Quiet Time Tip #4 – Taste Scriptures
Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
The kitchen, it’s the place where I feed my weary pilgrims breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a sacred place where our hearts join as we feast on simple pleasures of temporal food. But it’s also the place where we as a family feast on the eternal truths of God’s word. As we rise in the morning, I open my “kitchen Bible” and we read.
Words fall off the pages and fill our starving souls to the brim with hearty words of hope, joy, peace and comfort. And so we feel compelled to write. The goal: to write out the entire book of I John by the end of the summer.
My beginning writer sits with pencil in his hand and the feast of God’s word before him. He begins to write out the Book of 1 John. He struggles not with God’s truth but with the writing. He wants to do it perfectly, he erases and starts again. He erases and starts again. He erases and starts again. God’s word is seeping into his soul as he labors over his word.
It’s my daughter’s turn. She follows big brother’s example. She sits with pencil in hand eager to write out the living water before her. She writes and laughs. She writes and sings. She writes and gulp gulp gulp the truth of God’s word tastes good!
Words fall off the pages and fill our starving souls to the brim with hearty words of hope, joy, peace and comfort. And so we feel compelled to write. The goal: to write out the entire book of I John by the end of the summer.
My beginning writer sits with pencil in his hand and the feast of God’s word before him. He begins to write out the Book of 1 John. He struggles not with God’s truth but with the writing. He wants to do it perfectly, he erases and starts again. He erases and starts again. He erases and starts again. God’s word is seeping into his soul as he labors over his word.
It’s my daughter’s turn. She follows big brother’s example. She sits with pencil in hand eager to write out the living water before her. She writes and laughs. She writes and sings. She writes and gulp gulp gulp the truth of God’s word tastes good!
Mommy sits down with her prayer journal and she too writes. For she can only teach her little pilgrims what she herself has experienced so she writes. The words are so familiar. She’s been here before many times. The words are smooth and fulfilling to her soul. And her joy overflows as her children taste and see that the Lord is good.
If you are struggling in your quiet times and not sure what to do next. Consider writing the truth of God’s word. Read. Pause. Write. Pause. Meditate on it – drink it, gulp it, taste and see that it is good!
Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
Walk with the King!
great idea Courtney! I think I will do that too!
what a precious time together, im sure they will remember this forever! i see the pictures and imagine them as strong men and women of our future!!! my mom was the same, she made sure we made time for our quiet time in the mornings. it was part of our chores/list to do each day. im thankful for her doing that as i still make it part of my list each day. way to go Godly mommies 🙂
-liz young
What a great idea Courtney. At my kitchen table is where I often read Bible.
Hi! Courtney, just love your blog! I especially love this post! those children are just precious!! Don't forget to save some of those precious memories of their writings!! This is so sweet! Blessings; to you for your time in training! The scripture you wrote, is going on my chalk board in kitchen today!! Love It!:)
Hi Courtney this is awesome. We are doing the same thing in our home, meditation on God word instead of letting the TV, computer and video games consume us! I do my journal in the morning in my quite time and love going back through it and reading what God put on my hear that day! Thank you for the great reminder!
Hugs
Sonya
Courtney, this is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. You are a treasure and your children are being brought up in such a loving home!!!
That is such a great idea! I would never think to do something like that.
I'm studying 1 Peter…maybe I'll write it all out. I know I remember better if I write something out.
What are you going to do with them when you're done writing?
I'm sure you'll save the kids, but what do you do with yours?
Just curious 🙂
Coffee and a Mop,
Mine is written in my prayer journal – I use one 5 subject notebook a year. So when this year ends I start a new one.
So my writing of First John will be in the back of my 2010 journal.
I plan to 3 hole punch the kid's writings and put them in a binder.
Love,
Courtney
Courtney, you said you use one notebook a year – what do you write? Just whatever inspires you, something different each day, or do you start at Genesis at the beginning of the year and just keep going? Is there a method to the madness? 😉
It's no different then rehearsing a choir hymn over and over till it sounds right, till it sticks,till you know it. What a wonderful way to learn Gods word …through writing it down.till it sticks, till they know it. In the end you've taught them the gift of prayer. Whether we sing it, read it or write it, it's prayer. Prayer draws us closer to the Lord and thats just where we all need to be. Especially our children. You have been chosen. Bless you.
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing, very inspirational!
HB – I have journaled since I was 16. It started out a prayer journal. Daily I journaled my daily praises and prayer requests.
Then I added in my confessions, praises and prayer requests.
Then I added in what I was learning in my quiet times.
Then I added in moments from my daily life and what God was teaching me.
Then I added in golden nuggets and quotes from books or blogs I'm reading.
Then I added in…more and more…there is no rhyme or reason – just simply a journal of what God is teaching me along the road of life!
It's a record of my walk with God – one of my most precious treasures on earth! (and I think that my blogging has birthed from these years of writing on paper)
Courtney
I read and write scripture often. Sometimes I feel silly or wasteful doing it but I hope that it will help the WORD remain within me. Who knows how much of the Bible I have written 🙂
Courtney-
Even seeing what your kids do every day encourages my own quiet time. One thought that immediately came to mind looking at those pictures is that your kids are going to make wonderful Godly adults one day. It may sound weird, but I seriously just got this overwhelming feeling like, "Wow, those kids are set," or something like that! Just had to share. I commented on your FB status about the game of LIFE this morning too lol.
Carly
How wonderful that you are teaching them to do as you do. Having them write out the scripture is such a great discipline! I can't wait to do this with my little one! Only a few more years until he can write!
this is a wonderful idea I love the idea for my teens as well as they try to place the word in their hearts so that they will be able to share at a moments notice of need
Love it! We are using a Reason for Handwriting next year in homeschooling and I really love how they get kids writing and meditating on a Scripture. I am praying that I can make it exciting in helping my kids learn more of God's Word! 🙂
For the last year or so I have always wrote a review of what I read for the day. It helps me catch things that I might not get if I am just reading and closing the bible. I also choose a focus scripture. This journal has been a blessing to me.
Thanks for sharing.
Do you still homeschool?
Yep! We are homeschooling again next year – sooooo excited! I love it!
Courtney
Love that you are writing it out. I read, but I haven't been writing it. It will help soak in better, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing, Courtney!
What a wonderful idea. Thank you!
Great tip! I haven't written out whole books at a time, but I do love writing down whatever verse(s) I am studying for the day. Such a great way to memorize, too. 🙂
It seems so simple, but it's always sure to show us new things and help our hearts and heads focus.
What a beautiful message and family!
Praise the Lord!
I love this post! Thanks for sharing a super idea, we may start that this summer, too! 🙂
Refreshing and encouraging post. Always nice to see the moms with the kids and see pics as examples. Really helps things sink in the old grey matter 😉
What an awesome, beautiful idea!