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Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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3 things to do with the Lord’s Prayer {Memory Classics}

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This week we’re memorizing (or refreshing) the first three verses of Jesus’s words commonly referred to as The Lord’s Prayer.

Can you spit out these words without even thinking?

9  …Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:9-11 (KJV)

Sometimes Bible verses become so familiar that we tune them out even as we’re repeating them.

But Jesus never wasted words. They each were purposed. He knew what attitudes needed cultivating.

Let’s not waste His words either.

Here are three things we can do with these inspired words during and after we pray them:

  1. Remember God is holy
    Recognize God for who He is and acknowledge that often.
  2. Want what He wants
    Remind yourself multiple times a day that His will is always best.
  3. Trust him for today’s needs
    The more you depend on Him, the less you’ll demand from others or from circumstances.

Take a minute and say the prayer now, aloud if necessary, and really mean what you’re saying. Then let’s meet again next week to talk about the remainder of the prayer (Matthew 6:12-13).

What lesson do you need most from this prayer this week? Which of the three things comes easiest to you? Hardest?

Please share your reflections below on these verses and join in the conversation with our Facebook group.

A Quick Note if You Use Google Reader to Subscribe

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Do you use Google Reader to read this blog (or other blogs)?

If so, you might have heard that Google Reader is disappearing as of July 1st (this coming Monday!).

We don’t want you to miss a single post from your favorite blogs (and we thank you for including Do Not Depart as one of those!), so here are a couple of ways you can continue following blogs:

  1. Subscribe by email. You can subscribe by email to most of your favorite blogs. Look for a sidebar that says something like “subscribe here” for “follow by email.” You typically will enter in your email address, click on a “subscribe” button, then you’ll be sent an email that asks you to click on a link to confirm your subscription. (Don’t forget that last part!) Here on Do Not Depart, you can enter your email in the small rectangle under the words “We’ll come to you” or you can click here to subscribe by email.
  2. Subscribe via an RSS reader. Google Reader was an RSS reader, so if you like this option, you can find another RSS reader to take its place. Two of the most popular readers are Feedly and Blog Lovin’. Simple Mom includes good directions on transitioning from Google Reader to Feedly here. Lifehacker offers descriptions of several alternatives here.

Thank you to all of our readers for joining us! We so appreciate you. Let us know if you have any questions by emailing us or asking in the comments. 

A RECAP of Tools for Truth While You Travel

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Thanks for coming on vacation with us this month at Do Not Depart! We’ve had a rich month of sharing practical, often printable, tools to help you weave God’s word into your travel plans. We pray these tools and ideas have nurtured the holy habits in your life’s journey. Here’s a recap of the road we’ve traveled together.

Tools for Truth While You Travel

  1. The heart behind our team sharing Bible study tools for vacation & travel season
  2. 6 Tips for keeping your quiet time on track in the Simple Summer
  3. 7 Days of devotions for your family vacation
  4. Memory verses for trips, with a printable
  5. A printable Family Vacation Faith Journal
  6. Fitness and Faith:  Keeping on Track While You Travel – 7 tips that work for fitness and travel!
  7. Traveling truths: Bible verses for safety and travel in printable memory cards for your next trip
  8. Tips for packing scripture by Losing the Weight When You Travel

Like any great vacation, this month has been refreshing and inspiring, taking us to beautiful places. We’ve also savored words from the heart of a traveling shepherd in Psalm 23 in our Memory Verse Classics, and we’re reflecting on the richness of God’s plans for our life’s journey in Jeremiah 29:11.

Our team prays that this month has been a help to you as we aim to abide in the Word together!

Have you enjoyed a vacation or time of travel this summer? How did you experience God’s truth in your journey?

 

Losing the Weight When You Travel {Tips for Packing Scripture}

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I’m writing this on my way to 30,000 feet above the Rocky Mountains. When I planned this impromptu vacation a mere 24 hours ago, I took care of the essentials: a plane ticket on Priceline; a shuttle bus to the airport; a friend’s futon at my destination; a rescheduled doctor’s appointment; taking out the trash; packing a breakfast-lunch-dinner consisting of everything in the fridge that won’t be good when I get back in five days.

Most of my vacation destinations require that I take to the skies. Since traveling by air is a hassle unless you have your own plane and pilot, and since one of these days travelers will undoubtedly pay fees for every ounce they carry, I travel light – carry-on luggage only, if it can be at all managed.

Losing the Weight When You Travel - Tips for Packing Scripture

When a friend and I went to South Africa for two weeks last summer, and we realized our itinerary involved nine different flights in a country famed for stolen luggage, we got creative. One of our space-saving plans was to pack “disposal clothing” – ratty underwear, holey t-shirts, and jeans that never get picked anymore. After we had worn them, we left them in hotel rooms along the way. (About a week into our trip we learned that our trash was the maid’s treasure – and we started to leave our things on the dresser with a note.)

Packing the Word

Packing light doesn’t have to mean leaving your Bible at home. Happily, it also doesn’t mean you have pack a small-print edition that your aging eyes couldn’t read if they tried. (When I pack that edition, I may just as well not have bothered.) Here are three simple ways to pack the Word when space is at a premium.

  • Pick one of the New Testament epistles that can be reasonably read in 15–20 minutes. Before you travel, make a photocopy of it. Read thought the entire book every day that you’re away. It packs light, and reading through the same portion of Scripture repeatedly will give you a chance to hear it differently. You will begin to notice things you never would on a single read or even in an in-depth study. You will be soaked in its language and message. Since it’s a photocopy, it packs easily and if it gets damaged, you haven’t ruined your good Bible. You could do the same with a portion of Psalms or any other passage of reasonable length.
  • Select one or two psalms that you want to memorize and make this the time to do it. Write the verses out on 3×5 cards that you can stuff in your purse or tuck in a book. The fewer cards, the better – remember, you’re packing light. Your devotional time could consist of reading the psalm several times, praying through it, and memorizing it verse by verse. If something about your vacation – or the situation you’ve left behind – is cause for anxiety, pick a psalm that can help fill your mind with God’s truth and refocus your thoughts. When I traveled halfway around the world by myself for a two-week teaching trip, I took Psalm 46 with me and memorized it. I often found myself anxious and fearful, and my defense was the psalm in my head. Its words of holy comfort got me through some very difficult spots.
  • If you really will read it, pack that Bible with small print – or a New Testament or a booklet edition of a single book – and strategically leave it behind when you travel home. Pray about where you should leave it. Maybe it will be for the hotel maid or for another hostess. Maybe God will impress upon you to leave it at the airport or in a restaurant. Let Him prompt you. He knows where His words need to go.

Flying the increasingly unfriendly skies can be a headache, and packing light usually involves a series of decisions that require psychic skills (e.g., Will it rain? Will I need a skirt?). But packing for your time with God doesn’t have to be part of the traveling dilemma, and it might be just what you need to deal with the headache.

How do you include the Word in your packing? Let us know your tips in the comments!

Wendy Widder

This guest post is written by Wendy Widder. Wendy lives in the Pacific Northwest, where her easiest get-away is the Canadian border.She loves teaching and writing about the Old Testament, and she can be found online at wendywidder.com and wendylynnwidder.wordpress.com.

Roots for the Journey {Let the Children Come}

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Let The Children Come - DoNotDepart.comIn May we launched a new monthly feature at Do Not Depart by spending an entire month sharing ways to help children grow up in God’s Word. Let the Children Come is our continuing series on encouraging kids to abide in the Word.

(Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this post. Please see the end of the post for details. Thanks for supporting this site!)

 

If you have ever met our family in person, you know that music is just about as important a part of our days as food.

My husband is a songwriter, worship leader and constant music maker. Just try having a conversation with him without a guitar in his hands! Our seven year old has taken to singing his books out loud. And our decorating theme? Think elementary school band. Instruments everywhere, picks on the floor, lyric sheets covering the counters… endless music.

So reviewing a music CD is a natural and happy fit for us. Today I am sharing my thoughts on Roots for the Journey, a new CD from Yancy. And my 11 year old daughter has written her own review on our blog Blossoms And Posies.

The Music

Yancy sports a fun rockin’ look, so I was surprised at first by how sweet and soft the songs are. I expected a more intense “kid music” sound. It turns out that Roots for the Journey was originally planned as a lullaby album for Yancy’s young son, but morphed into music for all ages.

Yancy explains, “I started off making this a lullaby CD. Taking key scriptures and truths that I wanted to pass on to my son and make sure he knew and understood the direction and answer these scriptures provide us. As I worked in the studio, I realized that the music was shaping up to be way more than lullabies. Already, when I meet people in my life that are facing big mountains, fears or need answers I’ve been able to use these songs as a way to help strengthen their faith and help them meditate on what God’s Word says. I can’t wait to see how God uses these songs to strengthen the faith of those young and old.”

Yancy’s beautiful, soothing voice has been a lovely background sound to our daily activities, and we often find ourselves singing along.

Most of the songs on the album are originals, with a few familiar covers. I think my favorite song is “The Joy.” As you might guess, given my blog’s name (Joyful Mama), the pursuit of joy has been one of the deep threads of my spiritual journey. But in addition to the lyrics, the melody is sweet and so singable. Harmonies just seem to flow right out of my throat when this song comes on. Have a listen:


(If you are reading this in a reader or by email, click here to see the video)

The App

I realize I am probably way out of the loop here, but this is the first time I have seen an app that goes along with a CD. Such a great idea!

Yancy’s heart for reaching kids really shines through the Roots for the Journey app. In the “family devo” section you will find videos, lyrics, devotionals, and even kid-oriented activities for each song. The activities are created by Amanda White of Truth in the Tinsel and Oh Amanda.

One of my favorite activities is for the song “Safe.” While the family plays tag, one person is the safe spot, ideally Daddy. To be safe, the children need to be in Daddy’s arms. How tender a picture of God’s precious provision and care!

Yancy’s dad, Jim Wideman, is a Children’s Ministry leader. The app also includes four articles he has written for parents:

  • Raising Godly Kids in a Not-So-Godly World
  • Developing a Biblical Worldview in Your Children
  • Wanting God’s Best for Your Family
  • We Said No to Ho Ho Ho

More Reviews and a Giveaway!

If you’re interested in another mom’s thoughts on Roots for the Journey, DND’s own Caroline has also reviewed the CD and app on her blog Under God’s Mighty Hand. For a kid’s perspective, check out Abbie’s thoughts on our home arts blog for girls, Blossoms and Posies.

Yancy has graciously offered to give away a copy of Roots for the Journey to one of you! Just leave a comment sharing one of your favorite scripture-based songs. Please be sure to include a way for us to reach you in your comment.

The giveaway will be open until Saturday at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen at random.

The giveaway is now closed. Congratulations Nicole!

(Disclosure: The link to the Roots for the Journey CD is an affiliate link. If you click on the link and then purchase the CD, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry! Patti’s family received a free copy of the CD for review.)

Traveling Truths: Bible Verses for Safety and Direction

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Vacations are usually times of fun and relaxation. But being in an unfamiliar place, or experiencing unexpected plan changes, can tip you off-kilter.

I well remember our first family road trip – a month long “American History field trip”, spanning 16 states. We set off from Texas with our three children bundled into a van with 220,000 miles on it. That blessed van made it all the way to New York City before it broke down… broke down on an interstate, in a tunnel, right in the middle of the city.

I was one worried, praying mama as I sat in that overheating van not knowing what would happen next! We ended up limping back 300 miles to my mother-in-law’s house. And what a blessing that we were able to return and have more time with family while we made our repairs!

When you are out of your comfort zone you are more prone to anxiety. And that’s when you really need your Sword of the Spirit!

You know the saying “all directions point home”? The forever home of our hearts is with our Lord! And aren’t we so blessed that He is always with us? He comes along on every vacation!

This month we have been sharing tips and tools to help you stay in God’s Word while you travel. I’ve created a simple printable of verses that remind us of God’s protection and direction.

 

Scripture Travel Cards - DoNotDepart.com
click on the picture to download

Just print these ten verses onto card stock, cut them out, then tuck them in your travel bag. God’s Word will keep the compass of your heart pointing toward Him and your forever Home.

May your journeys be sweet, friends!

Have you ever been on a trip that had an unexpected twist that later you realized was a divine appointment? Click here to share your story in the comments!

 

Whose plans? Jeremiah 29:11 {Memory Classics}

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Although this was written thousands of years ago to encourage the Israelites that their captivity in Babylon wouldn’t last forever, it can still encourage us just as much today.

We, too, can live in great confidence knowing that our current dilemmas will eventually resolve, that our ailing bodies will one day be pain-free and whole, and that we don’t have to know all the details now because we know the One who is going to make it happen!

If you haven’t already hidden this verse in your heart, we invite you to do so this week, joining others who’ve committed to learning powerful scriptures this summer.

We want to hear your stories about trusting God’s plans. Please share below your thoughts and experiences with the truths of Jeremiah 29:11. Also visit our Facebook page for more on this verse.

Have your plans ever failed only to discover God’s plans were even better?

What hopes for the future are you trusting God for now? We’ll join you in prayer.

Fitness and Faith: Keeping on Track While You Travel

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(Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this post. Please see the end of the post for details. Thanks for supporting this site!)

You’ve been walking and exercising regularly for days, weeks, or even months now. You’re feeling more fit and loving the benefits of improved focus, greater endurance, and higher energy levels. Maybe you’ve also maintained a solid bible study routine while getting your fitness routine in gear. (Maybe together with like-minded folks in a community like HelloMornings?)

Now, it’s time for a hard-earned break with your family (or spouse or friends) – a vacation!

We humans are creatures of habit. Once our go-to schedule is thrown off by a big change (like a move or a new job) or a temporary shift (a vacation), we sometimes lose focus on previous goals.

How can we keep both our fitness routines and bible study habits intact over vacations?

Staying On Track is Easier Than Regaining Lost Ground

A preface: if you’ve gotten off schedule in fitness OR in “quiet time,” do not ever feel like you can’t get back on track. Grace upon grace. We all lose focus sometimes or have extenuating circumstances that prevent us from accomplishing what we’d like and sometimes what we even need. Returning to your healthy habits is better than never trying!

Now that I’ve issued that disclaimer, if you can stay on track, it’s much easier than having to regain lost ground after a while.

Some of the same tips we use for maintaining fitness routines can help us retain bible study routines, too. (If you haven’t read some of my fitness articles elsewhere, you might not know part of my professional background is in family fitness and wellness! My tips are here to help, but always consult a doctor for individualized medical information.)

Fitness and Faith: Keeping on Track While You Travel via Do Not Depart

7 Tips for Maintaining Your Fitness and Devotion Time While Traveling

  1. Get up early. Rise 30-60 minutes earlier than the rest of your household to read your Bible for at least 15 minutes and then exercise for at least 15 minutes. (Yes, even 10-15 minutes helps!)
  2. Or, stay up late. Some of you might not be able to get up early, perhaps because of family members with special needs, odd work schedules, or otherwise. Maybe your Bible time has to come in the evenings or even after everyone else is in bed. And, that’s okay, if that’s what you need. The general recommendation for exercise is to finish exercise a few hours before bedtime because it does increase heart rate, so perhaps you can fit in higher intensity exercise earlier in the day, but include stretches and floor exercises in the evening.
  3. Pray or memorize Scripture as you walk (or bike or swim or run). You might not be able to pull out your [amazon_link id=”1418541680″ target=”_blank” ]concordance[/amazon_link] and study Bible while you exercise, but you can review memory verses and spend time in conversation with God. (Lisa gave some great memory verse tips for traveling on this post.)
  4. Find a friend (or family member) and read the Bible together, then exercise together. The buddy system has long been offered as a motivation solution in exercise, and the same can go for devotional time. Workout and worship together! (Matthew 18:20)
  5. Journal your routine. Writing down what you accomplish can motivate you to keep going. Journaling also helps you chart what you’ve learned and your progress in both fitness and Bible study. (Check out Julie’s family vacation faith journal here. And, if you’re looking for help setting family goals, check out this free printable.)
  6. Keep your expectations realistic. No, you might not take a 10-mile run while on vacation (or you might!). You might not have two hours of uninterrupted study time while also monitoring your preschooler at the vacation site. But, some portion of your normal routine is often better than none. Reframe your goals for vacation, but still work to maintain part of your routine.
  7. Try something new. I know, we’ve been talking about keeping your normal routine, and now I say “add something new.” But, just as vacationing somewhere different than home (or participating in new activities around home if you’re “staycationing”) provides motivation, trying something new in exercise or studying in a new way can help you stay on track while out of your normal environment. A few options for exercise? Try disc golfing, horseback riding, or snorkeling. For bible study? Read in a parallel Bible (like [amazon_link id=”0195281802″ target=”_blank” ]this one[/amazon_link] or [amazon_link id=”0195281365″ target=”_blank” ]this one[/amazon_link]), look up a few of the Greek words, or listen to new praise music.

Related Resources:

 

How do you keep up your fitness routine and/or your study routine while traveling? What strategies do you use with one area that might help in the other? Please share your tips in the comments so we all can learn!

(Disclosure: Some affiliate links are present to Amazon products above. If you click on those links and then purchase that item, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Regardless, we only suggest products we find useful. Thank you for supporting this ministry!)

Family Vacation Faith Journal

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You have such good intentions, but then you get swamped by the list of things to do to get ready to go:  stop the mail, give the neighbor the key, set your vacation email response, take out the trash, turn off the water, pack the Epi-pen, get sunscreen, print off the reservation … And so by the time you get in the car, you’re just so glad to be driving away from it all. You can’t wait to get out of cell phone range so you can really relax.

You wanted to memorize together, do a devotion together, and simply pray together, but maybe you need to invite a member of the Do Not Depart team to go with you on vacation for that!  (We would LOVE to!  We pack light and don’t take up much room! Just contact us through our FB page :) ) What you need is a journal to guide you on the journey.

This month we’ve given you some golden practical printable tools to use when you travel.  If you use them, you will be BLESSED to make the truth a sweet part of your vacation experience. That, we can guarantee, even if you don’t invite us to go with you!

But today I want to give you a 10-page journal to guide your journey. Family Vacation Faith JournalHere are some ways to use it.

5 Way to Use the Family Vacation Faith Journal

  1. Take a look at the pages together before you even start to pack.
  2. Take it into a restaurant with you to use, instead of those coloring pages.
  3. Take a clipboard and let the “back seat dwellers” use it as you travel.
  4. Take a few minutes over breakfast each day of your trip to do a page.
  5. Take it “on location” for when you need 5 sitting down min. at the beach/park/camp.

 

You can print out your copy right now, or print out a copy for each family member, but make the  Family Vacation Faith Journal a part of your next family journey. Single or without kids? No matter … we can all use a Faith Journal in our travel bag. You will be blessed, even if the journal helps you focus on a solo trek. Use your other printable tools to go with your journaling times.

Remember, “Vacations are not only times for adventure, rest, and relationship. Vacations are also opportunities for a fresh infusion of truth into our tired lives.”

A Light in the Shadows – Psalm 23 {Memory Classics}

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(Affiliate links present below. See the end of the post for full details.)

We all have walks through shadows.

Maybe you’re walking through one now.

If so, let the rich imagery of Psalm 23:4-6 remind you that a courageous companion walks beside you. He lays out a plentiful spread before you to keep you nourished, and allows you to dwell in His overflowing mercy every single day.

In the dark times, His presence can lighten your shadows because He journeys through difficult seasons right beside you.

If you’re memorizing these familiar but powerful Bible verses with us this summer, may you be blessed this week as you embed this beautiful psalm over and over into your soul for those valley moments now (or later), thanking your Good Shepherd that you never have to walk alone.

4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:4-6 (KJV)

What memories do you have of Psalm 23? Has there been a season it helped you? Is there someone you could send it to or pray it for this week? Please share in the comments below and/or in our conversation on our Hide His Word Facebook page.

 

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Having trouble finding time for Scripture memory or other Bible study? We get that. It can be tough to fit in “quiet time” amidst all our responsibilities. This week’s Bundle of the Week might be helpful to you. (Affiliate links below. Thanks for supporting this site!)

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!
These ebooks all focus on giving you practical and doable tips for time management for you and your family. With 5 ebooks for $7.40, this bundle saves you nearly 60% off the cost of buying each ebook individually. You can use these time management strategies for incorporate Scripture memory, among other “need-to-dos” and “want-to-dos!” Our favorite part of these books? The authors know you don’t need to be perfect. These ebooks just encourage you to use what time God gives you effectively.

Check out the Bundle of the Week here. This ebook bundle is only available from today until Monday, June 24th at 8am EST. Grab your copy before then.

Disclosure: Affiliate links for the “Bundle of the Week” are present. If you click on those links and then purchase the item, we will receive a small commission. Regardless, we only share products we personally support, love, and think you would benefit from, too. Thank you in advance for supporting this ministry!

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