United by the Same Word

By Heidi Parker

Our times together in Intergen are full of joy as we build relationships and grow together. You should join us if you haven't yet! We encourage one another in ways that can only happen when different ages are rubbing shoulders and learning alongside one another.

Right now, we are getting to know God more deeply by listening to what He says about himself. The tools guiding us in this goal is memorizing the ABCs of Knowing God.

The first verse that comes to mind for me when I talk about memorizing God's word is Psalm 119:11.

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

It is clear from this Scripture and others that there is a spiritual benefit to memorizing God's word. But sometimes I need to be reminded of how this truth works itself out in real life to remind me to prioritize memorization.

Two stories from our first week of Intergen did exactly that for me.

Two different ages. Two different life stages. Two different applications. But the same God and His same words.

A is for Able

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

Dax Boos, an Oak Hill Elementary student, was in my group that first week of Intergen. He engaged really well: listening to others, answering questions, praying out loud. I was proud of him, especially considering that Mike & Ashley weren't with him that week to encourage it. I heard later that his engagement with God is Able became a theme for his week. He journaled about it, prayed for his grandfather fighting cancer, and wrote notes to his neighbors encouraging them with God's power and presence. Ephesians 3:20 was more than just a verse to memorize. He learned more about God's nature that week, and that caused his faith to grow and fuel his actions.

Raeanne Nixon also had the words of Ephesians 3:20 running through her head all week. As a family, their evenings included hand motions and our verse song to keep them all focused on memorizing. Her week included multiple situations that were out of her control and anxious thoughts were quick to fill her mind. But "God is Able" continually sounded louder. She was able to quickly and effectively take every thought captive because the truth of Ephesians 3:20 was right there for her. It wasn't a new concept and she had plenty of stories of God's past faithfulness to give her hope, but the fact that she was hiding God's word in her heart that week kept his character before her in a different way. Preaching truth to herself became as simple as singing the Ephesians 3:20 song over and over.

May these stories remind you, as they did me, that God's word is alive and active. Let's plant it firmly in our minds to help us know Him more deeply and follow him more closely.