Saturday, January 31, 2009

Mega Memory Month Celebration

First of all, have you entered my giveaway? There aren't very many comments on that post yet! It may not be a very extravagant gift, but it's an extremely valuable one. If you haven't already, don't forget to comment to win!

I hope that you've had as wonderful an experience with Mega Memory Month as I have. The great thing is that even if you didn't meet your goal, your work has not been wasted--even a small amount of God's Word memorized is valuable truth embedded in your mind.

If you've accomplished your memorization goal, your tendency may be to put it aside with a sense of satisfaction. Do that, and you'll find that in a month or so, those words won't come to mind so easily. You wouldn't want to lose so quickly what you worked so hard to attain, would you?

The good news is, retaining your memory work from here on out requires very, very little of you. You don't have to look at flash cards, or spend time studying, or practice typing it out. Just say it one time through, every day. That's all! Do it while you're in the shower, or just before you go to sleep at night. Match it to an established habit so that the reinforcement practice comes automatically while you're getting dressed, while you're doing dishes, or while you're driving to work.

Recite it once every day from now until May 9--about 100 days. I know, it seems like a lot. But this is not requiring anything extra of you. No extra time, no extra struggles to remember. You already know it--just say it, just once! Some days you'll forget, and that's okay. But if you do this, trust me: not only will you remember it a month from now, when others have already lost some of their work to brain fog. Two years from now, you'll still be able to rattle off the passage you worked so hard to memorize!

So, are you with me? Once a day for 100 days--then it will be so much a part of your daily life that running through it again once a week or so for life will be second nature. It will stick with you permanently (or at least until your mind really starts to go!).

OK, enough with the pep talk and on to my celebration :) Below is a video of me reciting Milton Vincent's Gospel Narrative. I can't bear to watch it (does anyone actually like to see or hear herself??) but Steve says it went okay, so I hope hearing these words will be a blessing to you. In the interest of full disclosure, I messed up about three lines from the end and had to stop and correct myself, so we spliced the video. I've loved meditating on this truth all month, and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to use it in my life!


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's W O N D E R F U L!!

You're so beautiful, but more importantly, the summary of Scripture said in such easy-to-understand phrasing is fabulous. You have a beautiful, articulate voice as you recite this long, long selection with conviction. Indeed, "thank you, Jesus!"

Your call to review is excellent. I hope to hold onto John 14 better this time and build on it, instead of spending half the month smashing it back into my brain again.

Thank you for joining Mega Memory Month! What a treat to get to know you better and grow from your insight. You're a woman of wisdom, and I hope many people find you and enjoy your posts, because I know I have!

Pauline said...

I know what you mean about not liking to look or listen to yourself (I feel EXACTLY the same way) but you look beautiful and you speak beautifully and listening to you was joyous "O)
Is is ok to post your video on my blog because that passage you have learned is how I would love people to hear about Jesus- just like your own personal testimony... any Christians I mean. It was just like your own personal testimony even though the words weren't "yours" as such. They really are in a way aren't they and they explain it all so beautifully!
I can see why you would desire to learn it! And congratulations too on so much memorisation! Totally brilliant!

Anonymous said...

You're so beautiful, but more importantly, the summary of Scripture said in such easy-to-understand phrasing is fabulous.

Zoanna said...

Woo-hoo! Kudoes! Hats off! Cheers! Way to go! I'm so, so impressed, Amy. Wow, what a long, long passage to memorize, but you recited it with such conviction and smoothness that it sounds like your own.

How good to finally hear your voice. It reminds me of the Shakespeare quote that hung above the door of my all-women's Catholic college's cafeteria: "Her voice was ever soft, gentle and low--an excellent thing in woman." (I guess they hoped it would be a hint, but judging from the cacophany within, it failed.)

Anyway, you have a terrific 100-day charge, but I'm afraid that I couldn't keep it, so I won't commit to it. However, I will recite my passage quite often to stay fresh. It's been so good.

PS Once I am truly humbled by Phil 2, I MAY record myself saying it. I hate my voice on tape.

Anonymous said...

Great job, Amy! I agree, your speaking voice is beautiful! I accomplished my goal and finished memorizing Ps. 19 too. I am going to continue meditating on it for some weeks to make sure it sticks before starting something else.

Esther said...

Nice job, very well done.

Really? 100 days will do it? I am almost paniced with the thought of losing all I have worked so hard to gain, so I will put this 100 day thing to the test.
Thanks

Jennifer said...

"You wouldn't want to lose so quickly what you worked so hard to attain, would you?"

You ask that question in your post, and it's funny, but that's almost a direct quote from part of my MMM passage in Philippians: "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." Hmmmm. I sense a theme! :) It's so true that maintainin what is already memorized is much easier than memorizing it in the first place, and I'm constantly amazed at how securely God writes the word on my heart. He is so good!

I've so enjoyed hearing about the Gospel Narrative from you, and now to have heard some of the words themselves is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Jennifer

Jennifer said...

And thanks for stopping by PeaceLedge with your words of blessing. I've loved the community of MMM.

Amy said...

Please don't anyone be impressed with me--the ability I have to memorize easily is truly a gift from God--but I hope you are impressed, as I am, with the amazing beauty of the words and the truth they express!

As for the 100-day challenge: YES, it works, and don't be afraid to try even if you think you won't be able to follow through every single day! The first time I used my method was in memorizing Romans 8. I tried to recite it every day for 100 days, but I definitely missed some here and there. No matter--it truly did stick. I am amazed that I still have it two years later.

If you do 100 days, you can then cut back to once a week, or at least once every couple of weeks. To truly have it continue to roll off your tongue easily, you really do have to do it forever. But as I said in my post, it requires very little effort to do so--and it's always a beneficial practice to set your mind on Scripture, anyhow!

I'm exhorting myself here, too--though I retained Romans 8, I have lost sections of 1 Corinthians 15 because I didn't follow through with the retaining process. I'm determined not to let this one slip out of my mind!

Anonymous said...

Wow! way to go, amy!!! You're so pretty. :)

Sarah D. said...

Congratulations! What a lovely recitation. =) May I post a link on my blog?

Amy said...

Thanks, Sarah. Sure, you're always welcome to link, no need to ask.

me said...

Amy,
That was terrific!!
I too, want to post it to my blog! It is a wonderful testimony of the gospel for the unsaved and the saved!

So glad you are joining in the love challenge this month. May God give you grace to learn yet another passage!

May God richly bless you as you live for His glory!!

Dea

Sarah D. said...

Thanks, Amy! =)

Anonymous said...

It is pure joy to listen to you recite Milton Vincent's Gospel Prose. You have brought great glory to God in your discipline. I sent the link to Milton and his response was, "Wow, she really does a beautiful job. She has the sweetest spirit about her as she presents it. What a blessing."

It is indeed a blessing, and that Spirit is both sweet and Holy. Thank you for sharing the gospel with so many.