Seek-A-Word Puzzles

Since the first of this year I have become TOTALLY addicted to seek-a-word or word search puzzles. They are the perfect time filler when you are waiting on something. I have done them in hospitals, in the doctor's office (instead of watching the drug channel), while my husband finishes watching something I am not interested in, and outside in my "thinking place" (I'm ADD and in order to organize my thoughts I have to be doing something else so the "back" of my mind can work it out. Go figure.).

I discovered that the puzzles were hard at first. In fact, the ones with words I am not familiar with still are. But as I spent more time working them (at least 2 a day) they became easier and easier. I began to see patterns in how they were solved, developed strategies to make them easier, and letters/word parts that made the words easier to find. For example, I look at the puzzle and find any words I readily recognize and get them first. Then I look for the really long words (face it, there are only so many ways to put them into the puzzle). Then I start at the top of the word list and work down. However, I don't necessarily stick to the order in the list. Many times I will find a word farther down the list when I find the word I was looking for.

The trick is that the more words you find and mark, the more you will be able to see without as much effort. The key is that if you're stuck, look away and then look back and a word will just miraculously appear. Sometimes you will see only part of the word and that helps you look forward or backward to find the whole word. Why, you don't even need to know how to spell to work the puzzle. The words are right there so you can find them; no spelling needed (in fact, I used to use word search puzzles to teach spelling to my classes).

Then I started thinking (I bet you saw this coming) that these puzzles have a lot in common with studying the Bible. I have the privilege of teaching a Bible study every Thursday evening at New Salem United Methodist Church at 6:30 pm (just in case you're in the neighborhood and want to drop in sometime). So I spend a lot of time on both word search puzzles and Bible study which explains why I see such a complete connection between the two.

You don't have to know how to study the Bible in order to start. Many of us are intimidated by the fact that we don't know the "right" way to study. Well, truthfully, the main thing is to start. There are many good Fill-in-the-blank Bible studies that can not only teach you the Bible but also give you a start on how to study it.

At first, the studying will be hard. That's okay. I have a 32-hour Bible major from a Christian college and I still have trouble. I make use of the "find-a-verse" websites in order to write this blog and teach the Bible study. I was raised in the 70's when, in my denomination, memorization of Scripture and the Books of the Bible was not considered necessary. In fact, I didn't learn the Books of the Bible in order until I taught Bible drill at my church several years ago.

Once you have gotten over your fear of "messing up" you start looking for verses IN CONTEXT that apply to what you need to study. The reason I emphasize "in context" is that there are far too many people taking verses or parts of verses to prove what they are saying which is leading America to believe some pretty far fetched stuff. When I was in college the first time in the 70's, one of my professors told me something I will never forget, "You can prove ANYTHING by using isolated verses of scripture or parts of verses.

As you search. you will start to see patterns of thought and related verses throughout the whole Bible. You cannot truly understand the Bible unless you take it as a whole. Example, I am teaching the story of Isaac's and Rebeka's wedding (Do you know where it is located?). It is one of the most beautiful love stories in all the Bible...on two levels. There is the physical story which is perfect for the true romantic, and then there is the spiritual level that represents the marriage of the Church to her bridegroom, Jesus (okay Bible study members, you now have a preview of the lesson. Be prepared!).

The Old Testament will many times relate to the New Testament on a spiritual level. For example, how can you know what the grace found in Jesus saved you from unless you study Deuteronomy and Leviticus? How can you see that the Bible begins in a garden and ends in a garden, taking all creation back to where it started, unless you are looking for it? So don't become so focused on one passage that you miss the connections to other passages.

Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul." Jeremiah 29:12-14a, "You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." See the connection to word search puzzles. You won't find God unless you go looking for Him.

I, personally, would hate to die and have God look at me and say, "Do I know you? I remember you talking to My Son once and doing a lot of asking, but I don't remember you ever allowing Me to talk." God's preferred way to speak to us today is through the 63 books of His Word. Truly knowing God is a conversation. Sometimes we don't like what He has to say to us, but other times, He tells us how much He loves us. You will never know Him unless you are willing to start studying what I once called "the Bible puzzle."

Well, Wednesday is my day to organize what I will teach on Thursday so I need to go and organize my Word search puzzle. But I can guarantee you that after I do that, I will be working the word search puzzle at the beginning of this blog!