take note

I don't know when I started taking church notes, but I know it's been forever. Every Sunday, for as long as I can remember, I've been obsessed with filling in the blanks in the outline provided for the morning service. What started out as an obsession has turned into a reflective journal so I can continue to learn more about my God.

Of course, as a young child I just wanted to fill in the blanks. I would sit next to Mom or Grandmommy with my Bible & bulletin spread in my lap & my eyes glued on . . . Mom or Grandmommy's notes. While appeared to be an attentive listener, I was focused on one thing--the blanks. If the sermon got boring or if the preacher seemed to take too long one one point, he completely lost my attention. My bulletin became a sketch book & my blanks remained . . . well, blank. Once I returned to the reality of the sermon, I would lean over & eye Mom's bulletin & loudly whisper, "what's that word?" & "is this spelled right?"

As I grew up, my notes became less of an obsession & more of a listening tool. I began taking notes during school chapels & at summer camp to help me follow along. I can't say that I learned much from those sermons in elementary & junior high, but I was learning to listen. Which was an important step to applying the sermons personally.

I don't know when it clicked, but somewhere between seventh & ninth grade it hit me--those blanks I'd been filling out religiously since I could writer were no longer just words to fill out my page, nor were notes just to keep me from getting bored. Taking notes allowed me to return to the sermon as a reminder of truths so I could apply the message to my life. My notes are no longer just an outline of the sermon--they include personal thoughts, quotes that get me thinking, & even songs that relate to the message. My notes are personal reminders so I can continue to become more like Christ.

There is no right or wrong way to take notes. A friend at college only writes down a phrase or two because she finds writing distracting (something I, admittedly, don't quite understand) & another friend only writes down what he finds to be new or novel. Last Sunday, my attention was drawn to a junior high girl who was strictly taking down the sermon's outline.

My point? How you take notes does not matter.

So, what does matter? Well, as you sit under the preaching of God's Word, are you taking note? Are you allowing God to change your life through the preaching of His Word?