13 Cards for 31 Days (and an announcement!).

I have a bad mom confession to make.

Two, almost three, years ago my husband and I worked diligently with our daughter to make sure she was learning Scripture at an early age (she was 3 at the time). We were astounded at how quickly she memorized verses, even long passages. By the time SC turned 4, she had memorized over 40 verses. Our nighttime routine of quoting all the verses we had learned together had grown from a few minutes to over half an hour.

Then we let some changes creep in. The school tightened the requirements for how many classes my hubby had to take, so we saw him less, and when he was finally home late at night I was too exhausted to sit in the room with them. Then I started having health problems. Then I wound up in the hospital and flat on my back for almost three full months. Then I began my rehabilitation period, learning to walk and function pretty much all over again.

Needless to say, our nighttime routine kinda fell to the wayside and eventually disappeared altogether.

I'm not pushing off blame on our circumstances. I could have made extra effort to make sure that was a priority point in our day. I didn't. I took for granted that because she was just so smart, she would know them forever.

Yeah, big mistake.

I've been feeling pretty convicted lately over how we've left Scripture memorization for SC in the dust, especially when I see how much she is learning and retaining with her school work. So in order to reinstate this into our day, as a part of our school work, we're getting back on track. We're going to start re-memorizing the long-forgotten verses. Each day, and a new verse each week.

So this download is what I'd like to call the SC Collection. It's a portion of the 40 some-odd verses she knew as a three year old, and will know again as she crosses over from five to six.

Included in this download: John 3:16, Romans 8:28, Psalm 40:1-3, Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 14:6, Psalm 119:11, Philippians 2:9-11, Hosea 6:1-3, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:17, and Hebrews 11:6.

Click here to download the zip file.

Some of these probably fall into the "already memorized" category for adults. But remember, this was designed for my daughter. And if you have children in your life, it might be beneficial for you too.

Wow, I finished this with 8 minutes to spare before October rolls out of here. :) So I guess technically I fulfilled my 31 Days challenge. ;)

And now, the announcement. Would you like to win 50 Christmas cards + envelopes? (Yes, Halloween isn't even over yet and I'm thinking about Christmas cards; don't judge me - Hobby Lobby has had Christmas stuff out since August!) Here's how you can win them...

Come back tomorrow in order to find out the giveaway details! :)

(Yes, I'm mean. You may commence throwing rotten tomatoes at my blog.)

I hope everyone has had a wonderful October, a wonderful Halloween/Reformation Day (if that's what you choose to call it), and I thank you all for sticking out the 31 Days with me. Here's to a holly jolly Christmas season!

I've pretty much completely spazzed out on the 31 Days.

OK, so here's what I'm offering. Because obviously my record with posting every single day in the month of October has pretty much gone in the toilet.

On Monday, October 31, the last day of the month, I offer you one giant zip file full of Scripture memory cards to make up for the last few we're pretty much talking weeks here days I've missed.

These are verses I'm working on with my daughter, so they might be in the "already memorized" category for a lot of you.

But if you have kiddos, they might be awesome.

Does that sound like a deal to you? Does it? (Name that TV reference)

Deal? Deal. (I'm just gonna pretend you've agreed with me.)

Now. I must get back to Christmas cards and orders and whatnots. But I'll see you Monday. And you will have 31 cards available for download.

Ya'll are the best. :)

31 Days in the Word: Jude 24-25

I was reading through Jude yesterday and paused for a moment of praise when I reached the end. I thought these verses, though a bit long, would be a good set for me to memorize. And hopefully they'll be good for you, too.

Click here to download the file.

31 Days in the Word: Ephesians 6:13

Raise your hand if you've ever heard a sermon preached on the armor of God.

(I'm betting most of ya'll could raise both hands and possibly a foot or two. It's a pretty popular passage.)

Today one of my best friends was going through a difficult time, and the Lord gave me a word to share with her, specifically the entire armor of God passage found in Ephesians 6:10-20. I sat outside my daughter's dance studio talking to my friend on the phone and reading off the Bible app on my iPod.

(Click here to download the file.)

Even though the entire iPod screen was monochromatic, this verse leaped off the page at me. Specifically the "take up the whole armor of God" part. Even though the word was for my friend, it ministered to me in a powerful way. Yes, the armor of God is available to us. But it requires an action on our behalf. We have to take it up. I immediately knew this was one I needed to memorize, and memorize soon.

(BTW this card is in the ESV because that's what I have my app set to for default translation. I know the NIV says "put on" and I've heard "put on the armor of God" a zillion times in the last 16 years. But something about "take up" just shook me today and so I made the card with the ESV translation.)

I'll have a new card up tomorrow! Tonight I'm thankful for a fresh word, even from familiar verses. :)

31 Days: Proverbs 4:23

I used to share this verse with the teenage girls I worked with at our old church all the time. And I mainly used in this way:

"Stay away from those pesky boys. Guard your hearts, ladies!"

Tonight one of my best friends spoke this truth over me, that this verse doesn't just encapsulate romantic relationships. It's a caution, full of God-given wisdom, to apply to any situation where our heart can get all tangled up. She encouraged me to continue to guard my heart in a situation that was previously extremely hurtful. She confirmed what the Lord was speaking to me, that we do need to guard our hearts, because when we don't the effects spill over into everything in our lives.

So on that note...

Click here to download the file.

I memorized this verse during my last year of college, but I figured tonight it was worthy of a card. And I obviously need to revisit this one, considering I argued with biblegateway.com that OH YES, PSALM 4:23 DOES SO EXIST. Or so I thought. :)

Check back tomorrow for a new card! Anything you're trying to memorize that you want made into a card?

31 Days in the Word: Playing Catch-Up... again.

Well, I've done it again. Between my being sick, and then my daughter catching my crud, I haven't been on the blog (or anywhere!) this week. So I'm playing catch-up again. I'm determined to get these 31 cards up, even if I have to do it in spurts. :) So I hope you enjoy these verses, and there's a special one here for you, Kristen. :)

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Anything you're trying to memorize that you want made into a card? I promise to get it up before the month's end. :)

(I hope I haven't repeated any cards. I try to keep the posted files separate from the unposted, but if I've doubled up just let me know!)

31 Days in the Word: Playing Catch-Up

Well. I've been a little busy. Between a horrible allergy attack, beaucoup school stuff for my daughter, and orders coming in like mad (thank you to my awesome customers!), I have fallen way behind on my 31 Days. So today I'm making up for lost time. I have four Scripture cards for download (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, today) plus a fun fall freebie at the bottom of the post. Because I love ya. And because I'm super happy about the orders that have been coming in this week. And because it's still 85 degrees here and sparkly glitter leaves put me in an autumn-ish mood.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the file.

Click here to download the zip file.

See you tomorrow with a new card! :)

No card tonight...

... be back with 2 tomorrow. I'm struggling with sinus crud and in a benadryl-induced haze right now. I'll upload 2 cards tomorrow to make up for today. Thanks!

31 Days in the Word: Galatians 5:25

Today's verse is Galatians 5:25. A short but powerful application.

Click here to download the file.

I thought I would share why the design for my cards is so simple. Because I'm sure you've seen some super striking Scripture art out there around the interwebs. I purposely kept this design very simple, because I want it to help you with ease of memorization. While there are other designs out there that are certainly more visually striking, my goal here is ease of reading and memorization. I would like to venture into some shape art with Scriptures, but those would be more from a design standpoint, not as tools for memorization.

Have a verse you're trying to memorize and would like made into a memory card? Leave it in the comments and I'll get it up before the end of October!

31 Days in the Word: Romans 10:9

With the passing of Steve Jobs today, I couldn't help but think of this verse and how critically important it is. It's one I memorized a while back, but I think it's one of the "biggies" we should all know.

Click here to download the file.

I will be forever grateful to Steve Jobs for the way he changed the world. For the way he changed my world. I hope Apple will continue to be the leader in ingenuity and creativity that Steve drove them to be. I also hope that this man, who through his products changed how we do relationships here on earth, had a relationship with his Creator and Savior prior to his passing.

Farewell, Steve. Apple, always.

31 Days in the Word: Colossians 3:12

What a simple, perfect exhortation on how we should conduct ourselves as believers. Definitely a good one for me to memorize!

Click here to download the file.

Have a verse you're trying to memorize that you'd like made into a card? Leave it in the comments and I'll have it up before the end of the month!

31 Days in the Word: Psalm 63:3

Today's verse is switching gears somewhat from what I've been posting (FYI these are all verses that have had significant impact on me and my life this year). I thought today should just be a simple, honest verse of praise. Don't you agree?

Click here to download the file.

Want a verse made into a card? Leave it in the comments! See you tomorrow for day 4 of 31 Days in the Word! :)

31 Days in the Word: Psalm 30:7

Today's verse is Psalm 30:7. What a beautiful verse to remind us of how He holds on to us!

Click here to download the file.

Any particular verse you're trying to memorize and would like made into a card? Leave your request in the comments!

31 Days in the Word: Exodus 14:14

I decided on a whim (like an hour ago, if you must know) to join in with The Nester and a whole other slew of bloggers using the month of October to do a 31 Days series. I've been thinking about it for a while, because I really wanted to do something that would keep me committed to blogging this month.

So I tried to think of what I could offer. Digital design tricks and tutes? Don't know if I would have enough material to get to Halloween. Homeschool advice? Considering I'm only a month and a half in, I'm probably not the person you want to go to for homeschooling advice. :) 31 awesome quick dinner recipes? Possibly, as long as all the posts were just a link to somewhere on Pioneer Woman's site. (I kid, I kid... kind of.)

I thought about what I really liked, and what was really important to me, and the only thing I could come up with was the Scripture memory cards. And I don't know if anyone has noticed (and I'm not going to ask if anyone has because seriously, how self involved is that?) but I have totally dropped the ball on the Friday freebies. My daughter's school and social life has had me racing all over town. Plus we've had family in to visit, a tropical storm to ride out, beaucoup activities and commitments, etc. etc. etc. When I finally got a break (read: the stomach virus) all I wanted to do was surf Pinterest, not make downloadable cards.

But I'm challenging myself. I want to do 31 days and I want to give the absolute best thing I have to offer for those 31 days: a way for you to incorporate more Scripture memorization in your life.

So. All that to say, welcome to 31 Days of the Word.

Today's card is Exodus 14:14. Such an amazing verse. One that has really carried me (and at times reigned me in when my temper got out of control) this year.

Click here to download the file.

Also! I want 31 Days to be interactive! I realize with the 500+ blogs linked over at Nester's, commenting will be slim to none. But if you want a certain verse made into a card, please leave it in the comments and I'll get it made sometime this month.

So I guess that's all for today. I'll be back tomorrow with another card. How fun is this going to be?

(One more thing. You should really check out my friends Kristen & Christy. They are both doing really great 31 series on living in the now and becoming who you are meant to be, respectively. Seriously good stuff.)