One of the gifts I was given as a young Christian was being taught to put important scripture verses in my mind and then my heart. I put my first verse in my memory the very first night I was a Christian, Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” This verse has visited my mind many times since 1976, most of those times when it came, it was right on cue. It always came when I was struggling with something about life, really cannot even remember all of the details now. What I do remember though is how that verse came to me and what it felt like.
When life is confusing because of circumstances, events, relationships, and each morning carries more pain and hurt, there is something powerful about a verse washing over you, bathing you in hope. You can stay there for hours and it seem like a second. This still happens today. At any moment in time, God can send me a message of hope through a scripture I memorized. It even happens when I am standing on front of the congregation preaching. God sends me a word, something for me, something for you. And that word is always so sweet, so comforting, right on time.
~Grace & Peace~
Pastor Ernie