Happy Lord’s Day, You Delightful Siestas! The only reason I’m getting to be on here at this hour on a Sunday morning is because Curtis is preaching at the 6:30 PM “Ascend” service at our church this evening so, needless to say, I’m going then. I’ve had you on my mind, praying for you and cheering for you so much over the last week. At this point, do you realize we have about 3000 of us memorizing Scripture together? Unbelievable. This morning while I was working out in my garage, I had on one of my Nicole C. Mullen CD’s. (You know, she and I are really tight. I’m her personal trainer. Which, of course, is a lie and some of you are too new to the blog to recognize when I’m making something up. Have you seen that woman’s arms? That’s why I pump iron.) Anyway, I was getting my praise on to her song “Brainwash” and as I listened to the lyrics, I thought how my Scripture-memorizing Siestas would be pumped up in their commitment by it. Here are the words but if you love her kind of music like I do, google it and listen to it. Here, Darling Things, is one great reason why we memorize Scripture. In a few days I’m planning to do a little mini-tutorial but this is perfect until then. Sure love you!
Chorus: I need a brainwash from my head to my soul ~
I need a brainwash, bring it down to my toes ~
I need a brainwash in and out ’cause you know ~
I need a B-R-A-I-N double wash*
Overwhelmed by the stuff on TV ~
Overloaded from the pressure fallin’ on me ~
light head! Oxygen! I’ve gotta breath *
Email, Myspace, backin’ up all the time ~
Voicemail, press one if you’re on the line ~
Transformer, can you renew my mind?
Smack dab in the front of my mind ~
All that I’ve done wrong ~ Re-play and rewind ~
How can I erase it forever this time *
Smack dab in the pit of my soul ~
This guilty feeling’s diggin’ a hole ~
And my thoughts are spinnin’ out of control
The world is straight typical to rock the traditional ~
Kinda keep it real life livin’ mind simple though ~
My past is in remission ~ Thrivin’ on my conditions ~
I need a turn around ~ A fresh way to get down ~
Comin’ straight from Jersey roamin’ in the land of the dirty south, free ~
Escapin’ misery ~ With a Christ mentality ~ The only way to have it ~
Living word habits ~ Feels nice dippin’ me twice ~
Yo, ah I need a Brainwash… (Chorus)
Be not conformed to this world ~ But be transformed by the renewing of your mind
LOVE IT! And I love the scripture goal. My first one is resonating with me so much. We talked about it in Sunday School yesterday. Thank you, Lord, for giving Beth this idea. It totally ROCKS!
Nicole C. Mullen’s song “Brainwash” became one of my favorite songs when I saw her perform it at the Revolve tour in Atlanta, Ga. She is an amazing woman of God.
I’ve thought it quite comical that unbelievers have called Christians “brainwashed” as a criticism of our faith. When I hear that accusation coming from the world now, I just think..”Lord, I hope so.” Let me brainwashed for His Glory.
Beth, Isn’t it awesome when seemingly independent things match perfectly?
Yesterday I taught a class at church on “Overcoming Depression”. The cornerstone was Romans 12:2, scripture memorization, and finding ways to get more God in your day. The cool thing was that my pastor used Rom 12:2 in his message also!
‘Tis the season for Romans!
Beth,
Thanks for the song lyrics. It was a good reminder. Boy do I need a brainwash. I have meditated on my scripture just because I said I would, a commitment that I have made. But I have already made a trip or two back to the pit. The pull is so strong. I have pulled myself out so many times. So maybe this commitment is what will pull me out of that pit for the final time.
Thanks for caring about us.
A struggling, resistant, rebellious siesta who wonders if she will ever learn
I felt like such an idiot when I checked the blog today for the first time since Christmas (sorry!) and I couldn’t believe that I had missed the sign up for the scripture memory! I was just telling my husband last night that one of my spiritual goals for this year was to begin really memorizing scripture (not like I had been faking it before) – anyway, I was sooo downtrodden until I got on to comment today and realized much to my delight that I am not the only late bloomer! With that said, I will be memorizing Ps. 145:14-16:
The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Now I am almost embarassed to write my name and to shame my city but I am so type-A that I have to obey the rules!!
Stephanie McBride, Lynchburg, Virginia
Last night I asked my 7 year old to help me memorize my verse Isaiah 43:18-19. She goes to a Christian school and has to memorize a verse a WEEK!! and so far she has 100!! As I thought about her being able to do this, I said to myself,, self you should be able to do two a month.
And just like many of you, I also freak out when I have to remember something so I always get nervous about it. Well after just about 20 mins. I got it!!! and she said Mommy I’m so proud of you! I felt like the child and she was the parent. And then she got my husband to listen to me quote my verse, as she bragged on me. Brings tears to my eyes just rethinking it.
Ok, let me tell you why you hide the word in your heart.
I have been working on memorizing Phil. 4:6-7 since 1/1 and I was just saying to my memorization accountability partner that I was really struggling. I started with a verse that I vaguely had memorized anyway, but never get the words right. As many times as I have said it, written it, etc. I just didn’t feel like it was sinking in.
Then this morning, I found out about this new law, HR 4040, that is going to totally impact my small business, thus our family income. Long story short, I spent a couple hours reading all about it and starting to really freak out. I won’t even tell you all the places that my mind took me. Then in the quiet of dropping the kids off at preschool (thank God my lovelys are back to school) I heard myself start to repeat God’s word. “Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in everything by PRAYER and petition, with THANKSGIVING present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Duh, I had forgotten to pray. I got home and had a long talk with God, starting with thanking him that my business was not our only source of income. Thanking him that my children have clothes to wear and food to eat and then confessing that I was freaking out and laying it at his feet. Oh, and big surprise, I feel SOOOO much better. I still feel the need to act and write some letters to my representatives, but I know God will provide and he can sustain me.
Isn’t our God an amazing God?!?! He picked this verse for me long before I knew how I would need it!!
Amen! That is a great song. I haven’t heard her sing it so I will be looking that one up!
Thanks for sharing Beth and keep pumping iron to His praise! 😉
Esther
I wanted to share this quote from a “sisterchicks” book by Robin Jones Gunn. Since we are all cyber sisterchicks, and we want a Jesus year. This described what I want to a tee.
“I fell asleep that night feelin close to my Heavenly Father. I had foend that we weren’t capriciously floating through the clouds when nothing was going according to chedule. We were truly held close in everlasting arms. So close, I felt as if I were beginning to hear God’s heartbeat. Each measured beat was one of grace followed by an echo of love.”
Let it be so, Lord!
Tracy Culley
Columbia, MO
AmyBeth – I know how you feel. Tornadic emotions can cloud and almost seem to destroy your ability to think clearly. But you can do it because He who is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world!
Here’s a few tips until Beth posts her recommendations (Beth, forgive me if I’m overstepping):
1. Prepare – Start by praying for protection and a clear mind. Pray God’s Word as Beth teaches by saying things like “I have the mind of Christ.” Also rebuke the enemy’s attempts to interfere with verses like “Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused!” And of course praise Jesus – the enemy can’t hang around when you are praising God.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit who lives in you to teach you and help you.
3. Then when you are ready to work on your memory verse – spend a few minutes reading it in context. Think about the meaning and how it fits in the passage.
4. Write it out – a bunch of times. As you write, pay attention to the specific word meanings.
5. Say it out loud – speak it over and over.
6. Write it on a card and keep it with you throughout the day. Take it with you on a walk – exercise your mind and body at the same time. Try to look at the card less each time.
7. If it’s a long verse, break it into sections and work on each part at a time.
8. Tell it to someone else. Try to recite it to them and explain the context or what it means to you. Even if you don’t get it exactly, trying to explain the meaning will help solidify it in your mind and you will get more of it the next time you try to recite it.
9. WHEN you get it – Praise GOD! Then keep saying it, and when you are learning the next one, recite the previous verses to keep them fresh.
10. YOU CAN DO IT – You can do all things through Christ! Remember God has given you a brain that is tremendously more powerful than the largest supercomputer on the planet.
p.s. – don’t be anxious about it. God knows your heart and He will help you and reward you whether you memorize one verse or an entire book! And the more you memorize, the more you will want to memorize.
precious siestas. You encouraged my heart tonight. Today was one of those days that sometimes happens in a m*ss*ionary life.. you get overwhelemd with how far you are from your family and friends. You are a bit tired of speaking in another language. Then right now we have 12 hours of power outage a day.. in 6 hour intervals. It has been dark since 2 in our house, you could see your breath in my room and then our stove broke so I had no way to boil water.. and then with the stove broken and the power off tommorow for 6 hours in the morning i cannot even boil water for my cup of coffe with jesus in the morning.. nor have water to wash in. glory. It was getting to me. Then when the power came back on I started to read all the posts from the siestas.. and it reminded me that the body of Christ spans across the world.. across far oceans.. We are all one big family. i am so excited for each of us as we memorize God’s truth. I learn more then ever I have to fling the truth back at Satan often.. as I live in a country that He has claimed for His territory. So after I get off I am going to meditate some more on my verse ROmans 8:1 and try not to think about the cold or the coffeless, powerless morning
That song not only sings, it preaches! I’m being “brain-washed!” Oh Lord, a sweet church sister and I were on our knees in the prayer room last night for my husband and our marriage and she said put on that helmet of salvation… You have to armor up. I told her it is so good. I’m in the word everyday – but I don’t rise and put on my armor out of bed most days… I usually wait until mid-morning. I said, that is sooo Good! I’m going to do it. I did, and Hubs joined me this AM we were praying in the car as I dropped him off at work after reading our Scripture meditation for the day. Glory to God – we are being BRAIN WASHED! Transform me, Lord! Thanks Beth for thinking of us and encouraging us today!
Blessings.
Thank you Beth, I can really connect with the part about wanting to erase it completely, finally.
I need a “Brainwashing” too! Help us all Lord to renew our minds. This scripture memory has been SO helpful! Thank you Beth for starting us out right for 2009!
This is the day the Lord has made. let us rejoice and be glad in it! I thank you Beth, for this site, I just found it and it has been a great encouragement for me. Just knowing there are other Christians out there with hurts and pains, but they still walk on, trusting God. I started reading everyones memory verses and it lifted my spirit and helped me to stay focused on Christ. Isaiah 50:7Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. The tears have stopped now. God is faithful.
Beth, you are MY personal trainer — spiritual trainer!
Rita
I had never heard Nicole C. Mullen so I checked her out on iTunes. Girl you rock out in your work out! Very inspiring.
Thanks again for memorization push. The women’s Bible study I lead begins new tomorrow(Tues.) and of course eveyone is very excited about studying Esther. I’m going to mention the memorization too. Pray for our girls to be able to have time for their homework. It seems to be such a struggle for most of us. Thanks for ALL you do!!!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while but have never posted a comment. I couldn’t resist this time. I love Nicole C. Just after Christmas, I set my ringtone to Brainwash. My 7 year old daughter was trying to learn the lyrics…”I need a brainwash, from my neck to my nose”. We’re working on the correct lyrics and their meaning now!
That’s so funny-I love Nicole C Mullen- I bought her new CD for MYSELF for Christmas (along with, eh-hehm, some Beth Moore stocking stuffers for people, haha). It was nothing like Sharecropper’s Seed which I love…so I thought, “hey this would be a great CD to exercise to”…thanks for the reminder, ugh!
I was watching Andy Griffith last night (I love Andy), and I found myself wishing for those simpler times… Since we can’t have that, I’ll take a brainwash! Love you all!
Judy
I need a brainwash all over my body!!! I love being brainwashed in the Lord… Thanks for helping me stay this way!
We start our bible study on Esther wednesday.. I want to get my ladies to do the memorization with me… I pray our Lord will help me phraise this to them so that they are willing..How much fun this will be.
Much love and blessings,
Lichelle
Beth,
this is so funny….I read your blog and couldn’t understand WHY you were out working in the garage on Sunday morning, isn’t that something for a saturday? THEN it dawned on me you were “WORKING OUT” in the garage!! lol This comes from a person who doesn’t know working out from out working!!
Love you anyway…. do a lap for me
I “get it”! Sometimes I don’t “get” things. Thank you so much for posting this!
Oh how I need a brainwash!!!
I was traveling home from IA without my laptop 🙁 so I could not post my scripture memory verse.
Here it goes a few days late:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert ad streams in the wasteland.” [Isaiah 43:18-19; NIV]
PS – About 40 of us here in Crawfordsville IN start Esther on Thursday!!!! Can not wait!
Much Love –
O’Nealya Gronstal
Ladoga IN
Started my brainwash this morning – our Monday mom’s group started Esther this very morning and with several new ladies to start the year off right! I am so excited to get into this study. The Introductory video alone was enough to bring tears. You are an awesome woman of the Word Miss Beth and I am so excited to get going deep into that study! Woohoo!
Can I just say WOW, that song is amazing!! I went and downloaded it from iTunes & read your lyrics along with the song. You just get a better feel of the song hearing the music. I LOVE IT!!!
Okay you have a GREAT Taste in music Beth…you are truly a black woman inside! 😀 You know how to rock out to some awesome soulful music. I also downloaded the song "Revolution" by Kirk Franklin that you talked about on one of your Wed. sessions on Life Today. AMAZING!
"I WANT A REVOLUTION, Woop-Woop!!"
Oh and By The Way….
“Where my Fort Worth Saints at?” – *WOOP, WOOP*
Love ya,
Groovewoman♫
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
I’m teaching this to my children as well to REMIND ME when I raise my voice to them (ages 7, 6, and 5:) My precious 6 year old has already called me on it:) He didn’t get the words exactly right, but he got his point across:) Ouch!
Pamela
Wilmington, NC
Beth,
Do you exercise every day? Just curious, I am trying to motivate myself to get out there every day.
Joy
[email protected]
Brainwash…that is an awesome song. I am a huge Nicole C Mullen fan and yet I missed that one. Thanks for sharing. It’s catchy! Cool play on words…it’s the right kind of brainwash…straight from the Lord.
Bring it on!!
I wanted to say that I was at work when I read about Brainwash and couldn’t wait to get home to my computer and itunes. I got it right away and listen several times during the evening and loved it. All day today and now this evening at work it just keeps going through my head and i want to get up and dance. But sadly I am still at work. This scripture memory is going to be awesome.
Jeani
Beth:
I love you to pieces! When I read your post about why you were on the blog during “sunday School” I had to smile. You are so precious to tell us when you were going to church. Girl, it is in your DNA – your Southern Baptist Arkansas blood! I love it that you keep it real. I’m especially glad you could enjoy hearing your son-in-law preach.
It brought back memories of when I was a “much younger” Pastor’s wife 🙂 and I would walk through the church auditorium on PURPOSE on my way to nursery duty so that the “little old ladies” could SEE ME and not ask my Pastor husband, “where’s Jan?
Thank you for your comment about loving us Pastor’s wives! We do have fish-bowl lives (as do you), but YOU have made the swimming so much more fun for this Georgia girl!
I’m so fired up about my scripture memorization that I went on ahead and learned the verses after my original submission – so I’ve committed Proverbs 3:3-8 to memory!
Brain-washed by the water of the Word,
Georgia Jan
Sometimes I just wonder, sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if we have become lost in our english language? Sometimes I wonder if we have left our english language and forgotten words to express the higher way of living? Sometimes I wonder if we stood before a King or Queen how would we speak? What words would we use if we stood before them? Would they be eloquent or just emotion driven?
Hey Beth, Is Happy 30th anniversary in order? Wow, I say Amen and Happy Anniversary. Thanks for the kickoff prayer for the year in our Scripture memorization journey. I’m printing it out and keeping it tucked in my bible.
Yes, yes, yes! I need to be washed oh so regularly. Left to myself, I become filthy so quickly.
Thank You, Lord….You wash me clean, only You!
Eating seed ….
Beth … just wanted to thank you for helping me to do more than eat seed. I have avoided scripture memorization for many years for 2 reasons … chemo-brain and over 40 memoryitus. Then God laid truth on my heart. Here is an excerpt from my blog to illustrate:
Two months ago I joined Coupon Sense. I will not go into great detail about it here, as much as I would like to, but I will go as far as to explain that it involves a binder with hundreds of different coupons in it. My binder is huge! How in the world does this matter you ask? It matters because when I look at the ads I know if I have a coupon for an item or not and exactly where I can find it in my binder. That is not to say that it is a book of unorganized clutter … that it is not. But, without opening it I can tell you if I have a coupon for something and sometimes even how much it is for! I memorize them because they are important to me. (Honesty remember?) So, how could I not? How could I do anything but agree, knowing that God was most certainly watching me come to this realization, waiting to see what I would do with the knowledge. So I joined the Siesta Scripture Memory Team. I had been eating seed …Can’t remember God’s Word, but can remember your coupons? Eating seed. Make plenty of time to sew, but have not the time to even finish your Bible study? Eating seed. The bottom line truth? I have not made growing and seeking God even one of the top 10 priorities in my life, let alone the most important.
and … here I am 5 days later. The most amazing thing is that God wrote it into my heart in three days of thinking about it … not studying it. On the third day it was just there.
I did find I needed more accountability, so I did start a blog that people are starting to follow. :o) It is:
http://praisinyahweh.blogspot.com/
(Please visit fellow siesta’s … it helps keep me motivated!)
May God’s loving hand pour out his will upon each moment of your day.
Lisa
Its a day-byday process ths brainwashing. We all need it.My brain is only 45 years old and already forgetting within 24 hours. I am hoping this scripture memorization brings new life anf energy not just to my life but my heart and soul also. 2009 looks to be a year of spiritual adveture for me and I am pumped up!! These past four years have been about letting go of my past and my failuresand I am now more secure in my Lord than ever. I need the brainwash asI continue to diligently seek Him!!
Blessings!
In His Graces~Pamela
I am definitely in need of a good brainwashing!
I recently saw Nicole and the kids dance group perform Brainwash at a Women of Faith conference. Not only is the woman ripped but she can dance. I love this song and so do my kids!
Just started the Esther study today, and I’m hoping it will help with a little bit of my own brainwashing! LOVED it! Thanks for all you do. Oh, and loved the orange jacket in the DC shots. Seriously, HOW do you always find the best coats??
Nancy
Girl, you have no idea what you started in this house with B-R-A-i-N double wash! I immediately had to go find it and download it and had all kinds of trouble, but finally did and then my sweet girls (9,7,4) got ahold of it and we have been jumping all around the computer dancing to it. I also printed out the words, so now my precious 4 y/o is dancing around the house with the paper to sing along. I totally need to make my own Brainwash video to post! Also, the older girls had that song stuck in their heads all day at school. Sweet Leah said, “I kept singing it softly to myself all day long.” Oh I pray the words and meaning would seep to their very souls!
O:)
Melissa
Beth, I loved you post with the Brainwash lyrics! I love that song and sometimes my brain is so full of “stuff” so much that I really need the brainwash so completely! Love it!
I am so far behind on reading the blog but catching up slowly. Enough to be a member of the scripture memorization team! I think I misspelled that……anyway this is exciting! Keep pumping iron and pumping up the Siestas!
Blessings for today!
Beth,
I just wanted you to know that I have taken this challenge to my small group at church! They are way excited and I can’t wait to see the victory it brings!
Thank you, Beth, for the song recommendation! I guess I’ve never heard the song before….anyway, I’ve added Nicole’s CD to my online shopping cart. It’s a perfect song for our Scripture memory activity!
(BTW, how neat that you can work out in your garage! Yay for you!)
Karen K.
Houston
Dear Beth,
A group of women from my church just finished “Breaking Free” This is the first study of yours that we have done. Any suggestions for the next one? All of us are in our 50’s but we have one 30-year-old.
God Bless you in his work.
Julie
I loved Melissa’s (Jan 7-5:28 am comment) about her girls learning the Brainwash song and them all getting their groove on to the tune. I’m with her….I pray it seeps into their little souls….as it has mine after hearing Nicole and team sing it and perform it at Women of Faith this fall. It’s on my IPod and I listen to it daily along with some other great music I’ve downloaded. Most of you all have probably heard the song that Watermark does, called Captivate Us. If not, you really need to listen to it, download it from ITunes, whatever. It is what I am praying for all the Siesta’s during this Scripture memory season. Thanks Beth for challenging us and thanks for the constant reminders. To change our thoughts, we need to constantly be in the Word, in prayer, listening to the Word through music, being accountable, holding others accountable….Beth, I echo so many others sentiments. Thank you for being who you are, thank you for mentoring us, thank you for being used of the Lord to help disciple women. You have influenced many. This young gal has been under your teaching for many years now….have done more Bible Studies than I can count, some more than once, or twice or three times….been to many LP events. You are the real deal girl. And that is what attracts me to you….to Jesus. The fact that you want us to fall more in love with our God. He is so worthy. We love you Beth Moore. Thank you for loving us so much.
Susan in OKC
Beth,
After listening to Brainwash I just had to purchase a CD of Nicole’s. I love her sound! Thanks for introducing me to her.
Love to all,
Kim L.
Doswell, VA
So I was reading Proverbs 31 this morning and when I got to verse 17 I nearly died laughing. The verse says “She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. (Proverbs 31:17)”. Thanks to this discussion on Nicole C Mullen’s arms, I now have a picture of the Proverbs 31 woman pumping iron burned on my mind. 🙂
Beth, thank you so much for serving the Lord. I cannot tell you how many times you have been instrumental in my walk with christ. Your online bible studies are wonderful. I can do study at my own pace. I also do studies at church. Again thank you for all you do.
Ann, Dallas, Tx
Darlene Smith from Osceola, AR Isaiah 1:19 ” If ye be willing and obedient,ye shall eat the good of the land” Genesis 18:14 “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son”KJV