CAN YOU MEMORIZE?
One of the things I remember from early school days were all the things we had to remember. A test would be given on just about every subject. Spelling bee’s would be held every Friday. The teacher would separate us into two lines and we would stand against the wall on each side of the room. All the words for that week would be in the Bee. If we spelled it right we would remain standing, but if we misspelled the word we had to sit down. How embarrassing was that? I never was the last one standing!

As Sunday School Superintendent, I would encourage the teachers to have memorization of scriptures a regular part of their curriculum. We would have a club for the whole Sunday School called "The Books of the Bible Club". Jim bought a book called; "Ready-Set-Believe" by Jerry Lucas. It had a picture formula that he traced on large poster boards so that you could bring these images up in our heads and it would help us to remember the books of the Bible. This was fun not only for children but for the adults. Everyone, would memorize the books of the Bible and would recite them to the listener. If you could say them correctly your name was put on the roster for the club and you would receive a lapel pin that was shaped as an open Bible. I still have my pin! We would also have a club for reading through the Bible!

Jim memorized the book of James. He dressed up in costume and became James and brought the book alive as the audience sat and listened. Jack, a deacon, memorized the first chapter of James and when he was to have an MRI, he was able to keep his mind off of the feeling of claustrophobia by reciting this passage over and over until he was done.

Mr. Morris, a missionary in China before WWII, became captive and was put into prison. While many lost their minds and some died, Mr. Morris was able to survive by remembering all the scriptures he had memorized.

All learning is a process that is accomplished by remembering what we are taught. If you can remember your way to the grocery store you can remember that God loves you. If you can remember the flag salute, you can remember that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". If you can remember the names of your siblings, your children and your spouse you can remember that Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost.

The book of Proverbs is a series of short, pithy sayings centering in comparisons. There is no real order in which these are given. These sayings are for daily living, subjects of knowledge, morality, chastity, the tongue, laziness and justice. The sayings are of the wise, warning against sin and the promise of punishment. "Wise men lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near!" Proverbs 10:14

Teaching a child is through repetition. Doing it over and over again! When a child begins to learn we think it is so cute. Jesus said: "Let the little children come unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven!" Matthew 19:13-15 Children are willing to listen and to learn. They accept the things they are taught, easily. They may get some things backwards but eventually it takes hold and they become a product of what they are taught.

Teaching the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift we can share. Memorization is good but knowing Jesus Christ bring us all that much closer to the Father. Jane Ann