1 hour ago
Every year during the month of November I think to myself that I want to share this quote. And every year I forget until well into December. I almost didn't share it this year, because for the most part this November has been of the fretting variety, not the growing old gracefully variety. But I thought I'd share it anyway, rather than waiting another year. November never feels like it's fretting to me, it always feels like the year is growing old gracefully, so I think this quote is perfect. If you have never read the Anne Of Green Gables series, you are missing out.
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I am a historical fiction fan. I love when my "light" fiction reading can also teach me something, so historical fiction is right up my alley. And if it's biblical historical fiction, that is even better!
I think someday I will have to do a post on my favorite historical fiction series, but one that would make my list is Lynn Austin's The Restorations Chronicles series. I read the first book a couple years ago, and I was hoping she would write more - and I discovered recently that she has!
Keepers Of The Covenant opens with the Jewish people, exiled in Babylon, getting the decree from King Xerxes that all the Jews can be killed on the thirteenth of Adar (if this sounds familiar, it is from the story in the book of Esther). It follows several families through the fear leading up to that day, and the triumph and tragedy of the aftermath. It then dives into the story of Ezra, who petitioned King Artaxerxes to let the Jews return to their homeland, and it follows them back to the Jerusalem.
This whole story is told through the eyes of different characters, several in Babylon and one in Bethlehem. The most fun part of the book is the last third, when all the characters are brought together in one place. There are a couple different sweet romances in this book, which also made it fun to read.
One thing that bothered me initially in this book was the hatred the main character had toward the Gentiles. It was mentioned so naturally in the first half of the book that I wasn't sure I liked it - I didn't remember reading anything in the Bible condoning hatred of the Babylonians and other Gentiles in Ezra's story. I was going to mention that as something that I didn't like, but then the author addressed it in a really satisfactory way at the end of the book. That is all I'll say.
Overall, I found the story to be really accurate to the facts while also adding enough of a story in the characters' relationships to keep the book interesting. I would definitely recommend this series!
Note: I received digital copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I think someday I will have to do a post on my favorite historical fiction series, but one that would make my list is Lynn Austin's The Restorations Chronicles series. I read the first book a couple years ago, and I was hoping she would write more - and I discovered recently that she has!
Keepers Of The Covenant opens with the Jewish people, exiled in Babylon, getting the decree from King Xerxes that all the Jews can be killed on the thirteenth of Adar (if this sounds familiar, it is from the story in the book of Esther). It follows several families through the fear leading up to that day, and the triumph and tragedy of the aftermath. It then dives into the story of Ezra, who petitioned King Artaxerxes to let the Jews return to their homeland, and it follows them back to the Jerusalem.
This whole story is told through the eyes of different characters, several in Babylon and one in Bethlehem. The most fun part of the book is the last third, when all the characters are brought together in one place. There are a couple different sweet romances in this book, which also made it fun to read.
One thing that bothered me initially in this book was the hatred the main character had toward the Gentiles. It was mentioned so naturally in the first half of the book that I wasn't sure I liked it - I didn't remember reading anything in the Bible condoning hatred of the Babylonians and other Gentiles in Ezra's story. I was going to mention that as something that I didn't like, but then the author addressed it in a really satisfactory way at the end of the book. That is all I'll say.
Overall, I found the story to be really accurate to the facts while also adding enough of a story in the characters' relationships to keep the book interesting. I would definitely recommend this series!
Note: I received digital copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
This past summer I started dabbling in watercolors. I used to take oil painting lessons when I was a girl, and something made me decide to give watercolors a try. I was thinking it might be a little easier to paint in short sessions than with oils, since I only have limited time to do that sort of thing with three munchkins.
Well, watercolors are way different than oils! I experimented here and there and started to figure it out a little bit, but I still felt pretty lost, so I had to get this book when I saw it was up for review.
Urban Watercolor Sketching by Felix Scheintserger is a great beginner guide to painting with watercolors. He starts with the very basics (such as the color wheel), but he addresses everything in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid if you didn't already know what he is writing about. He goes over some basic watercolor techniques and gives tips throughout.
What I liked about this book is that it wasn't a "how to" sort of book as much as a book to give you inspiration. He writes about watercolors in such an easy-going way that it gives you confidence to experiment and figure things out for yourself. He paints from a very unique perspective, but he doesn't try to impose his style on the reader, and I like that. The information is also broken up with many of Scheintserger's sketches and paintings, so it is easy and interesting to read.
Every time I read a chapter I was ready to break out my paper and paints and experiment, but the kids haven't allowed me to paint much lately. However, I think I will keep this book handy and read a chapter here and there when I need a little inspiration to try watercolors again!
Note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
In the late fall of 2008 I was a newlywed, and as the holidays approached I was determined to find some new recipes to try for Christmas - recipes that could be "mine" and would become a tradition for our then family of two. That was when I found a caramel fudge recipe that has become the bane of my fudge-making existence.
The first time I made it, it was a success. It was the perfect texture, the perfect taste, and we loved it! I was excited that I found such cool recipe.
Every time I have attempted to make it since then, it has been a colossal failure. It usually ends up being a plate of sticky goo that never sets. I have made it so many times, and I cannot for the life of me figure out what I am doing wrong! I don't even want to know how much sugar, milk, and corn syrup I have wasted trying to replicate that first plate of caramel-y goodness.
However, I think I have finally figured out a way to use my plates of sticky goo! The other day I was in the mood for some caramel popcorn, the kind that is a little more chewy, less crunchy. After a little experiment, I stumbled upon a yummy concoction!
This recipe for Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn uses that caramel fudge recipe with some adjustments. And despite my caramel fudge always turning out spectacularly wrong, this popcorn turned out great!
Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn
1 bag of popcorn, popped (either plain or buttered is fine)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 whole milk
1/8 cup (ie. 1/2 stick) margarine, melted
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
For the pumpkin spice mixture:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 brown sugar
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1. Pop the bag of popcorn in a microwave, then pour into a greased bowl or dish. Set aside.
2. Mix together the ingredients for the pumpkin spice mixture. Set aside.
2. Brown 1/2 cup of the sugar in a saucepan. (If you don't know how to brown sugar - just let it sit on the heat until it melts. Make sure it doesn't burn.)
3. Slowly add in the milk. The sugar will sizzle and harden into a lump ( I haven't figured out a way to avoid this). Don't freak out. Just keep stirring while the caramel cooks to encourage it to dissolve.
4. Add the margarine, 1 cup of the sugar, and corn syrup. Heat over medium high heat until mixture gets to soft ball stage. (The soft ball stage is when you put a little of the mixture into cold water, and it solidifies to the point where you could form a soft ball with it if you wanted to.)
5. Remove from heat and beat mixture until cool. Add three tablespoons of the pumpkin spice mixture to the caramel mixture and mix well.
6. Pour caramel mixture over the popcorn and mix to coat the popcorn. Sprinkle the remaining pumpkin spice mixture over the popcorn.
And that is it! This popcorn has a great, fall-ish taste to it. It would be perfect to much on while reading a book to your kiddos. Or you could bring the popcorn along as a snack for some of your favorite fall activities (corn maze, anyone?).
What are some of your favorite fall snacks?
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Speaking of fall activities, I am also on the Tommy Nelson blog today talking about some ways to use fall fun to talk to your kiddos about the Lord. I'd love for you to stop over there and say "hi"! I'm also happy to say that Tommy Nelson is giving one of you a copy of "It Will Be Okay" by Lysa Terkeurst, which I reviewed earlier this month - it's an adorable kids' book, and perfect for fall. Enter below!
The first time I made it, it was a success. It was the perfect texture, the perfect taste, and we loved it! I was excited that I found such cool recipe.
Every time I have attempted to make it since then, it has been a colossal failure. It usually ends up being a plate of sticky goo that never sets. I have made it so many times, and I cannot for the life of me figure out what I am doing wrong! I don't even want to know how much sugar, milk, and corn syrup I have wasted trying to replicate that first plate of caramel-y goodness.
However, I think I have finally figured out a way to use my plates of sticky goo! The other day I was in the mood for some caramel popcorn, the kind that is a little more chewy, less crunchy. After a little experiment, I stumbled upon a yummy concoction!
This recipe for Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn uses that caramel fudge recipe with some adjustments. And despite my caramel fudge always turning out spectacularly wrong, this popcorn turned out great!
Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn
1 bag of popcorn, popped (either plain or buttered is fine)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 whole milk
1/8 cup (ie. 1/2 stick) margarine, melted
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
For the pumpkin spice mixture:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 brown sugar
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1. Pop the bag of popcorn in a microwave, then pour into a greased bowl or dish. Set aside.
2. Mix together the ingredients for the pumpkin spice mixture. Set aside.
2. Brown 1/2 cup of the sugar in a saucepan. (If you don't know how to brown sugar - just let it sit on the heat until it melts. Make sure it doesn't burn.)
3. Slowly add in the milk. The sugar will sizzle and harden into a lump ( I haven't figured out a way to avoid this). Don't freak out. Just keep stirring while the caramel cooks to encourage it to dissolve.
4. Add the margarine, 1 cup of the sugar, and corn syrup. Heat over medium high heat until mixture gets to soft ball stage. (The soft ball stage is when you put a little of the mixture into cold water, and it solidifies to the point where you could form a soft ball with it if you wanted to.)
5. Remove from heat and beat mixture until cool. Add three tablespoons of the pumpkin spice mixture to the caramel mixture and mix well.
6. Pour caramel mixture over the popcorn and mix to coat the popcorn. Sprinkle the remaining pumpkin spice mixture over the popcorn.
And that is it! This popcorn has a great, fall-ish taste to it. It would be perfect to much on while reading a book to your kiddos. Or you could bring the popcorn along as a snack for some of your favorite fall activities (corn maze, anyone?).
What are some of your favorite fall snacks?
---
Speaking of fall activities, I am also on the Tommy Nelson blog today talking about some ways to use fall fun to talk to your kiddos about the Lord. I'd love for you to stop over there and say "hi"! I'm also happy to say that Tommy Nelson is giving one of you a copy of "It Will Be Okay" by Lysa Terkeurst, which I reviewed earlier this month - it's an adorable kids' book, and perfect for fall. Enter below!
When I was 18, I spent a summer as a counselor at a local Christian camp. I could probably write a whole different post with stories of that experience, but there is one conversation I remember vividly.
I had thought I was done with being a counselor for the summer, since I had to prepare for starting hygiene college in a few weeks, but I had this feeling that I should go back just one more week. I ended up being a co-counselor with a girl named Lindsey - and it was a good thing I went back that week, because Lindsey came down with an awful sickness and spent most of the week in bed, so I was able to take over counselor duties for our girls. On the last night of the week, Lindsey was feeling better. As the girls slept in our teepee (we all slept in teepees - it is a really cool camp), Lindsey and I stayed up late talking. In the darkness, Lindsey asked me "If you could do one thing before you die, what would it be?"
And without really thinking about it or knowing what I would say, the words just came out. I whispered back, "I would like to adopt a child." Through those weeks of spending so much time with these girls, I realized I could indeed love a child who was not biologically mine.
Ever since then I have had an internal passion for adoption - but it is hard to put it into words most times, because it is clear that our family is not being called to adopt a child. At least not right now.
However, over the years I have realized that even though we are not in a place where we can adopt a child ourselves, that doesn't mean that I can't still support adoption. The truth is that if you believe in Jesus, you are called to care for orphans. That may look differently for different families, but we are all supposed to do it.
There are a few ways to support adoption even when you don't adopt a child yourself, and I listed a few ideas below.
1. Be excited for those who are adopting. You have to realize that this is a big deal for families that choose to follow God's call by adopting a child. This is a brand-new member of their family that is being added! It's just as big a deal as if they announced they were pregnant. People often spend more time wondering why they are adopting, or thinking "I could never do that", than being excited about their friend's new child. That is a pity. I think a little excitement can go a long way in encouraging the hearts of those who are adopting. If you want to go all out, consider throwing them a baby/new child shower!
2. Donate money or hold a fundraiser for a friend who is adopting. Obviously donating directly is a huge blessing to friends who might be adopting! Adoption is extremely expensive, and helping financially is a really practical way to get involved. If you are comfortable, ask your friend if you can contribute to their adoption fund. There are also many ways to hold a fundraiser if you are organized enough to do it. I have had friends who did some "spring cleaning" and held a garage sale, then donated all the money they earned to their friend's adoption. Online auctions for donated items, or giveaways where donations earn entries are also good options.
3. Pray for those you know who are adopting. Pray that the process would go smoothly, for financial provision, that their wait would be short, and that the Lord would prepare them and their child for the moment they are matched. Then pray for final legal details to go through without a hitch!
4. Find an organization to support. If you don't know anyone personally who is adopting, you can still support adoption by finding an organization that supports adoption and supporting them. I am a Focus On The Family fan, so I would point you there first. I know you can call 1-800-A-FAMILY and ask to specifically donate to help children in foster care find a permanent family - you can even become a regular donor for that specific cause if you would like! Or find an adoption agency near you and see if there is a way you can donate or help.
As Christians, adoption should be important to us, because God adopted us as His sons and daughters! Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, and as a result we are called His children. He is a Father to the fatherless - adoption is the heart of our Heavenly Father, and it should be in our hearts too. I so admire those who follow God's example and adopt those children who are in desperate need of a family - what a beautiful picture of what God has done for us.
I hope you find a way to support adoption, and that these ideas help! If any of you have any more ideas or resources, I'd love it if you would share below!
Note: If you would like to help a wonderful family with their adoption, please check out this amazing giveaway on Natalie's blog, She Builds Her Home! Some of you may remember Natalie from her last blog, Extraordinary Love. I started reading Natalie's blog several years ago, and I am so excited and proud of her and her family for answering the Lord's call to "care for orphans . . . in their distress" (James 1:27). So for a chance to donate to place a child with this wonderful family, and for a chance to win some great prizes, check out her giveaway here!
I had thought I was done with being a counselor for the summer, since I had to prepare for starting hygiene college in a few weeks, but I had this feeling that I should go back just one more week. I ended up being a co-counselor with a girl named Lindsey - and it was a good thing I went back that week, because Lindsey came down with an awful sickness and spent most of the week in bed, so I was able to take over counselor duties for our girls. On the last night of the week, Lindsey was feeling better. As the girls slept in our teepee (we all slept in teepees - it is a really cool camp), Lindsey and I stayed up late talking. In the darkness, Lindsey asked me "If you could do one thing before you die, what would it be?"
And without really thinking about it or knowing what I would say, the words just came out. I whispered back, "I would like to adopt a child." Through those weeks of spending so much time with these girls, I realized I could indeed love a child who was not biologically mine.
Ever since then I have had an internal passion for adoption - but it is hard to put it into words most times, because it is clear that our family is not being called to adopt a child. At least not right now.
However, over the years I have realized that even though we are not in a place where we can adopt a child ourselves, that doesn't mean that I can't still support adoption. The truth is that if you believe in Jesus, you are called to care for orphans. That may look differently for different families, but we are all supposed to do it.
There are a few ways to support adoption even when you don't adopt a child yourself, and I listed a few ideas below.
1. Be excited for those who are adopting. You have to realize that this is a big deal for families that choose to follow God's call by adopting a child. This is a brand-new member of their family that is being added! It's just as big a deal as if they announced they were pregnant. People often spend more time wondering why they are adopting, or thinking "I could never do that", than being excited about their friend's new child. That is a pity. I think a little excitement can go a long way in encouraging the hearts of those who are adopting. If you want to go all out, consider throwing them a baby/new child shower!
2. Donate money or hold a fundraiser for a friend who is adopting. Obviously donating directly is a huge blessing to friends who might be adopting! Adoption is extremely expensive, and helping financially is a really practical way to get involved. If you are comfortable, ask your friend if you can contribute to their adoption fund. There are also many ways to hold a fundraiser if you are organized enough to do it. I have had friends who did some "spring cleaning" and held a garage sale, then donated all the money they earned to their friend's adoption. Online auctions for donated items, or giveaways where donations earn entries are also good options.
3. Pray for those you know who are adopting. Pray that the process would go smoothly, for financial provision, that their wait would be short, and that the Lord would prepare them and their child for the moment they are matched. Then pray for final legal details to go through without a hitch!
4. Find an organization to support. If you don't know anyone personally who is adopting, you can still support adoption by finding an organization that supports adoption and supporting them. I am a Focus On The Family fan, so I would point you there first. I know you can call 1-800-A-FAMILY and ask to specifically donate to help children in foster care find a permanent family - you can even become a regular donor for that specific cause if you would like! Or find an adoption agency near you and see if there is a way you can donate or help.
As Christians, adoption should be important to us, because God adopted us as His sons and daughters! Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, and as a result we are called His children. He is a Father to the fatherless - adoption is the heart of our Heavenly Father, and it should be in our hearts too. I so admire those who follow God's example and adopt those children who are in desperate need of a family - what a beautiful picture of what God has done for us.
I hope you find a way to support adoption, and that these ideas help! If any of you have any more ideas or resources, I'd love it if you would share below!
Note: If you would like to help a wonderful family with their adoption, please check out this amazing giveaway on Natalie's blog, She Builds Her Home! Some of you may remember Natalie from her last blog, Extraordinary Love. I started reading Natalie's blog several years ago, and I am so excited and proud of her and her family for answering the Lord's call to "care for orphans . . . in their distress" (James 1:27). So for a chance to donate to place a child with this wonderful family, and for a chance to win some great prizes, check out her giveaway here!
Have I mentioned that Gwen is over 21 months old now? I can't believe she is approaching her second birthday already! It feels like she was just born.
I have an update post on Miss Gwen coming soon, but one unique aspect to her personality is just how spunky and daring she can be. Derek and I joke with each other that she has no proper sense of danger. And while she can occasionally come close to giving me a heart attack, I also love that she is willing to take risks - and as she grows, I want to teach her to channel that risk-taking into the most important areas, like taking risks for Jesus, in order to further God's kingdom!
Because of this aspect of Gwen's personality, I think the Brave Girls Bible Stories book will be perfect for her as she grows older! It's a new Bible storybook by Tommy Nelson geared toward girls who are 4-12 (it seems like a wide range, but I think there are different aspects that would appeal to different age groups).
The book begins with introducing the five modern-day "Brave Girls" - Hope, Glory, Honor, Gracie, and Faith. Each Brave Girl has a different interest and personality, so girls reading this book will be able to identify with at least one of these characters! There is also a fun quiz in the back of the book to tell your daughter which Brave Girl she is most like. I took it for fun, and I'm a mix between Glory and Honor. I'm guessing Gwen will be a mix between Hope (the tomboy), and Glory (the one who loves beautiful things)!
Through the rest of the book the Brave Girls take turns talking about different stories of women in the Bible - how they were brave and how God used them to do great things for Him! Even though this book is geared more toward older girls, I have been reading a story to Gwen each night anyway, and we have been enjoying it. Gwen loves her "pink Bible", and the colorful pictures are fun for her to look at, even if she can't quite understand the stories yet. I think this will be a favorite for her as she grows! I am excited to see the other Brave Girl resources that Tommy Nelson will publish in the future too.
If you have a toddler or school-aged girl, I definitely recommend checking out this book! I know I would have loved it when I was a girl, and I am excited for Gwen because I know she will love it as she gets bigger.
For more info, you can check out this letter from the Tommy Nelson Team to girl moms, or check out a preview of the Brave Girls Bible Stories book here. Or watch this cute video!
Note: I received a copy of the Brave Girls Bible Stories book for free from Tommy Nelson in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I have an update post on Miss Gwen coming soon, but one unique aspect to her personality is just how spunky and daring she can be. Derek and I joke with each other that she has no proper sense of danger. And while she can occasionally come close to giving me a heart attack, I also love that she is willing to take risks - and as she grows, I want to teach her to channel that risk-taking into the most important areas, like taking risks for Jesus, in order to further God's kingdom!
Because of this aspect of Gwen's personality, I think the Brave Girls Bible Stories book will be perfect for her as she grows older! It's a new Bible storybook by Tommy Nelson geared toward girls who are 4-12 (it seems like a wide range, but I think there are different aspects that would appeal to different age groups).
The book begins with introducing the five modern-day "Brave Girls" - Hope, Glory, Honor, Gracie, and Faith. Each Brave Girl has a different interest and personality, so girls reading this book will be able to identify with at least one of these characters! There is also a fun quiz in the back of the book to tell your daughter which Brave Girl she is most like. I took it for fun, and I'm a mix between Glory and Honor. I'm guessing Gwen will be a mix between Hope (the tomboy), and Glory (the one who loves beautiful things)!
Through the rest of the book the Brave Girls take turns talking about different stories of women in the Bible - how they were brave and how God used them to do great things for Him! Even though this book is geared more toward older girls, I have been reading a story to Gwen each night anyway, and we have been enjoying it. Gwen loves her "pink Bible", and the colorful pictures are fun for her to look at, even if she can't quite understand the stories yet. I think this will be a favorite for her as she grows! I am excited to see the other Brave Girl resources that Tommy Nelson will publish in the future too.
If you have a toddler or school-aged girl, I definitely recommend checking out this book! I know I would have loved it when I was a girl, and I am excited for Gwen because I know she will love it as she gets bigger.
For more info, you can check out this letter from the Tommy Nelson Team to girl moms, or check out a preview of the Brave Girls Bible Stories book here. Or watch this cute video!
Note: I received a copy of the Brave Girls Bible Stories book for free from Tommy Nelson in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
(I originally took this photo for The Peony Project's Instagram feed.)
I have decided to do an in-depth study of the book of Hebrews - to read why, check out my first post in this series!
I think the main thing that I have learned so far is that if you don't understand the Hebrew culture and traditions, you are not going to understand Hebrews. Which totally makes sense since this is a letter to Hebrew Christians. I thought I knew a decent amount about Judaism, but there are so many subtleties in the Hebrew traditions, and knowing those subtleties goes a long way in understanding where the writer of Hebrews is coming from.
The main point of chapter one is that Jesus is better than Moses and the angels.
As a modern day Christian I was thinking "Well, of course He is! Why are we reading about this?"
I learned that this was not actually a given for the early Hebrew Christians.
The Hebrew Christians that are addressed in this letter came out of the Old Covenant of sacrifices to cover their sins. In the Old Covenant, the High Priest would sacrifice a bull to atone for the sins of the people, as well as his own sins, and he had to do this year after year. This was a system passed down through Moses, and it was given to Moses by God, through angels.
But then God became a man (Jesus) and brought about a New Covenant that changed everything. The Hebrews weren't sure how much of the Old Covenant they should keep. They didn't understand the sufficiency of the New Covenant that Jesus brought through sacrificing Himself for our sins.
The writer of Hebrews was trying to show them that this New Covenant was fully sufficient and superior to the Old Covenant. It replaced the Old Covenant, because it was better. In order to show them that the new was better than the old, he needed to show them that Jesus is better than Moses, and the angels who they believe passed the Old Covenant to Moses.
I think my favorite aspect of chapters one and two is that the writer shows with Old Testament scriptures why Jesus is better than Moses and Angels - it's such a smart way to do it since the Old Testament scriptures obviously carried a lot of weight for the Hebrews.
The author of Hebrews goes over so many ideas through the scriptures he quotes. Jesus has inherited a more excellent name than angels because He is called Son. He made the worlds. All things are made by Him and for Him. All things will be put in subjection under Jesus.
And then after all that, Hebrews reminds us that even though Jesus is so much better than everyone and everything, He is not ashamed to call us brethren. We are His children.
As His children, He holds us in His hand, and through his death and resurrection He releases His children from bondage to sin.
As His brethren, He was made like us in all things. He was tempted like we are. And He can aid us because He overcame those temptations and lived a sinless life.
He doesn't give aid to angels, but He does give aid to us. He became a perfect sacrifice for our sins, and we are His children when we believe in Him.
What a beautiful thing to belong to Jesus.
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In addition to studying Hebrews, I have decided to try to memorize it as well.
I'm not sure why, but I recently picked up a book that has been sitting in my shelf for years, called His Word In My Heart by Janet Pope. It is all about memorizing Scripture.
I used to memorize chapters of the Bible as a girl, but I haven't memorized any new verses in years. This book really made me want to start memorizing Bible verses again - if you need some motivation, I definitely recommend it. The whole thing was very timely, because I started reading this book right as I started studying Hebrews - so it only seemed natural to start my memorization with Hebrews.
Ever since I decided to memorize Hebrews, I've been hearing about the importance of Scripture memorization everywhere, so I think it's just a confirmation that this is a good thing to focus on right now. I've also realized how much more I get out of Bible study when I memorize the verses that I'm studying! It makes a big difference to me in remembering the context, and I understand the subtleties of each verse so much better when I can remember all the verses around it. That is especially useful when studying book that is as complex as Hebrews.
So all that to say, my goal is to memorize a chapter a week. I've got the first two chapters of Hebrews down. I'm falling a little behind in my memorization schedule, but I'm working on chapters three and four now to try to catch up.
I recorded a vlog of me saying Hebrews 1-2 from memory, because knowing I have to record myself saying the verses is good motivation! Here it is - I'm reciting from the NKJV if you want to follow along, though I know I mixed up a couple of the words in this video.
If any of you want to join me in memorizing chapters of the Bible (whether it's from Hebrews or a different book), I'd love it if you'd post a video of yourself saying your verses - then come back here and let me know so I can check it out!
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