "whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know.  One thing I do know.  I was blind but now I see!"
• The man doesn't provide any answers.  He just tells his story.
• He suffers for his beliefs and is thrown out of the synogogue after they hurl insults at him.
• Jesus seeks him out a second time and reveals himself to the man.
• The man immediately replies, "Lord, I believe" and worships him.  (I love that part.)

I just love, love this man.  Unlike the guy at the pool in Chapter 5, this man embraces Jesus and acknowledges Him as his Savior.  What a beautiful picture of how Jesus heals our broken lives.  How He heals our blindness and gives us sight.  How He pursues us and desires to restore our hearts to a right relationship with the Father.  What a beautiful, beautiful story this is.  I am so thankful that my life and attitude have changed after memorizing it.