March 3, 2023 • 36 mins
Memorizing Scripture is one of the best ways to protect ourselves from temptation, worry, and lies in a culture that seems to be growing darker by the day.
In this episode of Kiss the Son Podcast, we are joined again by Abby Houston, creator of Melodically Memorizing and Instagram manager of Wholehearted, to discuss practical ways to spend quality time in Scripture, and ways to memorize Scripture so that we might hide the truth of God’s Word in our hearts and minds.
To learn more about Melodically Memorizing visit melodicallymemorizing.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Kiss the Sun podcast.
(00:10):
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Abby Houston.
Ethan and I were blessed to be able to sit down and talk with Abby Houston about practical
tips and pitfalls to avoid as we immerse ourselves in scripture and then we discuss likely memorizing.
How Abby began the ministry.
(00:33):
We talk about practical ways of how to use the melodies and we give some tips and encouragement
as we seek to hide God's word in our heart.
Our prayer for this episode is that you will be encouraged to better immerse yourself in
scripture and begin to set a pattern of scripture memory.
(00:54):
Thanks for listening.
Here we go for episode two of Kiss the Son podcast with Abby Houston.
What tips would you guys give to someone looking to start a pattern of scripture immersion?
(01:19):
I think this is so simple, but I think sometimes like just starting and the book of John is
a great place to start.
It's like super, it's simple and it's a really clear gospel.
And just start and it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
Something that my church really encourages the congregants to do is to do 10 minutes
(01:39):
of praying, 10 minutes of reading, and then 10 minutes of meditating on the passage.
And super simple.
So just start with something as simple as that and it doesn't have to be this great,
huge, you don't necessarily, if you have the time, great, spend an hour.
But if you don't, that's okay and that can be really intimidating to do, to think, what
do I do in that hour?
But if you're like, I don't even know where to start, I would encourage you pick either
(02:02):
the gospel of John and then move forward until you hit Revelation and start back in Genesis
and just do 10 minutes of reading, meditating on the passage.
What did I see about God?
What did I see about his commands?
What is my response?
Was I convicted of anything?
And then pray for 10 minutes.
That would be a simple suggestion.
(02:23):
Yeah I would just say start small.
I feel like that's the simple way to begin.
Start making it a priority.
Yeah, because it's like, it is really hard.
It looks daunting when you hear someone being like, man, they were in the Word for a whole
hour and then they were-
Start in numbers.
Yeah, just start small I feel like is the best thing because once you immerse yourself
(02:49):
in it a little bit, a little bit, a little bit, it becomes sweeter and sweeter and sweeter.
And then you're like, all right, I can sell myself up so much more.
And now you can be like, I want to spend more and more and more and more time.
And I can say that in my own life.
Like it just started small and now it's just growing and growing, which is just a testimony
of God's grace.
(03:09):
And so I feel like you just got to start.
That's the first thing and then start small.
Small steps lead to bigger steps in God's Word.
And so what warnings and pitfalls, Ethan already mentioned those sort of numbers, but what
(03:31):
other warnings and pitfalls would you guys give as someone looking to immerse themselves
in scripture?
I think something that I was thinking about is be careful to not just store up knowledge
(03:52):
or to do it for the sake of I'm just checking off a box or I'm just, I'm going to be the
smartest person in the room when I read.
And we do, we are made wise by scripture and that's so great.
But scripture says like knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
And so I think remembering that scripture, it's not about us.
It's about the Lord.
He is the main character.
(04:12):
And so as we read, we get to learn about the Lord and who he is.
We get to know him intimately and accurately.
And so like just be warned.
I have to warn myself every time I approach scripture.
Abby, you're not doing this to just build up knowledge for knowledge sake.
This is to know the Lord so I can love him more and love those around me more.
It's funny how pride likes to sneak in and just weird places like that.
(04:37):
I struggle with the same thing.
I would say in addition to that, depending on the reader, some might take the Bible at
a literalist approach or some may take the Bible at a metaphorical approach.
You got different books.
The Bible is compiled as 66 books.
(05:00):
They're not all going to be the same.
They've all been written over the span of thousands of years.
You look at the comparison between numbers and you look at the between numbers and to
John.
They're totally different stories.
Genesis primarily focuses on history.
It's a record of the Israelites and how God started.
(05:25):
So you're not reading the Old Testament the same as you're reading the New Testament.
Not to say it's less valuable or not to say it's more valuable, just it's different.
So my warning or just caution or awareness, I should say, not even really a warning, just
don't look at every book in the Bible the same.
(05:46):
Take a step back and look at the big picture.
You're looking at a storyline that is, I mean, up until 2,000 years ago, this was the history
and you're reading about that.
And it's a big picture.
So you got all different forms of writing and some meanings are expressed differently
(06:12):
depending on the writer.
So just something to be thinking about.
I sort of mentioned what I was going to mention, but I think it's just such a good reminder
making sure that when you read, you're not doing it to just finish a task.
And I know that that's happened in my own life.
Like growing up, I feel like there were just so many things.
It was like, check the box, check the box, check the box, like do this, like for Sunday
(06:35):
school or whatever.
But you can easily fall into that rut of you're just doing it to check the box.
I can't think of the exact quote, but there was a guy that my youth group always enjoyed
hearing speak.
And he had a quote, something very similar to like, don't read the Bible to check it
off, but read the Bible to change.
It's just something along those lines.
(06:56):
But I think it's just such a good reminder.
As we go into the Word, we just can't read it to check it off.
We have to go in to it ready to be corrected, ready to be sharpened, ready to be edified
and ready to renounce sin and ready to redirect how we walk.
(07:18):
And I think another thing I was reminded of this actually on the radio this morning, I
felt like this is just a good reminder, but context.
Context is also very important when you read scripture, because if you pick up in the middle
of a book, you're going to be totally lost to some of these things.
So context is crucial.
(07:39):
I think that's just another good warning is like, make sure to start in chapter one if
you're going to pick up it somewhere, because you'll probably get lost and a little bit
confused if you don't know much about scripture.
So start in a good place and read a little bit about context and just sort of understand
(08:00):
a little bit before you get into some of that stuff.
So as you guys have sort of evaluated the past year of scripture immersion in your own
life, how do you seek to improve it in 2023?
I know for me, one of the big things that the Lord's really been convicting me about
(08:22):
setting the proper hour to study scripture.
And I think of a photographer seeking to often do photography during golden hour.
And so I've asked myself, what is the golden hour of my life?
What is the best hour that I can devote to scripture?
(08:45):
Because I feel like in my life, it changes just because of the way my work is, it changes
all the time and just different seasons of life, it changes.
For me, I feel like I've had to really like about the best hour to be in it because you
may be a really good morning person, you're able to do that, or you may be a night owl
and immerse yourself late night in scripture.
(09:07):
But like wherever that time is, make sure that you maximize the time that you're at
your fullest energy level, ready to devour the word and just give the Lord your best
time.
Because I feel like that is just so crucial because we can just so easily be like, all
right, I'll push it all, push it all, push it all.
And then it's like, you're just reading it and you don't remember much of it.
(09:32):
Or you just like speed read it because you're like, well, I have to get it done today.
So I'll just speed read it.
Well for me, my time is in the morning.
So I think if I read anything at night, I instantly fall asleep after about five seconds.
So I pretty much have that window in the morning where I drink my coffee.
(09:56):
And I know that kind of goes along with what you do with your ministry.
I see you're a bit of a coffee fanatic as am I.
So coffee and scripture go very well together.
And that is probably my best time.
But I would say for 2023, to improve it kind of the same as it was last year, read it more.
(10:22):
Life, work, so many things pulling you in different directions.
And you start off strong, you start off with good intentions, and then you look up a month
later and you go, oh my goodness.
I've completely lost track that I haven't even been keeping up with this and I haven't
even realized it.
So I think just being aware of that if I miss a day or miss the time in the morning to just
(10:47):
not even forget about it, but to realize that shortly after and use that time.
And I would also say to not put a standard for myself, do I have to read for a set time,
but read what I can.
And then if I have a free moment in the day to read when I can.
(11:07):
So much of my free time is spent for stuff that could wait.
And that would be another thing I'd like to better myself at.
When I have free moments throughout the day to just open up the Bible and read maybe a
couple of verses or a chapter, it doesn't take long.
And it's better for me than some of the procrastinations that constantly, well, live in these, you
(11:32):
know, little black boxes we carry around in our pockets.
So.
That's good.
That's so funny.
That's what I was thinking too this year is just really similarly just continuing on.
And then something I've been doing two things.
One is just like, just forcing myself to take notes on what I read.
And it's crazy how much you can learn in Leviticus or in Numbers, like if you just take notes.
(11:57):
And it's amazing.
Like I saw so much of God's character in that.
And it was so awesome.
And it was so encouraged by just like, OK, what did I see about God?
What did I see about His commands?
What did I see?
And then I think just throughout the day, it's so easy for me to lose sight of, to read.
And that is like my, it truly is my favorite time of the day to be with coffee and to be
(12:18):
in the Word and to meditate and then to, to meditate on His Word I should say, and then
to move on with my day.
But it's so easy for me to forget.
And so I think something that I've been praying is just that the Lord would keep scripture
on my heart and on my mind throughout the day so that I do meditate on His a lot day
and night.
You know?
Absolutely.
(12:39):
I was just thinking of like, like good note-taking as I take the notes.
Like what does that, what does that mean?
Like as I'm, as I'm taking the notes, as I'm like, I'm making the observations, like how
do I apply that to my life?
Like how am I seeing the character of God like more fully shown, like in a passage as
I, as I'm taking notes.
And so I feel like it's just the, the importance of like taking those notes, but then also
(13:04):
figuring like how does that apply?
How does that guide my life, my, my praying and just so many like other facets.
I feel like just taking good notes and then also applying those notes.
I feel like it's just so, so good.
It's a good, good process.
Yeah.
(13:25):
So moving now into scripture memory, because we talked a lot about immersion.
And so as we read His word, we also should be memorizing, we should be hiding it in our
hearts so that we would not sin so much against God.
(13:45):
And so as, as we think about this new year, another year to memorize scripture, there
are so many opportunities now to, to not only read and immerse ourselves in scripture, but
also to memorize it, to know it, to think about it in our daily lives.
So Abby, you've done a ton of work in this field.
(14:08):
So tell us a little bit about, um, melodically memorizing and how it got started.
Yeah.
So melodically memorizing, it started in 2020, July of 2020.
And so backstory a little bit.
I love music.
I've been singing and like singing with my family ever since I can remember.
Really it started, my dad has an amazing voice and he, like, he just, he would love to sing
(14:32):
with us.
And, but me and my sister, my other sister, and then my brother, in order to pass the
time for dishes, we were like, well, we got to do something.
So we'd like sing, right?
So we just, we grew, I grew up singing and it was so fun.
And then I started writing my own music and I love writing my own music.
I just, the Lord gives me so much joy and enjoyment in that.
(14:52):
And so, um, so I started writing my own music and, um, then in high school I had a youth
pastor who was so like instrumental.
He and his wife were so instrumental in my life and they, um, both desired us students
at the church to know scripture.
And so he actually put scripture in music.
He just pulled out his guitar and I think it was about 20 verses, um, that he had us
(15:16):
memorize over the course of two years.
And it was like, I could still probably sing you the, the melodies themselves because they
just stuck.
And I think music for anyone, it really, like, it's really embedded in your heart.
Um, I mean, that's why commercials have songs, right?
So you can remember their numbers or you can remember their names.
Um, so music is really just, it's really powerful.
(15:37):
But um, so I could still remember like the verses that he put to music.
We'll fast forward about four years post high school and I was, the pandemic had hit and
I was like, man, we all, the world needs truth.
The world does not need another opinion.
The world needs truth.
And so, and I was struggling with scripture memory because I had tried several different
(15:59):
forms and for me it was, nothing was sticking.
And so I thought, you know what, what if I try what pastor Tim did?
I could, I could try and put scripture to music.
Um, and I thought I'm just going to stick it on Instagram just for fun.
It'll keep me accountable.
It will hopefully, you know, hopefully others can join in and enjoy it too.
Um, and like by God's grace, so many people have joined.
(16:23):
There's about 20,000 people who are singing and hopefully enjoying these melodies, which
is, yeah, it's so encouraging to see so many people, um, just excited about memorizing
scripture together, one melody at a time.
And it's been so, it's been so refreshing for me.
Yeah, that is, that is just awesome to hear.
And I, I think as you were talking about, like the melodies, I think it's, uh, it's
(16:45):
not obviously our, our theme of the podcast, but I think it is a good reminder that, that
what we listen to is important.
Well, what we put in our ears is important because I know for me, like, there are things
that like you can memorize without even like realizing that you're memorizing them.
It is like a little bit scary sometimes, like how quickly like things can like stick and
(17:09):
like melodies and all that stuff, they just stick really well.
So like, we have to make sure that we put in good things into our ears.
It's like, what better thing to put scripture with a melody into our ears?
Like what else, what else is better than that?
So Abby, what tips would you give for using the melodies?
Yeah, well, I think, um, listen and repeat, man, like that's, that's key.
(17:35):
I think is just listening and repeating, uh, something that I will do too.
If I'm like in the middle of writing a melody, um, because sometimes I'll have, I'll write
it, I'll put it on a voice note and then like while I'm cleaning, while I'm doing the dishes,
while I'm doing my work on, I work at home and so I'll be on the laptop and I will just
play like the melody over and over or drives, I'll drive to and from church and have that
(17:58):
thing rolling.
And it's so, that's really key.
Honestly, it's just listening and repeating it.
Um, and then I think too, if you have kids, like expose them to the melody and it's been
really sweet for me to see a lot of moms send in videos of their, of their kids singing
these melodies, not because they're mine, but because they're singing scripture, they're
singing the truth of God's word and it's so sweet.
(18:19):
Um, so yeah, like meditate on them.
And if you play an instrument, like try to play along, like that just further helps that
memory or that, that melody to stick in your memory.
Yeah.
Those are some really good, good tips, definitely that just repeat, put it on a repeat.
I feel like it's just so good.
Cause you have a couple of volumes on Spotify.
(18:41):
I know I've been listening to those and like I put those on a reef.
I did not know that.
Yes.
Yes.
It was funny.
It was funny.
Like one time, like I was listening to it.
I was, when I was, when we actually started working on everlasting rock, it's sort of
when I became acquainted with your stuff.
And so I was like listening to your melodies, like as I was building the website, doing
(19:01):
the meticulous work of doing all that stuff.
And I was just hearing the melodies.
It was interesting.
Like a couple of months ago, working, I working in kitchen.
So I was like doing some stuff all of a sudden.
I just remembered like the melody, like instantly, it was just like there.
And it was just like, wow.
And like now I'm like, it just comes like naturally.
Cause now I can like still hear it in my head.
It's just like so cool of like how we just like put it into our ears, put it on repeat.
(19:26):
It's just, it's like amazing how like the Lord has just gifted our, our minds to be
able to, to remember those, those things through music.
And so what tips slash recommendations would you guys give so that by God's grace, we can
better memorize scripture in 2023?
(19:47):
Well I think you said it, Ethan, just make it a priority, right?
Like, you know, making it a priority and sticking to it.
Cause I think, which quote was that?
I think it was either, I think it was MacArthur that growth does not happen by osmosis.
And so you really, you need to set your mind to it that this is something I'm going to
do.
I'm not going to be perfect at it.
(20:07):
And so I might fail and that's okay.
But like growth is just, it's consistent.
And so stay consistent.
And if it's melodically memorizing, great.
If that is a terrible method for you, don't use it.
Use something else.
Like use a verse card, use the first letter of every, you know, whatever it is.
Like, so just stick to it, find a method that works and stick to it.
(20:30):
Well if you're anything like me and you struggle with memorization, I am very excited to try
this.
I mean, I have always grown up with the typical memorization.
In fact, when I was 13 years old, I was in a Bible class with maybe 12 other kids.
(20:51):
And it was a lot of fun and we memorized the book of Matthew and it was a Quizlet thing.
And we would actually tour across the state and we compete against other churches and
it would basically, you would be asked questions at this board and if you would have to answer,
press the button first and answer, finish the text.
(21:11):
And it was a lot of fun.
And from that moment, I realized I enjoyed memorization, but it takes hard work.
It takes a lot of dedication and it takes time.
So I think the recommendation I would have would be just don't get ahead of yourself
and get frustrated with yourself if you don't know or memorize a lot in just the first two
(21:32):
weeks.
It's going to take a lot of time.
It's going to take dedication and it might be something that you won't even see or notice
the progress, but years down the road, if you've been consistent with it, you're going
to notice at that point of how far you have come and there are verses that will stick
in your brain that you will have at the ready when you need to say them.
(21:52):
So stick with it.
Well, I was going to say the same thing.
And just to add onto that, I totally agree.
There have been so many times where it's just, it's important to keep that eternal perspective.
Like, why am I memorizing?
Because it's so easy to get defeated and like, okay, this is pointless.
I'm not good at it.
It's hard.
But there have been so many times where I have been so thankful.
I've memorized a certain passage because the Lord instantly brings it to mind either
(22:15):
when I'm talking with someone or when I am tempted to sin and the Lord brings it to mind,
whatever it is.
Like, I'm like, praise the Lord.
I had that hidden in my heart.
And so keep that in mind too when you're memorizing that there's the goal in mind and it's to
become more like Christ and to love Him more.
So this effort right now, it's going to be worth it.
(22:35):
I know it's hard and it takes a struggle, but it's worth it.
I think it's just like, you just got to start.
You just got to start small and just start.
And I know like from looking back, like many years ago, like I was able to memorize a lot
(22:55):
of scripture and like churches like often like have done that where it's like they like
memorize scripture like when you're like younger, but then when you like grow out of like high
school and you go into youth group or college, like oftentimes it just becomes less and less
of a priority.
But it's like really just recovering that priority of like of starting small and just
(23:17):
beginning to work and just hear the word preached I think is a great way to begin to remember
where scripture is.
And even sometimes like I love doing is just like when I hear scripture, I'm trying to
think through of where is that in the tech, trying to like put a reference with it.
And I just like just starting small, setting some goals and just by God's grace, just
(23:41):
immersing yourself in scripture, listening to the melodies, putting them on repeat and
just doing this like very simple things.
I feel like you're able to learn so much about scripture and then just having to like continually
recite them.
I think it's just another important thing is like once you memorize them, you have to
go back and back to them and just continually to repeat them and just refresh yourselves.
(24:04):
Because if you memorize and then you don't visit it in a long time, you probably won't
remember much of it.
And so just you have to go back to what you've memorized.
And so I think this is just a good reminder that it is all by God's grace that we can
(24:25):
memorize scripture.
Like he's given us eyes to see and ears to hear his word.
And so it's all by God's grace.
It's all by his blessings that he bestows on us that we can even read scripture in our
(24:46):
own language.
And there's just so many blessings of it.
And so as we strive to memorize and immerse ourselves in scripture, we have to remember
that it is by God's grace.
And so there's going to be times when you're not able to memorize scripture, where you're
(25:06):
going to struggle through something.
You're going to struggle to keep that consistent pattern of devoting yourself to scripture.
And there's going to be times where that happens.
And so you have to remember God's grace through it all as we're working to know scripture
(25:28):
and memorize scripture.
It's all by God's grace.
And so when you fall, pray for strength and then get back on your feet.
And just realize that as you walk the path of scripture immersion and scripture memory,
it'll become easier and easier and a delight as we immerse ourselves in his word.
(25:50):
It's just going to become more of a delight where we want to know scripture and we want
to be able to recite scripture and know it so that it can be said of us that when we
are pricked, as Spurgeon said, that the bib line would flow out of us.
And so I pray that that is our goal.
(26:12):
But we have to remember it's all by his grace.
We can strive, we can set goals, everything.
But if the Lord does not give his strength and his grace to us, we're not going to be
able to accomplish any of these goals that we set out for.
And so, Abby, you do a lot of writing.
(26:33):
And so I asked Abby to share an article that she had written that I think really sums up
just the reminder that it is like when we go to scripture about God's grace, that not
every single time we hop open scripture, it's going to be easy.
There's going to be days when it's going to be hard, when we're going to have to have
(26:59):
to do it and realize that there's going to be hard text.
We're going to work through numbers and Leviticus and just some of those books that are harder
to read.
And then there's going to be times when you get through those books, when you would get
to a passage of scripture and you read it and it is good, but then you're cut to the
(27:20):
heart about your sin and you're weeping over your sin.
And so there's going to be hardships in this scripture journey.
It's not going to be just an easy time every single time that we go into it.
And so I think it's such a good reminder that we need to take.
(27:42):
And I think Abby's article does a good job of really telling about what that journey
should look like when we experience those hardships.
Yes, it says, to the one struggling to keep a consistent quiet time, to the one struggling
to know where to start, to the one overwhelmed by the seemingly big task of reading scripture,
(28:04):
I know how you feel and know that you're not alone.
We've all been in that place, but take heart that the Lord does not love us more or less
based on our consistency, our perfect plan or length of time, our quiet time lasts.
He looks at our hearts.
Do you long to love Jesus?
Do you long to know him more accurately through his word?
(28:24):
Do you long to obey him?
That dear Christian is the Lord at work in your heart.
And as you start, you may not be as consistent as you want.
You may need to switch plans to find what works best for you.
You won't understand it all.
And that's OK.
What matters most is not you being perfect for you will never be.
What matters instead is you be holding him through his word day after day and becoming
(28:46):
more and more like him over time.
He is patient.
Thank you, Abby, for that reminder.
Abby, where can people follow your work in Melodically Memorizing?
Yeah, so people can follow Melodically Memorizing on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, all at
(29:08):
Melodically Memorizing.
And then my personal account where I do more of those writings is at Joyfully.Abby on
Instagram.
All right, awesome.
Thank you.
And Abby also works for Wholehearted, which is also a tremendous ministry that I've just
become aware of just recently through some of her work.
(29:30):
And so, Abby, can you tell us a little bit about Wholehearted as well?
Yeah, absolutely.
Wholehearted is I love that.
So I actually it's a company that helps people cultivate, create, cultivate and enjoy a quiet
time with Jesus.
And so they sell we sell these journals, these quiet time journals.
And you have your yes, I have mine too.
(29:52):
Yeah.
Poor people, people listening.
This is your cue.
It's your cue, Ethan.
You got to get one.
But they're so good.
And it helps it lay out your quiet time really in a structured way.
And yet it still gives you a lot of flexibility with when you've done it.
Like it doesn't we don't have any dates.
(30:12):
So you can date it wherever if you miss a date, that's OK.
Right.
So but it's a really, really great tool that I've used for three years.
And I've just now started working as their social media manager of actually a year ago.
So I've been with them about a year.
And I love the company.
The people are great.
And it's just a joy to serve people who want to have that quiet time with the Lord consistently.
(30:35):
Sounds like both of those things can go together hand in hand quite well.
I know they do.
It's kind of cool.
Yeah.
Well, I've been a huge fan of the Quiet Time Companion because I've always taken notes for
a long time.
And I finally just tried it out.
And I was like, all right, helps you to be very thoughtful, I think, at the end of because
(30:55):
I feel like that's what I would do is I would finish reading.
I would take all those notes and then I would try to sort of put it all together.
But I feel like it wasn't always succinct there.
And now I feel like just the way they designed it.
It's nice to be able to put it all there and see everything through, pray through and just
really process what all the truths that you saw as you immerse yourself in scripture.
(31:19):
So I would highly recommend checking that out as well.
And so as we wrap up our time and Abby, thank you so much for joining us.
Real quick, I have a silly question.
Have you written any melodies for like genealogy, say like Matthew chapter one?
(31:40):
No, but I can.
No.
I would love to hear one of those.
Do Matthew one.
Like a tongue twister.
I know.
I know.
No, actually, funny story.
Ali Stuckey had done a she she had this dream where she was kind of making fun of people
who were saying, oh, I had this prophetic dream, right?
She said she had this dream about first kings, something.
(32:01):
I don't remember which passage it was.
But someone she posted about it on Instagram and said, oh, like someone said, Abby should
make a melody to this.
So I did.
And Ali and I were kind of laughing about it.
But that's the that's a random passage I've done.
But no.
Well, I may have just threw you a curveball there.
Genealogy singing that is probably a little hard.
(32:23):
But I'd love to see your attempt.
I'm sure you could probably make it beautiful.
And what seems impossible to memorize may be possible to memorize.
And maybe a little bit easier with the melody then.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Much easier with the melody.
Yeah.
All right.
So as we wrap up our time on this episode, I wanted to to end with Psalm 119 again to
(32:52):
to really close out our time in the word of God.
And I as I looked and just tried to figure out what scriptures I wanted to read, I read
this one and I felt like it was just such a a good reminder.
This is what it says, Psalm 119 verses 33 through 48.
(33:15):
It says this.
Take me, oh Yahweh, in the way of your statutes, that I may observe it to the end.
Cause me to understand that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.
Cause me to walk in the path of your commandments, fry the light in it.
(33:40):
Cause my heart to incline to your testimonies and not to dishonest gain.
Cause my eyes to turn away from looking at worthlessness and revive me in your ways.
Cause your word to be established for your slave as that which produces fear for you.
Pause my reproach, which I dread to pass away, for your judgments are good.
(34:02):
Behold, I long for your precepts.
Revive me in your righteousness.
May your loving kindness also come to me, oh Yahweh, your salvation according to your
word.
So I will have an answer for him who approaches me, for I trust in your word.
(34:22):
And do not take away the word of truth utterly from my mouth, for I wait for your judgments.
So I will keep your law continually forever and ever.
And I will walk in a wide place, for I seek your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and I shall not be ashamed.
(34:44):
I shall delight in your commandments, which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love.
And I will muse on your statutes.
May that be our prayer.
May we be able to say that we trust in God's word.
(35:08):
As we immerse ourselves in scripture, as we seek to memorize it, may God show us grace.
May he help us to observe it and to keep it.
May he correct us of sin in our lives.
And may we be edified and walk in a more holy way as we immerse ourselves in the word of
(35:36):
God.
Thank you so much for listening to the Kiss the Son podcast.
To listen to more of our episodes, head over to everlastingrock.net.
That's everlastingrock.net.
And be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
Thanks again for joining us.
Welcome back to Kiss the Sun podcast.
(00:10):
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Abby Houston.
Ethan and I were blessed to be able to sit down and talk with Abby Houston about practical
tips and pitfalls to avoid as we immerse ourselves in scripture and then we discuss likely memorizing.
How Abby began the ministry.
(00:33):
We talk about practical ways of how to use the melodies and we give some tips and encouragement
as we seek to hide God's word in our heart.
Our prayer for this episode is that you will be encouraged to better immerse yourself in
scripture and begin to set a pattern of scripture memory.
(00:54):
Thanks for listening.
Here we go for episode two of Kiss the Son podcast with Abby Houston.
What tips would you guys give to someone looking to start a pattern of scripture immersion?
(01:19):
I think this is so simple, but I think sometimes like just starting and the book of John is
a great place to start.
It's like super, it's simple and it's a really clear gospel.
And just start and it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
Something that my church really encourages the congregants to do is to do 10 minutes
(01:39):
of praying, 10 minutes of reading, and then 10 minutes of meditating on the passage.
And super simple.
So just start with something as simple as that and it doesn't have to be this great,
huge, you don't necessarily, if you have the time, great, spend an hour.
But if you don't, that's okay and that can be really intimidating to do, to think, what
do I do in that hour?
But if you're like, I don't even know where to start, I would encourage you pick either
(02:02):
the gospel of John and then move forward until you hit Revelation and start back in Genesis
and just do 10 minutes of reading, meditating on the passage.
What did I see about God?
What did I see about his commands?
What is my response?
Was I convicted of anything?
And then pray for 10 minutes.
That would be a simple suggestion.
(02:23):
Yeah I would just say start small.
I feel like that's the simple way to begin.
Start making it a priority.
Yeah, because it's like, it is really hard.
It looks daunting when you hear someone being like, man, they were in the Word for a whole
hour and then they were-
Start in numbers.
Yeah, just start small I feel like is the best thing because once you immerse yourself
(02:49):
in it a little bit, a little bit, a little bit, it becomes sweeter and sweeter and sweeter.
And then you're like, all right, I can sell myself up so much more.
And now you can be like, I want to spend more and more and more and more time.
And I can say that in my own life.
Like it just started small and now it's just growing and growing, which is just a testimony
of God's grace.
(03:09):
And so I feel like you just got to start.
That's the first thing and then start small.
Small steps lead to bigger steps in God's Word.
And so what warnings and pitfalls, Ethan already mentioned those sort of numbers, but what
(03:31):
other warnings and pitfalls would you guys give as someone looking to immerse themselves
in scripture?
I think something that I was thinking about is be careful to not just store up knowledge
(03:52):
or to do it for the sake of I'm just checking off a box or I'm just, I'm going to be the
smartest person in the room when I read.
And we do, we are made wise by scripture and that's so great.
But scripture says like knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
And so I think remembering that scripture, it's not about us.
It's about the Lord.
He is the main character.
(04:12):
And so as we read, we get to learn about the Lord and who he is.
We get to know him intimately and accurately.
And so like just be warned.
I have to warn myself every time I approach scripture.
Abby, you're not doing this to just build up knowledge for knowledge sake.
This is to know the Lord so I can love him more and love those around me more.
It's funny how pride likes to sneak in and just weird places like that.
(04:37):
I struggle with the same thing.
I would say in addition to that, depending on the reader, some might take the Bible at
a literalist approach or some may take the Bible at a metaphorical approach.
You got different books.
The Bible is compiled as 66 books.
(05:00):
They're not all going to be the same.
They've all been written over the span of thousands of years.
You look at the comparison between numbers and you look at the between numbers and to
John.
They're totally different stories.
Genesis primarily focuses on history.
It's a record of the Israelites and how God started.
(05:25):
So you're not reading the Old Testament the same as you're reading the New Testament.
Not to say it's less valuable or not to say it's more valuable, just it's different.
So my warning or just caution or awareness, I should say, not even really a warning, just
don't look at every book in the Bible the same.
(05:46):
Take a step back and look at the big picture.
You're looking at a storyline that is, I mean, up until 2,000 years ago, this was the history
and you're reading about that.
And it's a big picture.
So you got all different forms of writing and some meanings are expressed differently
(06:12):
depending on the writer.
So just something to be thinking about.
I sort of mentioned what I was going to mention, but I think it's just such a good reminder
making sure that when you read, you're not doing it to just finish a task.
And I know that that's happened in my own life.
Like growing up, I feel like there were just so many things.
It was like, check the box, check the box, check the box, like do this, like for Sunday
(06:35):
school or whatever.
But you can easily fall into that rut of you're just doing it to check the box.
I can't think of the exact quote, but there was a guy that my youth group always enjoyed
hearing speak.
And he had a quote, something very similar to like, don't read the Bible to check it
off, but read the Bible to change.
It's just something along those lines.
(06:56):
But I think it's just such a good reminder.
As we go into the Word, we just can't read it to check it off.
We have to go in to it ready to be corrected, ready to be sharpened, ready to be edified
and ready to renounce sin and ready to redirect how we walk.
(07:18):
And I think another thing I was reminded of this actually on the radio this morning, I
felt like this is just a good reminder, but context.
Context is also very important when you read scripture, because if you pick up in the middle
of a book, you're going to be totally lost to some of these things.
So context is crucial.
(07:39):
I think that's just another good warning is like, make sure to start in chapter one if
you're going to pick up it somewhere, because you'll probably get lost and a little bit
confused if you don't know much about scripture.
So start in a good place and read a little bit about context and just sort of understand
(08:00):
a little bit before you get into some of that stuff.
So as you guys have sort of evaluated the past year of scripture immersion in your own
life, how do you seek to improve it in 2023?
I know for me, one of the big things that the Lord's really been convicting me about
(08:22):
setting the proper hour to study scripture.
And I think of a photographer seeking to often do photography during golden hour.
And so I've asked myself, what is the golden hour of my life?
What is the best hour that I can devote to scripture?
(08:45):
Because I feel like in my life, it changes just because of the way my work is, it changes
all the time and just different seasons of life, it changes.
For me, I feel like I've had to really like about the best hour to be in it because you
may be a really good morning person, you're able to do that, or you may be a night owl
and immerse yourself late night in scripture.
(09:07):
But like wherever that time is, make sure that you maximize the time that you're at
your fullest energy level, ready to devour the word and just give the Lord your best
time.
Because I feel like that is just so crucial because we can just so easily be like, all
right, I'll push it all, push it all, push it all.
And then it's like, you're just reading it and you don't remember much of it.
(09:32):
Or you just like speed read it because you're like, well, I have to get it done today.
So I'll just speed read it.
Well for me, my time is in the morning.
So I think if I read anything at night, I instantly fall asleep after about five seconds.
So I pretty much have that window in the morning where I drink my coffee.
(09:56):
And I know that kind of goes along with what you do with your ministry.
I see you're a bit of a coffee fanatic as am I.
So coffee and scripture go very well together.
And that is probably my best time.
But I would say for 2023, to improve it kind of the same as it was last year, read it more.
(10:22):
Life, work, so many things pulling you in different directions.
And you start off strong, you start off with good intentions, and then you look up a month
later and you go, oh my goodness.
I've completely lost track that I haven't even been keeping up with this and I haven't
even realized it.
So I think just being aware of that if I miss a day or miss the time in the morning to just
(10:47):
not even forget about it, but to realize that shortly after and use that time.
And I would also say to not put a standard for myself, do I have to read for a set time,
but read what I can.
And then if I have a free moment in the day to read when I can.
(11:07):
So much of my free time is spent for stuff that could wait.
And that would be another thing I'd like to better myself at.
When I have free moments throughout the day to just open up the Bible and read maybe a
couple of verses or a chapter, it doesn't take long.
And it's better for me than some of the procrastinations that constantly, well, live in these, you
(11:32):
know, little black boxes we carry around in our pockets.
So.
That's good.
That's so funny.
That's what I was thinking too this year is just really similarly just continuing on.
And then something I've been doing two things.
One is just like, just forcing myself to take notes on what I read.
And it's crazy how much you can learn in Leviticus or in Numbers, like if you just take notes.
(11:57):
And it's amazing.
Like I saw so much of God's character in that.
And it was so awesome.
And it was so encouraged by just like, OK, what did I see about God?
What did I see about His commands?
What did I see?
And then I think just throughout the day, it's so easy for me to lose sight of, to read.
And that is like my, it truly is my favorite time of the day to be with coffee and to be
(12:18):
in the Word and to meditate and then to, to meditate on His Word I should say, and then
to move on with my day.
But it's so easy for me to forget.
And so I think something that I've been praying is just that the Lord would keep scripture
on my heart and on my mind throughout the day so that I do meditate on His a lot day
and night.
You know?
Absolutely.
(12:39):
I was just thinking of like, like good note-taking as I take the notes.
Like what does that, what does that mean?
Like as I'm, as I'm taking the notes, as I'm like, I'm making the observations, like how
do I apply that to my life?
Like how am I seeing the character of God like more fully shown, like in a passage as
I, as I'm taking notes.
And so I feel like it's just the, the importance of like taking those notes, but then also
(13:04):
figuring like how does that apply?
How does that guide my life, my, my praying and just so many like other facets.
I feel like just taking good notes and then also applying those notes.
I feel like it's just so, so good.
It's a good, good process.
Yeah.
(13:25):
So moving now into scripture memory, because we talked a lot about immersion.
And so as we read His word, we also should be memorizing, we should be hiding it in our
hearts so that we would not sin so much against God.
(13:45):
And so as, as we think about this new year, another year to memorize scripture, there
are so many opportunities now to, to not only read and immerse ourselves in scripture, but
also to memorize it, to know it, to think about it in our daily lives.
So Abby, you've done a ton of work in this field.
(14:08):
So tell us a little bit about, um, melodically memorizing and how it got started.
Yeah.
So melodically memorizing, it started in 2020, July of 2020.
And so backstory a little bit.
I love music.
I've been singing and like singing with my family ever since I can remember.
Really it started, my dad has an amazing voice and he, like, he just, he would love to sing
(14:32):
with us.
And, but me and my sister, my other sister, and then my brother, in order to pass the
time for dishes, we were like, well, we got to do something.
So we'd like sing, right?
So we just, we grew, I grew up singing and it was so fun.
And then I started writing my own music and I love writing my own music.
I just, the Lord gives me so much joy and enjoyment in that.
(14:52):
And so, um, so I started writing my own music and, um, then in high school I had a youth
pastor who was so like instrumental.
He and his wife were so instrumental in my life and they, um, both desired us students
at the church to know scripture.
And so he actually put scripture in music.
He just pulled out his guitar and I think it was about 20 verses, um, that he had us
(15:16):
memorize over the course of two years.
And it was like, I could still probably sing you the, the melodies themselves because they
just stuck.
And I think music for anyone, it really, like, it's really embedded in your heart.
Um, I mean, that's why commercials have songs, right?
So you can remember their numbers or you can remember their names.
Um, so music is really just, it's really powerful.
(15:37):
But um, so I could still remember like the verses that he put to music.
We'll fast forward about four years post high school and I was, the pandemic had hit and
I was like, man, we all, the world needs truth.
The world does not need another opinion.
The world needs truth.
And so, and I was struggling with scripture memory because I had tried several different
(15:59):
forms and for me it was, nothing was sticking.
And so I thought, you know what, what if I try what pastor Tim did?
I could, I could try and put scripture to music.
Um, and I thought I'm just going to stick it on Instagram just for fun.
It'll keep me accountable.
It will hopefully, you know, hopefully others can join in and enjoy it too.
Um, and like by God's grace, so many people have joined.
(16:23):
There's about 20,000 people who are singing and hopefully enjoying these melodies, which
is, yeah, it's so encouraging to see so many people, um, just excited about memorizing
scripture together, one melody at a time.
And it's been so, it's been so refreshing for me.
Yeah, that is, that is just awesome to hear.
And I, I think as you were talking about, like the melodies, I think it's, uh, it's
(16:45):
not obviously our, our theme of the podcast, but I think it is a good reminder that, that
what we listen to is important.
Well, what we put in our ears is important because I know for me, like, there are things
that like you can memorize without even like realizing that you're memorizing them.
It is like a little bit scary sometimes, like how quickly like things can like stick and
(17:09):
like melodies and all that stuff, they just stick really well.
So like, we have to make sure that we put in good things into our ears.
It's like, what better thing to put scripture with a melody into our ears?
Like what else, what else is better than that?
So Abby, what tips would you give for using the melodies?
Yeah, well, I think, um, listen and repeat, man, like that's, that's key.
(17:35):
I think is just listening and repeating, uh, something that I will do too.
If I'm like in the middle of writing a melody, um, because sometimes I'll have, I'll write
it, I'll put it on a voice note and then like while I'm cleaning, while I'm doing the dishes,
while I'm doing my work on, I work at home and so I'll be on the laptop and I will just
play like the melody over and over or drives, I'll drive to and from church and have that
(17:58):
thing rolling.
And it's so, that's really key.
Honestly, it's just listening and repeating it.
Um, and then I think too, if you have kids, like expose them to the melody and it's been
really sweet for me to see a lot of moms send in videos of their, of their kids singing
these melodies, not because they're mine, but because they're singing scripture, they're
singing the truth of God's word and it's so sweet.
(18:19):
Um, so yeah, like meditate on them.
And if you play an instrument, like try to play along, like that just further helps that
memory or that, that melody to stick in your memory.
Yeah.
Those are some really good, good tips, definitely that just repeat, put it on a repeat.
I feel like it's just so good.
Cause you have a couple of volumes on Spotify.
(18:41):
I know I've been listening to those and like I put those on a reef.
I did not know that.
Yes.
Yes.
It was funny.
It was funny.
Like one time, like I was listening to it.
I was, when I was, when we actually started working on everlasting rock, it's sort of
when I became acquainted with your stuff.
And so I was like listening to your melodies, like as I was building the website, doing
(19:01):
the meticulous work of doing all that stuff.
And I was just hearing the melodies.
It was interesting.
Like a couple of months ago, working, I working in kitchen.
So I was like doing some stuff all of a sudden.
I just remembered like the melody, like instantly, it was just like there.
And it was just like, wow.
And like now I'm like, it just comes like naturally.
Cause now I can like still hear it in my head.
It's just like so cool of like how we just like put it into our ears, put it on repeat.
(19:26):
It's just, it's like amazing how like the Lord has just gifted our, our minds to be
able to, to remember those, those things through music.
And so what tips slash recommendations would you guys give so that by God's grace, we can
better memorize scripture in 2023?
(19:47):
Well I think you said it, Ethan, just make it a priority, right?
Like, you know, making it a priority and sticking to it.
Cause I think, which quote was that?
I think it was either, I think it was MacArthur that growth does not happen by osmosis.
And so you really, you need to set your mind to it that this is something I'm going to
do.
I'm not going to be perfect at it.
(20:07):
And so I might fail and that's okay.
But like growth is just, it's consistent.
And so stay consistent.
And if it's melodically memorizing, great.
If that is a terrible method for you, don't use it.
Use something else.
Like use a verse card, use the first letter of every, you know, whatever it is.
Like, so just stick to it, find a method that works and stick to it.
(20:30):
Well if you're anything like me and you struggle with memorization, I am very excited to try
this.
I mean, I have always grown up with the typical memorization.
In fact, when I was 13 years old, I was in a Bible class with maybe 12 other kids.
(20:51):
And it was a lot of fun and we memorized the book of Matthew and it was a Quizlet thing.
And we would actually tour across the state and we compete against other churches and
it would basically, you would be asked questions at this board and if you would have to answer,
press the button first and answer, finish the text.
(21:11):
And it was a lot of fun.
And from that moment, I realized I enjoyed memorization, but it takes hard work.
It takes a lot of dedication and it takes time.
So I think the recommendation I would have would be just don't get ahead of yourself
and get frustrated with yourself if you don't know or memorize a lot in just the first two
(21:32):
weeks.
It's going to take a lot of time.
It's going to take dedication and it might be something that you won't even see or notice
the progress, but years down the road, if you've been consistent with it, you're going
to notice at that point of how far you have come and there are verses that will stick
in your brain that you will have at the ready when you need to say them.
(21:52):
So stick with it.
Well, I was going to say the same thing.
And just to add onto that, I totally agree.
There have been so many times where it's just, it's important to keep that eternal perspective.
Like, why am I memorizing?
Because it's so easy to get defeated and like, okay, this is pointless.
I'm not good at it.
It's hard.
But there have been so many times where I have been so thankful.
I've memorized a certain passage because the Lord instantly brings it to mind either
(22:15):
when I'm talking with someone or when I am tempted to sin and the Lord brings it to mind,
whatever it is.
Like, I'm like, praise the Lord.
I had that hidden in my heart.
And so keep that in mind too when you're memorizing that there's the goal in mind and it's to
become more like Christ and to love Him more.
So this effort right now, it's going to be worth it.
(22:35):
I know it's hard and it takes a struggle, but it's worth it.
I think it's just like, you just got to start.
You just got to start small and just start.
And I know like from looking back, like many years ago, like I was able to memorize a lot
(22:55):
of scripture and like churches like often like have done that where it's like they like
memorize scripture like when you're like younger, but then when you like grow out of like high
school and you go into youth group or college, like oftentimes it just becomes less and less
of a priority.
But it's like really just recovering that priority of like of starting small and just
(23:17):
beginning to work and just hear the word preached I think is a great way to begin to remember
where scripture is.
And even sometimes like I love doing is just like when I hear scripture, I'm trying to
think through of where is that in the tech, trying to like put a reference with it.
And I just like just starting small, setting some goals and just by God's grace, just
(23:41):
immersing yourself in scripture, listening to the melodies, putting them on repeat and
just doing this like very simple things.
I feel like you're able to learn so much about scripture and then just having to like continually
recite them.
I think it's just another important thing is like once you memorize them, you have to
go back and back to them and just continually to repeat them and just refresh yourselves.
(24:04):
Because if you memorize and then you don't visit it in a long time, you probably won't
remember much of it.
And so just you have to go back to what you've memorized.
And so I think this is just a good reminder that it is all by God's grace that we can
(24:25):
memorize scripture.
Like he's given us eyes to see and ears to hear his word.
And so it's all by God's grace.
It's all by his blessings that he bestows on us that we can even read scripture in our
(24:46):
own language.
And there's just so many blessings of it.
And so as we strive to memorize and immerse ourselves in scripture, we have to remember
that it is by God's grace.
And so there's going to be times when you're not able to memorize scripture, where you're
(25:06):
going to struggle through something.
You're going to struggle to keep that consistent pattern of devoting yourself to scripture.
And there's going to be times where that happens.
And so you have to remember God's grace through it all as we're working to know scripture
(25:28):
and memorize scripture.
It's all by God's grace.
And so when you fall, pray for strength and then get back on your feet.
And just realize that as you walk the path of scripture immersion and scripture memory,
it'll become easier and easier and a delight as we immerse ourselves in his word.
(25:50):
It's just going to become more of a delight where we want to know scripture and we want
to be able to recite scripture and know it so that it can be said of us that when we
are pricked, as Spurgeon said, that the bib line would flow out of us.
And so I pray that that is our goal.
(26:12):
But we have to remember it's all by his grace.
We can strive, we can set goals, everything.
But if the Lord does not give his strength and his grace to us, we're not going to be
able to accomplish any of these goals that we set out for.
And so, Abby, you do a lot of writing.
(26:33):
And so I asked Abby to share an article that she had written that I think really sums up
just the reminder that it is like when we go to scripture about God's grace, that not
every single time we hop open scripture, it's going to be easy.
There's going to be days when it's going to be hard, when we're going to have to have
(26:59):
to do it and realize that there's going to be hard text.
We're going to work through numbers and Leviticus and just some of those books that are harder
to read.
And then there's going to be times when you get through those books, when you would get
to a passage of scripture and you read it and it is good, but then you're cut to the
(27:20):
heart about your sin and you're weeping over your sin.
And so there's going to be hardships in this scripture journey.
It's not going to be just an easy time every single time that we go into it.
And so I think it's such a good reminder that we need to take.
(27:42):
And I think Abby's article does a good job of really telling about what that journey
should look like when we experience those hardships.
Yes, it says, to the one struggling to keep a consistent quiet time, to the one struggling
to know where to start, to the one overwhelmed by the seemingly big task of reading scripture,
(28:04):
I know how you feel and know that you're not alone.
We've all been in that place, but take heart that the Lord does not love us more or less
based on our consistency, our perfect plan or length of time, our quiet time lasts.
He looks at our hearts.
Do you long to love Jesus?
Do you long to know him more accurately through his word?
(28:24):
Do you long to obey him?
That dear Christian is the Lord at work in your heart.
And as you start, you may not be as consistent as you want.
You may need to switch plans to find what works best for you.
You won't understand it all.
And that's OK.
What matters most is not you being perfect for you will never be.
What matters instead is you be holding him through his word day after day and becoming
(28:46):
more and more like him over time.
He is patient.
Thank you, Abby, for that reminder.
Abby, where can people follow your work in Melodically Memorizing?
Yeah, so people can follow Melodically Memorizing on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, all at
(29:08):
Melodically Memorizing.
And then my personal account where I do more of those writings is at Joyfully.Abby on
Instagram.
All right, awesome.
Thank you.
And Abby also works for Wholehearted, which is also a tremendous ministry that I've just
become aware of just recently through some of her work.
(29:30):
And so, Abby, can you tell us a little bit about Wholehearted as well?
Yeah, absolutely.
Wholehearted is I love that.
So I actually it's a company that helps people cultivate, create, cultivate and enjoy a quiet
time with Jesus.
And so they sell we sell these journals, these quiet time journals.
And you have your yes, I have mine too.
(29:52):
Yeah.
Poor people, people listening.
This is your cue.
It's your cue, Ethan.
You got to get one.
But they're so good.
And it helps it lay out your quiet time really in a structured way.
And yet it still gives you a lot of flexibility with when you've done it.
Like it doesn't we don't have any dates.
(30:12):
So you can date it wherever if you miss a date, that's OK.
Right.
So but it's a really, really great tool that I've used for three years.
And I've just now started working as their social media manager of actually a year ago.
So I've been with them about a year.
And I love the company.
The people are great.
And it's just a joy to serve people who want to have that quiet time with the Lord consistently.
(30:35):
Sounds like both of those things can go together hand in hand quite well.
I know they do.
It's kind of cool.
Yeah.
Well, I've been a huge fan of the Quiet Time Companion because I've always taken notes for
a long time.
And I finally just tried it out.
And I was like, all right, helps you to be very thoughtful, I think, at the end of because
(30:55):
I feel like that's what I would do is I would finish reading.
I would take all those notes and then I would try to sort of put it all together.
But I feel like it wasn't always succinct there.
And now I feel like just the way they designed it.
It's nice to be able to put it all there and see everything through, pray through and just
really process what all the truths that you saw as you immerse yourself in scripture.
(31:19):
So I would highly recommend checking that out as well.
And so as we wrap up our time and Abby, thank you so much for joining us.
Real quick, I have a silly question.
Have you written any melodies for like genealogy, say like Matthew chapter one?
(31:40):
No, but I can.
No.
I would love to hear one of those.
Do Matthew one.
Like a tongue twister.
I know.
I know.
No, actually, funny story.
Ali Stuckey had done a she she had this dream where she was kind of making fun of people
who were saying, oh, I had this prophetic dream, right?
She said she had this dream about first kings, something.
(32:01):
I don't remember which passage it was.
But someone she posted about it on Instagram and said, oh, like someone said, Abby should
make a melody to this.
So I did.
And Ali and I were kind of laughing about it.
But that's the that's a random passage I've done.
But no.
Well, I may have just threw you a curveball there.
Genealogy singing that is probably a little hard.
(32:23):
But I'd love to see your attempt.
I'm sure you could probably make it beautiful.
And what seems impossible to memorize may be possible to memorize.
And maybe a little bit easier with the melody then.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Much easier with the melody.
Yeah.
All right.
So as we wrap up our time on this episode, I wanted to to end with Psalm 119 again to
(32:52):
to really close out our time in the word of God.
And I as I looked and just tried to figure out what scriptures I wanted to read, I read
this one and I felt like it was just such a a good reminder.
This is what it says, Psalm 119 verses 33 through 48.
(33:15):
It says this.
Take me, oh Yahweh, in the way of your statutes, that I may observe it to the end.
Cause me to understand that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.
Cause me to walk in the path of your commandments, fry the light in it.
(33:40):
Cause my heart to incline to your testimonies and not to dishonest gain.
Cause my eyes to turn away from looking at worthlessness and revive me in your ways.
Cause your word to be established for your slave as that which produces fear for you.
Pause my reproach, which I dread to pass away, for your judgments are good.
(34:02):
Behold, I long for your precepts.
Revive me in your righteousness.
May your loving kindness also come to me, oh Yahweh, your salvation according to your
word.
So I will have an answer for him who approaches me, for I trust in your word.
(34:22):
And do not take away the word of truth utterly from my mouth, for I wait for your judgments.
So I will keep your law continually forever and ever.
And I will walk in a wide place, for I seek your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and I shall not be ashamed.
(34:44):
I shall delight in your commandments, which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love.
And I will muse on your statutes.
May that be our prayer.
May we be able to say that we trust in God's word.
(35:08):
As we immerse ourselves in scripture, as we seek to memorize it, may God show us grace.
May he help us to observe it and to keep it.
May he correct us of sin in our lives.
And may we be edified and walk in a more holy way as we immerse ourselves in the word of
(35:36):
God.
Thank you so much for listening to the Kiss the Son podcast.
To listen to more of our episodes, head over to everlastingrock.net.
That's everlastingrock.net.
And be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
Thanks again for joining us.
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