This is the Truth Network. Hi, welcome to Truth for the Youth, where we seek to inspire the next generation to follow Jesus and spread the good news of the gospel. I'm your host, Faith Epperson. Today, I'm honored to be joined by my grandmother, Nancy Epperson. She's spent years mentoring others, teaching God's word, and has memorized an incredible amount of scripture.
Mimi, thank you so much for being here today. Would you please give your testimony in a quick introduction for my listeners? I'll be glad to. Um Well, uh it goes way back. to when I was born.
july thirteenth, nineteen forty one, And I'll have to say. December of that year. My family was awakened. By the sound of bombs falling all around us, by the sound of people shrieking in terror. as they realized they were being bombed, The year was nineteen forty one and and the place was Honolulu, Hawaii, where I was born.
I was just a few months old, but I can remember vividly hearing my parents tell about that horrible morning when they were all totally panic-stricken and shocked by the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mm-hmm. When my mother, with three children, Uh was evacuated.
So the women and children were put on a large ship and sent. to California. My father stayed and helped the government. Uh for a few months and then he joined us in California.
So it was pretty much a struggle. because my father lost everything due to the bombings. And so He had to work hard. My mother worked hard. And so we had a lot of of trials growing up.
And uh the worst one was when my parents divorced. And when I was eleven, But my mother remarried. And with my new Stepfather came a good amount of wealth. We moved into a big house there in Southern California with a pool. and I had everything a teenager could want.
Except happiness. I was so empty and I was so lost. and I didn't know what the problem was. And then one day When I was in sophomore in high school, my neighbor invited me to go to church. I didn't want it.
upset her. And she was so sweet But I really didn't want to go, but I told her I would go. And when I went, I heard the gospel. and that changed everything. It blew me away, I knew.
The moment I heard the word of God and the gospel preached, that that's exactly what I've been looking for.
so I was gloriously saved, And from that moment on God put within my heart a deep desire to learn His Word.
So I was there every time the church doors were open, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night. And every time He would quote a verse. I would write down the reference, I'd go home, I'd put it on a three by five card and start memorizing.
So, my whole life since I was 14, I've been memorizing scripture. Wow, so you've spent a lot of your life hiding God's word in your heart. And why is that scripture memorization so important to you? And how have you seen that impact your own walk with the Lord?
Well, you cannot know somebody unless you spend time with that person. And so I have found as I've spent time in the Word of God. I've come to know the Lord more deeply, more intimately. To know him is to love him. And so it has fully impacted my life.
And the Bible does promise In a number of passages God's blessing on those who love His Word. who meditate on it day and night, Psalm I says Blessed happy is the man. that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners Nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate. day and night. and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. Whatever he does will prosper. And that is such a powerful blessing, a powerful blessing. truth The importance of meditating on God's word.
Now, it doesn't mean you're going to be rich, you're going to have a big house, a big car. What it's saying is, God's hand of blessing will be on your life as you love His Word. There are many other passages I could quote. that talk about meditating on God's word and the power. uh joshua 18 Some 119, 97, and 98.
I could quote all of these, but we don't have time to program short. But Psalm 119, 99, and 100. I could go on and on. It's very important if you want to know the Lord. To spend time with him.
Yes. And the best way to spend time is meditating on his word. thinking about it, internalizing it. activating it in your life. Wow, yes.
And I know many people want to memorize the Bible, but often feel very overwhelmed, caught up in the work life, school.
So, what's one practical piece of advice you'd give someone who wants to get started? I know you said you started with note cards and writing them down. But what would be other ways you would give advice to some other people?
Well, my philosophy and my Key to memorizing is repetition. There's no magic formula. But if I had to pick one word, it would be repetition. If you go over anything enough times, you will learn it.
Now, that I can guarantee. And I've tested this so many times. Um So How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Yes.
How do you memorize a chapter or a book of the Bible? Just one verse at a time.
So you write it down. You go over it and over it.
Now you yourself, Athen, memorize The first three chapters in James. Yes, I have. And that was a huge accomplishment. I've heard you quote it verbatim, so you have really locked it into your heart. But you just have to start somewhere.
And it's always good to have a goal. And don't be too ambitious. When you start, just start with a verse, a couple verses, go over and over every day.
Now, let me point out one other thing that helps a lot of people. is accountability. Hmm.
So sometimes if you have a partner, that's very helpful. If you have a friend who also wants to memorize scripture, you pick a passage or a verse. and say let's go over it this week. At the end of the week, I'll quote it to you, you quote it to me. No, that really has helped a lot.
And I've memorized the book of James. I memorized with my dear friend. Who was a missionary in Africa? And we would actually talk on the phone, and at the end of the week, and quote our verses to each other.
So I've had different partners when I taught ninth grade Sunday school. I had different ones in my class that I partnered with. We memorize Philippians, we memorize first John, So the important thing Is you start, have a goal. Don't be too ambitious at first, just start with the first week. If you will spend five minutes, literally, Put your timer on on your phone.
Every day, five minutes on one verse. but go over it thoughtfully, thinking of what it says. By the end of the week, you'll know it.
Now, just test me on that. I want you to test me, whoever is listening to this show. Five minutes a day. But let me point out something. If you're memorizing, for example, Romans 12:1, never do this, never say, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Never do that. Think about what you're saying. Think about each word. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, I plead with you. by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice Holy acceptable unto God Which is your reasonable service?
Think the thought. meditate on it, Now, remember this about memorizing. This is crucial. The entire process is an act of worship. It's not, you're not running through a verse trying to memorize it.
You're meditating on it. You're internalizing it. You're activating it in your life. You're thinking on it. And the whole process is an act of worship.
And so look on it that way. It's not drudgery, it's not work. It's not always something I have to do. I'm a Christian. I'm supposed to memorize scripture.
Look on it as an act of worship. a special time with the Lord A time when you're quiet and you're thinking on his word. and it will transform your life. Wow, yes, I completely agree. As, you know, I've memorized scripture myself, and I can say that all of that is true.
It begins to live in your heart and change the way you think. Amen. Yes. Well, now for my next question is, you mentored so many young women over the year and people, young men.
So looking at the next generation, what do you think young people need most in their relationship with Christ today? I think what they need most is to know the Lord. To know him is to love him. God is so good. He's so gracious.
He's so kind. He's so merciful. The more you study the Word of God, the more you recognize that, the more you hide God's word in your heart, the more you recognize it The more you see his hand in your light, the more you see him guiding your steps. And I think this is a a big problem with today's youth. They spend so much time with social media on their phones.
But if they'll take time to get into the Word of God, it will transform their life. In fact, the Bible talks about it. I just quoted it. Romans 12, 1, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed. by the renewing of your mind.
We're being brainwashed every day by the media, by T V, social media. They're filling in the philosophy of the world. And and in just So much. sin and evil.
So we need to renew our mind with the washing of the water by the Word of God. It's cleansing. and it's it it it transforms life yes it does Well, Mimi, was there a particular moment when you fell in love with God's Word? I think that moment was when I was saved. I was so thrilled.
to have that big empty hole in me filled. and I just was so full of gratitude and praise, And I just wanted to know the Lord. And I really think it was from the time I was saved.
Now, I was in a great youth group of godly kids. And just remember, whoever is listening, You know, your friends make a powerful impact on your life. Praise God I had godly friends. They went to the same high school, many of them. We had prayer meeting before school every day.
We actually had a Bible club every Friday And just, it's amazing when you surround yourself with godly people. That definitely impacts your life.
So, get to know the Word of God and have godly friends. Your friends make all the difference in the world. Yeah, I completely agree. People say, Show me your five friends, and I'll show you who you are and who you'll end up to be like. That's good.
Great.
Well, what's one Bible verse that has carried you through the hardest seasons of your life?
Well, if I had to pick one, there's so many, my famous. But I think one of the most powerful verses in the Bible. Is First Thessalonians 5:18, which says, in everything. Give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Cultivate this habit of thanking God for everything. having a grateful heart, it literally will transform your life.
Now I have thanked him for things while I had tears running down my cheeks. Yeah. And my mouth was saying thank you, Lord. I didn't understand it. But I knew God is good.
I knew that God had a plan.
Now, another verse, or two verses that are great, are Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, which say, Trust in the Lord. With all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. I am telling you when you trust God, and don't try to figure it out.
He tells us not to. Do not lean to your own understanding. Trust him because he will lead you, he'll guide your path. He has a plan. many examples in the Bible.
Joseph and others, you know, who went through such trials, but God had a plan. Wow, that is powerful. Which kind of leads me into my last question: if you could leave our listeners with one verse of Scripture and one encouragement to carry with them this week, what would it be?
Well the one verse of Scripture I loved so much to challenge people with Is Matthew 6:33? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. and all these things will be added unto you. I believe that. When you seek God, and put him first and do the right thing, whether it's convenient or not.
God will honor that and God will bless it. And that would be my strong admonition. And that's a word of encouragement. because I want you to experience joy. All you who are listening, I want you to experience fulfillment and when you're trusting God.
And when you're putting him first, God honors that. Remember this little saying, obedience brings Blessing. Disobedience brings conversation. Conflict. Never forget it.
When you violate God's Word, You reap horrible heartache and sorrow. Do the right thing. Always honor God's word.
Now, you can't honor it if you don't know it. I know. And in fact, in Isaiah, it says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. You need to study the Word of God. And hide it in your heart and then follow it, walk in the light of God's word.
I'll close with one last verse. I'm just memorizing Psalm one twenty eight. And the first verse I think is so powerful. It says Blessed, happy is everyone. who loves the Lord and walks in His ways.
And that's his at all. Love God, walk in his ways, and and you reap happiness and joy. Yeah, well, you never know what God will do with a surrendered life. And I think all of those verses in the Bible touch on that and how Powerful God is, and what He can do with anyone's life if you surrender to Him fully. Amen.
And so, wow, Mimi, thank you so much for sharing your heart and your wisdom with us today. And thank you for listening to Truth for the Youth. We hope today's conversation encourages you to spend time in God's Word, hide it in your heart, and faithfully follow Christ wherever He leads you. God bless and we'll see you next time. True to the blind.
