Exercising My Brain

This brain of mine is in need of some exercising!



With all this humidity that we've been experiencing the last week or so, the barometric pressure has affected me in such a manner that it literally hurts my head to even THINK! The pressure is so intense, the pain is moving to my face and even my jawline. Sometimes it seems that even blinking my eyes causes me distress! The pain in behind my eyes can get so intense (Matt, how do you spell 'intense'? [wink, wink]) that I have to lay down with complete silence surrounding me.



My late mother-in-law, who studied nursing, told me a story of how years ago doctors would have bricks put around a person laying in bed who was suffering from arthritis, to keep them from moving. They thought that keeping the patient still was the best therapy. However, as time went on, researchers found that the opposite was the most therapeutic..... they needed to get moving, be active, and not be stationary.



So I figure since my head hurts, I need to do some brain exercises. Maybe that will help my brain from seizing up and experiencing brain freeze.... although I don't think anything could freeze in this humidity!!!!







Last December I started reading a blog, Angie Smith's Bring The Rain, and she challenged her readers to join her in memorizing Scripture. They set out to memorize all 24 verses of Psalm 139 within about two weeks. I thought I would give it a try with them and I did pretty well at the beginning..... lost a bit of steam.... regained some momentum..... and now I kind of know most of it, but could improve immensely. Twenty-four verses is a LOT, but I looked back to when I was just a wee one and I remember Mrs. Wilson teaching me in Sunday School and we were instructed to memorize Psalm 23. If I could memorize a whole six verses when I was ten or twelve years old, then I'm sure twenty-four shouldn't be a problem now, right?



I recently came across Psalm 121 and decided that would make for some good memorizing, and I've decided that's my next Scripture to memorize.



And what I'm wondering is...... how many of you brave souls out there want to join me? It's good to do it with someone else because you can encourage one another (or try to get a verse ahead of them! Ooooo..... it's OK to be competitive when memorizing Scripture, isn't it? haha).



So, what say you, gang? Wanna give it a whirl? We can break it down like Angie did....
Day One - Verse 1
Day Two - Verse 2
Day Three - Review Verses 1 & 2
Day Four - Verse 3
Day Five - Verse 4
Day Six - Review Verses 1 -4
Day Seven - Verse 5.............
and so on.
Every three days is a review.



I'm gonna start soon, so anyone who wants to learn along with me, let me know. I have heard so many sermons lately about getting into the Bible, reading God's Word, memorizing Scripture, quoting Scripture through the hard times, etc. that I realized I HAVE to do this. I have quoted portions of Psalm 139 as situations arise and am thankful that I can refer back to it, even though it's not 100% memorized yet. I have always appreciated people who could pull Scripture from the filing cabinets in their brains.... even giving the reference as well! That's amazing. I want to be able to do that.



Don't use the excuse that you're not good at memorizing. I used to say that too. Of course the Lord wants His Word in our hearts, so through the Holy Spirit we will be able to do it. The older I am getting, the more I am realizing this is so important. Wish someone had kicked my butt into doing this a long time ago, just like when I was a kid.



Thank you, Mrs. Wilson, for kicking my butt when I was little. Why have you stopped? hahahaha



So, Psalm 121. Below are both the New International Version and the King James Version; however, if you choose to join me, you can use any version you like. I haven't decided yet which one I'll memorize, I like both NIV and KJV.



Psalm 121 (New International Version)
A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.



Psalm 121 (King James Version)
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

And maybe you are currently memorizing something else. If so, let me know.... maybe I'll memorize your choices along with you!

We don't know what tomorrow holds, and someday we might have our Bibles taken from us....... then what will we do?



Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.(Psalm 119:11 KJV)



Have you hid it in your heart? Well then, let's get crackin', shall we?