Sheri Yutzy - Speculative Fiction Author

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You are here: Home / All Posts / Hide and Seek with the Word

Hide and Seek with the Word

November 1, 2017 by Sheri

For years, I’ve tried to convince myself that I’ll memorize Scripture. When I get time. Next week. I’ll print out a Psalm and memorize it.

The weeks went by, and the one Psalm I memorized was forgotten. I can’t understand how I memorized pages of poetry in high school and delighted to recite it to myself while I walked or crocheted or when my mind wandered in church. Why can’t it be the same with Bible passages?

Frustration mounted. I wondered, what is the point of trying to hide His Word in my heart? So far, it seemed to be hiding from me, not in me.

I overcame the frustration again last week, and opened my Bible to Isaiah 35. A beautiful passage about the desert blossoming, the lame walking, God Himself coming to save us. I thought, surely I can memorize this like a poem.

I read the first verse, and this thought came to me.

Memorizing is not about reciting Scripture. It’s about dwelling in the Word and letting God use it to teach me. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:11-12, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.”

My frustration died as I realized God doesn’t need me to be able to quote verbatim every passage of Scripture I ever memorize. Some people may be able to do that, but I doubt I will in this life. For me, memorizing God’s Word allows me to soak it into my heart, where it can guide me. Once it’s there, God can bring it back to me when I need it—both to keep me from sinning against Him and to share with others.

My thirsty heart, like the parched ground in Isaiah 35:7, “shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.”

Have you been frustrated by memorizing Scripture before? Do you know a way to memorize that works well for you? I’d love to hear about it. Please share in the comments below.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea. I've been to 17 countries, and once spent the night in a hotel lobby in Florence, Italy, because the entire city was fully booked for a festival.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to three curious kids, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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I’m still here… Still living life, writing and I’m still here…
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Here is the blurb:

Nova’s sunless planet is sustained by the magic of human dreams. Born as a moon mage, Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to be used against a dark parasite eating away their land. 

Then, Nova meets Arlo, a boy who not only sees her but whose aching heart permeates his dreams. Desiring deep connection, Nova ignores the warnings of her people in order to visit the beauty of his subconscious.

But nightmares not only seep into minds and hearts, they also stalk the bioluminescent forests of Nova's world. Danger lurks in waking and sleeping, and to fail means succumbing to the parasite while cut off from Arlo forever. But if Nova can find a way to fight back, she and her people could be free to dream again.

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I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking many pictures of them.🥸 
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