{Bible Quizzing - Relationship & Revelation}

Bible Quizzing has officially come to a close for the 2014 season.
This past week at NABQT (National American Bible Quizzing Tournament) made me think. What is quizzing truly about? Why do I devote hours every day to quote scriptures over and over again? What I did realize, it's not just to win trophies and ribbons and get "Chariots of Fire" played for you as you go up to receive your medal. Although it is nice to have your name called as the "Quizzer of the Year" or be the highest scorer of a tournament, those things are temporal and are not what Bible quizzing is about.

 

As I thought more about what Bible quizzing is truly about, I realized Bible quizzing is about relationship. Our relationship with God.

The Bible says in John 1:1,

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 

   God=His Word. This is such a simple yet profound discovery I made this year. As we quote hundred of scriptures every day, we learn more about God and develop our own personal relationships with Him. We're not saying meaningless words, but making His Word come to life in our lives. It's impossible to not be impacted by the scriptures you study in Bible Quizzing. As I quoted scriptures I drew closer to God. The more verses you memorize, the more you get to know Jesus.
    Just speaking the Word, and having faith in that Word takes you to such a deeper place in God. When you're memorizing the word of God, and quoting it each day, you hide it in your heart. It's so much more than memorization; it's relationship.

 

    And Bible quizzing is also about Revelation. As we learn these scriptures God reveals Himself and His commandments to us. We don't learn the scriptures to just be able to quote them perfectly, but we learn them to know His Word, and to be able to know the difference between right and wrong.

   

     2 Timothy 3:16 says:

 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

 

     This verse basically speaks for itself. When we're learning God's word, He teaches us right from wrong. The Bible is our map on how to get to heaven, so when kids and teenagers are learning the word for themselves, they don't have to question what they believe or why they do what they do; they know why and they can quote the scripture to prove it.

 

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

119:105

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

(2 Timothy 2:15)

 

Quizzers devote their lives to study God's word. And through that, they know how to handle God's word and they have a better understanding of His word.

When I finally realized what Bible quizzing is about, I couldn't believe how perfect our material title was this year; Relationship and Revelation. Through the scriptures we studied this year I developed such a deep relationship with God. And through memorizing the scriptures this year, God revealed Himself to me in such a way I will never forget.

I'm so thankful for this ministry. There is no other ministry that impacts Apostolic young people the way Bible quizzing does. And I cannot wait for "The Way of Wisdom" to begin in 2015.

 

 

{Fear Not}

Fear is something we all deal with. Whether it's a child afraid of the monster lurking under it's bed, or the adult fearing they will lose their job.
Fear is real for all of us. The things that you worry about might not be the same as the things I worry about, but to each of us our fears are very real and very... well.. frightening!

The Bible talks a lot about fear. I once read that the phrase "Do not be afraid" is in the Bible 365 times. How cool is that? One for every day of the year. Now, we've read all the verses. We've heard all the sermons, "You don't have to be afraid! God is with you." And yet we still bite our fingernails over whether or not we will get enough money in our paychecks to pay the bills.

I think our problem is, we don't fully surrender the situation into God's control. We hold on to the outcome that we want, without letting God have a chance to create His outcome.
Instead of releasing our anxieties onto Him, we hold on to them thinking God will just take away the fears. But He can't take them away if we won't let them go.

We've all read 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." But another translation reads, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

God cares about us! He doesn't want us bearing the load of fear and anxiety. It's too much on a person. So, we have to let go of our anxieties, no matter how hard it may be, and let God take control of the outcome.

The Bible says:

"1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity...3Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." -Psalm 37:1,3-5

If we submit our fears into the hands of God, he will make the perfect outcome. No matter what we think should happen, God will bring us out the best way.




Into His hands I lay the fears that haunt me,

The dread of future ills that may befall; Into His hands I lay the doubts that taunt me,

And rest securely, trusting Him for all. —Christiansen

 

 

 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

 

"So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -Matthew 10:31

 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" -2 Timothy 1:7

{Birdie}

 

{Quick to listen. Slow to anger.}

"God gave people a mouth that closes and ears that don't, which should tell us something." -Eugene O'Neill

 

   Have you ever said something that you regret? You just got so angry that you spouted something off without even taking a millisecond to think about it. It seems each time we're in this kind of situation, our brain decides to leave for a moment, only to return too late; you've already said something you regret. Then, you wish you could go back and change what you said, but that won't happen. Even though we truly wish we could create a time machine and travel back to change our past, it won't happen. What we can do is change the future by making sure we think before we speak next time.

 

   Before you speak, always think about how those word will affect the other person. How would you feel if someone said the same thing to you? Words are powerful. Angered words can be spoken, and an entire relationship can be destroyed within seconds.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21)

  James said, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," (James 1:19)
  Was he saying we can never get angry? No. Anger is a natural human emotion that we can't help, but we can, however, control it.

Before you speak THINK:

• T- Is it true?
• H- Is it helpful?
• I- Is it inspiring?
• N- Is it necessary?
• K- Is it kind?

There's a song by Hawk Nelson called "Words" that goes right along with what I'm saying. It says:

They've made me feel like a prisoner

They've made me feel set free

They've made me feel like a criminal

Made me feel like a king

 

They've lifted my heart

To places I'd never been

And they've dragged me down

Back to where I began

 

Words can build you up

Words can break you down

Start a fire in your heart or

Put it out

 

Let my words be life

Let my words be truth

I don't wanna say a word

Unless it points the world back to You

 

 Remember to THINK before you speak. Words are a powerful thing. Make sure you use that power for good.

 

Ephesians 4:29 

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Psalm 19:14 

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

{Birdie}