The Gift That Keeps On Giving
A few weeks ago a sweet friend gifted me 2 succulents that are currently sitting on my windowsill awaiting their certain death. She told me they were impossible to kill but she doesn't know that I successfully killed a chia pet thereby securing my place as "bringer of death" to all things green. Don't get me wrong, I try! But even though she gave me this lovely gift that can, in theory, be enjoyed long-term, I'm not holding my breath - too much of the success depends on me.
But what if we could give a beautiful, living gift that doesn't depend at all on the recipient? What if this gift was a seed that was bursting with possibility, impossible to kill and guaranteed to grow wherever planted? What if these seeds were free and unlimited and medicinal and nourishing and beautiful? Would you give them away? Would you be constantly looking for hands you can drop some in? This has become my new mission - or perhaps more truly, my new adventure!
"For the word of God is living and active..." Hebrews 4:12
This living, beautiful gift DOES exist and it is the very Word of God.
"The Word is alive and it knows what to do with you even when you don't know what to do with it." - Rachel Jankovic
Don't you love that thought?!? This means that we can eat God's Word and feed it to our young children and offer it to our unbelieving co-workers and lay it as a feast before our neighbors and EVEN IF we don't know what to do with those words, they know what to do with us!
Do you want to have an exciting day? Carry a set of scripture cards in your purse or pocket or briefcase and ask God to show you who to give them to. It is scary and exciting and wonderful! I have given sets to people I am close with and strangers that I barely know and NEVER, not once, has anyone been offended or put out with the offering. It is something significant you can offer someone that doesn't hurt and can only help no matter what their situation.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Here are some FREE downloadable sets that I have already assembled with a brief description of each. Why not host a girls night this summer and have some friends over to laminate, cut, and put together several sets that you can give away as the Lord leads? And don't forget to print a copy for you own family as well! (If you are viewing this on a phone the links may not show up so you can find all of the following sets HERE.)
Scripture Cards for Anxiety - This is an adaptation of a set of index cards I carried in my purse for years. Having struggled with anxiety for most of my life, I clung to these verses in waiting rooms and dark nights and throughout life's many uncertainties. Anxiety is a growing epidemic - especially among today's youth. We fight fear with truth so the next time someone confides in you about something that is keeping them up at night - give them something true to hold onto.
Night Light Cards - Big, Bright Bible Verses that Make You Brave! - My son inspired this newest set of scripture cards when he found out one of his friends was having recurring nightmares. I would love for every child to have a set of these cards sitting on their nightstand - even my 3 year old requests "night light stories". Children are never too young for God's word! Remember, even if they don't know what to do with it, it knows what to do with them!
Scripture Cards for Grief - We all know people who have gone through unimaginable loss and hardship. In the midst of these trials we often struggle to know the right things to say. The only words that are strong enough to hold up under such grief are God's words. His words are always right and true and full of life. Who do you know who could use words like this right now?
ABC x3 Memory Cards - These are the cards we use for Bible memorization. You can watch a brief video about how we use them here. These make a great gift for anyone who would like a simple system for memorizing scripture as a family.
"The Word is alive and it knows what to do with you even when you don't know what to do with it." - Rachel Jankovic
Scripture is literally the gift that keeps on giving. Go crazy. Be generous. Give freely!
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11
For More Scripture Memory Resources click HERE