It’s not too late to get started with the A to Z Challenge! In case you missed the details, you can catch up here !
Hey Friends!
Welcome back to the A to Z Memory Challenge! I hope you’ve been blessed by hiding God’s Word in your heart!
I’ve loved hearing the stories of how this has been working for you and your family. 4 year olds saying their verse at breakfast. Kids reciting their verse on their way to school. One group of 50 women memorizing together! Keep up the great work everyone!
Are you ready for the next A to Z Memory Verse?!
Our verse # 2 -(the “B” verse) – Acts 16:31
B – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…
Memorizing Ideas ~
* Write the verse on a mirror with a dry erase marker. (This seemed to work well for lots of participants!)
* Instead of putting the verse on a note card, type it into your phone. (Recommendation from an A to Z friend – thanks Silly Mama!)
* For families, you may want to print off a letter B (here) on colored cardstock. Write the verse on the “B”, and hang it on your refrigerator.
**Feel free to share your favorite tips, ideas, even pictures. I’d love to share your suggestions and/or link to you in the weeks to come!
Questions to Ponder/Discussion Ideas~
* What does this verse mean to me? to our family?? Spend time reflecting, journaling, praying, and discussing how Acts 16:31 can help shape you and your family in 2012.
* Read the story of how the Phillipian Jailer (& his family) placed their trust in God and immediately expressed that faith by being baptized (Acts 16:25-34). Share your experience of when you placed your faith in Jesus, and when you were baptized (if applicable).
Giveaways ~
Thanks to the generosity of many donors, I am excited to have giveaways to share with you each time a new verse is shared! For this week….
* Memory Verse Challenge Participants ~ I have 10 Starbucks e-cards to giveaway to 10 different participants! Woo hoo!
To Win my Giveaway: Please let us know you are participating in the challenge by “checking in” – i.e. leave your name, location, and who is participating from your family.
For example, I’d say….
Cindy Bultema, Michigan, we have 6 family members memorizing
(I thought it be fun to see where everyone is from. We have MANY states represented, plus Canada and the U.K.. My kids want to see if we can have all 50 states represented by the end of 2012. Will you help us get there??)
**10 random participants will receive an e-card to Starbucks. Yippee!
Extra Entries:
•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post #atozverses
Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.
RULES: Starts today, Monday, January 16th and ends Thursday, January 19th at 9 PM. Winners will be posted on my blog during the week of January 23rd.
If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject “Giveaway”.
* Bloggers ~ I also have 5 Starbucks e-cards to give to bloggers who shares this A to Z challenge on his/her blog and links up below. (Bloggers, please see notes in P.S. below.)
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Please don’t forget to “check in” in the comment section so we know you are with us! Grab your index cards and let’s do this together! Yippee!
Happy Memorizing ~
P.S. Bloggers ~ Thanks so much for sharing the *She Sparkles* Challenge on your blog. Please include the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory Verse Challenge button on your post. (The button with embedding code is listed on my sidebar). Be sure to leave your blog address so I can stop by and say hello! Thanks so much! 🙂 
P.P.S. To help get us off to a great start, Verseability has made a custom A-Z Versepack that contains all 26 of the verses for the year. The Versepacks are business card sized and perfect for carrying in your purse or pocket and are available for a special price of $ 5.00, plus shipping. You can order them by e-mailing: darlenedykstra@yahoo.com. Be sure to mention *She Sparkles* to get the special rate.
(I encourage you to check out the Verseability website to see the personalized Versebooks and Versepacks available, too. Great gifts for any occasion! Note: the A-Z Versepacks are not listed on the website).
Disclosure: I was not provided with any financial compensation for this giveaway, and as always, all opinions are mine.
Laura Kuperus, Michigan, 5 family members participating.
Rene Owens, Abilene, TX Just me participating. I love my verseability pack I received in the mail!! It will be very helpful in learning the scriptures. renetowens@sbcglobal.net
I follow your blog!Rene Owensrenetowens@sbcglobal.net
I subscribe to your blog.Rene Owensrenetowens@sbcglobal.net
Lacey in Michigan – We have 5 or 6 family members participating (counting our 2-year-old is questionable) :-)(P.S. Cindy, I'm sorry I accidentally Linky-ed twice. I'm sure that's bad blogger etiquette. Can you delete the second one?)
I also subscribe in Google Reader.
Dawn Carlson, Loveland, Colorado – just myself.
Annnnnnnd I have your button on my blog. 🙂
Tim & Erin Leyen both having fun memorizing with you! 🙂
Denise Oldham-Chattanooga Tennessee. Just me participating.
Tianne Missionary midwife student in the Philippines. From Michigan. I also posted about the challenge on my blog (http://tiannecole.blogspot.com/) My aunt Carol goes to a Bible study at your Church in GR and advised me to follow your blog and to do the memory verse challenge. I am really enjoying it 🙂 Blessings
Chrissy Boerman, Michigan, we have 4 family members memorizing
button is up on my blog for sure! http://www.boermanramblingss.blogspot.com
I also subscribe via email
I follow your blog!
Lisa Littlewood, Buffalo N.Y. 4 of us…my two girls, the hubby and myself!
Sue, Illinois, three participating (m-i-l to Lacey)
Michelle Slomp – Okotoks, Alberta, Canada – just me for now….
I have added your button to my blog
Hey Cindy, I linked up on my blog again (and on FB). I also shared a little story of something that happened last week related to the verse memorizing 🙂 The kids are excited to learn verse B!
Chellie, Michigan, 4 family members memorizing!
Tim & Erin Leyen both are having fun memorizing with you! 🙂
Thanks for the update on the next verse. I'm a day late, and it's the last part on my post for today, but I'm really thankful for this challenge.
I'm memorizing and telling everyone I know about it! I'm so excited to get my cards because then I'll have a show to go with my telling!! and I've written my memory verses on the post-it note that come on my computer so when I open up my computer it is there and I notice others have gotten added that were very special!of course follow the blog and on FB!! 🙂 Shannon Johnson
Michelle, Georgia, I'm the only one in my household memorizing them.However, I am memorizing them with a friend.moma3homeschool(at)gmail(dot)comThanks Cindy!!
AubreyOklahoma2 family members participatinglittlegray88 at yahoo dot com
i follow your bloglittlegray88 at yahoo dot com
Cindy, I'm LOVING this challenge!! I have a number of friends following along via my blog link to you as well and that makes it all the more exciting!Okay, week 2 and now the word "challenge" truly kicks in! LOL!! Time to pull out the tips and tricks of memorization!
Oh – today I added your blog button to my sidebar! Your link has been there for a LONG time now…but the button needed to join the A-Z Challenge button!
Mary Sue Owens, Abilene, Tx. I am the only one in my home memorizing. :>)
I subscribe to your blog. Mary Sue Owensfw.mso@sbcglobal.net
Deb Huntley, Hastings Michigan, 6 family members learning the verses.
Jennifer Faragalli, Voorhees, NJ …my devoted hubby and I 🙂
Shannon D., California, 3 family members memorizing. I also subscribe to your blog.dias88@hotmail.com
I love participating in the memory verse challenge!! From Wathena, KSnatalie
Courtney Moskal in Michigan. I am for sure, but I have caught my 12 year old saying the first one. Also, I do know the women's bible study, W.O.R.D. at Sunshine Church is starting the verse packs.Thanks for the inspiration, Cindy!
Shared on Facebook 🙂
Meredith From Michigan, Just me. PS I would like to win the Starbucks for a friend as an incentive to go out for coffee with me since she is always busy.
Bethany from Texas, 3 family members partcipating
I am doing the challenge! I have had several of my Facebook friends interested when I posted my verse as my status!So my name is Melody. I live in Washington State north of Seattle. I am currently writing it on my mirror with erase marker but, I LOVE the idea of putting it on my smart phone too! :)Oh, I am an empty nester so my hubbie 'sees' it on our mirror in the master bath but, I am the only one committed to doing it here.
I follow you on GFC.
I also get She Sparkles in my email! 🙂
Sara, Michigan, Family of 4. We follow and subscribe to she sparkles too! Thanks
oh I forgot I'm from Illinois!! 🙂
Kami Potjer, Michigan, Just me 🙂
Phoebe, with 6 of us just around the corner 🙂
Hi I am in. I am in Texas and memorizing with my 3 year old grandson and daughter. I am also encouraging long distance participating with my kids in Missouri. MY Son and DIL and 3 year old grandaughter and 10 year grandson. It's fun. I am following you. I get your emails and I came by today to get the button and copy the verses for my blog. So I noticed the giveaway. Thanks for doing this and encouraging us! Blessings,Sherry
I already have your button up. But I am going to do photo's with the two verse for my sidebar. I'll post on Wordfilled Wednesday next week! Thanks again. Sherry
I tried to follow on facebook just now but it didn't work. I'll log out and try from there. Hmmm.Bye, Bye for now!
Ok one more comment for the day. I just asked to be your friend on facebook. BTW forgot to tell you I love the groundhog day party. Very cute idea. I agree any chance for a party or fun, learning experience or God moment with your kids is great! Have a great day,Sherry
Found your blog through another blogger who was doing the A-Z challenge. My husband, daughter and I committed to doing this. Kristine Ruetzbnkruetz@gmail.com
Whoohoo! Look at all these women! PTL!I'm in North Carolina.Just me.Posted on my blog and the button is under a page on top for A-Z Memorization.I follow here, subscribed and tweeted! Whew!LOLAnd I received my versepack in the mail the other day. LOVE Them!!!
Bobbie JoSan Angelo, TXJust me but I do have it next to the comnputer and it scrolls across it as a screen saver so I am hoping the others are at least reading it. 🙂
Cynthia in Austin, Texas — just me but I've set several friends to reading your blog and hopefully they will join in! 🙂
Hey Cindy. With my MIL's passing and the funeral the last 2 weeks I almost missing going to B. I still have A up on my desk. I received the cards from Versability and just love them! Gosh these were such a smart idea and would make such a nice gift. I love the personalized scripture cards too. I know I'll be buying them as a gift.Anyway, I've got B up now and I'm back on track.Hugs…Tracy :)P.S. I'm a follower, a subscriber, have your button on my blog, just blogged about it again and tweeted.
I've been mulling over the meaning of the "B" verse this past week and I love that it says…Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be "saved". When I first read it I immediately thought…saved from death, which we are. However, it does not specifically say saved from one thing. You sort of get to fill in the _____. The verse doesn't limit what you are saved from, it is open ended, making it that much more relevant and real for wherever your current struggle is in life. My prayer this week has been…Lord save me from my own thoughts! They can easily consume me and take me to places I should not go, that no one can hear or see. Even in a crowded room I can smile, participate in small talk and no one will know I need to be saved from myself…my very own thoughts. It has been refreshing when I have those thoughts of places, people and situations, that I can recite that verse and feel redirected and empowered.