I love summer with my kids! Picnics, playgrounds, popsicles and of course the occasional pajamas ‘til noon days—this time of year is our reward for thriving through the busy (and chilly) school year.
To make our time together extra meaningful, my family is memorizing one new Bible verse each week. And I’d love for you to join us! Together we can cheer each other on and encourage our kids to hide God’s word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11) even as we enjoy our summer fun in the sun.
Starting June 6, I’ll be sharing a new verse here and on Facebook each week for 10 weeks. Be sure to check out each week’s short video for some added encouragement.
Are you ready? Let’s memorize!
Week 5—Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 with photo bomber from Becky Kopitzke on Vimeo.
What does it mean?
Every day is a gift from God. Whether things are going the way we planned or not, we can know that God has a purpose for our circumstances, and we can not only trust him but actually rejoice in his love and wisdom, knowing he’s got us covered.
Week 4—Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.”
Week 4: Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times. from Becky Kopitzke on Vimeo.
What does it mean?
I’ve been doing a study with my eight-year-old this summer on the topic of friendship (as found in Proverbs). This is a key verse for us because it reminds us what the core definition of friendship is. Friends show love. Why? Because God is love. Our role as a friend is to love others and to help them when they face trouble.
Week 3—James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
What does it mean?
This verse came to mind while my girls and I were picking strawberries. God makes awesome gifts! And all good things come from him. Even though strawberries grow only in the summer, God is the same all year round. He never stops working on our behalf and offering us amazing gifts.
Summer Scripture Challenge Week 3, James 1:17 from Becky Kopitzke on Vimeo.
Week 2—Romans 12:12
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
What does it mean?
We’re all hoping for something. As believers our greatest hope is in meeting Jesus face to face in heaven one day. But meanwhile we hope for all sorts of wants and needs, from good health to making the soccer team to dreams of what we’re going to be when we grow up. We can be joyful even in the waiting and working toward our hopes. When things go wrong, we can choose to be patient and wait for God to do his work in us, knowing he is with us all along even when waiting seems painful. And we should never stop praying. God wants to hear from us.
Summer Scripture Challenge Week 2 Romans 12:12 from Becky Kopitzke on Vimeo.
Week 1—John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
What does it mean?
Jesus is the Light of the World. No matter how dark our circumstances look, God is with us, he is still in control, and he will work all things out for good. Evil will not win in the end! As believers, we need to keep sharing the love of Christ with other people. So go out into the world and shine your light!
Scripture memory John 1:5 from Becky Kopitzke on Vimeo.
Tips for memorizing scripture with kids:
- Make up a song or hand movements for each verse to help kids remember the words.
- If your child is old enough to read, post the verse on a chalkboard or mirror where everyone is likely to see it often.
- While you’re driving, recite your verse every time you stop at a red light. Depending on how busy your streets are, this can be a great way to build in memory practice time!