top 10
What is your top 10 list for 2015?
Funny, I was wondering what God’s was-- then, BOOM! It hit me! Duh! He wrote them down a few thousand years ago, and, believe it or not, they still hold true for 2015 and beyond. They are known as the Decalogue, The Holy Law, even “The Big Ten”, but we usually call them the Ten Commandments. I asked my child (who, by the way, has gone to Catholic School her entire life) if she could name them. Sadly, she couldn’t. Neither could her classmate. (What they said was actually pretty funny, but definitely NOT on the original list!)
Then I thought...I wonder if most people could list them? Can you? If not, don’t despair! You are in the majority. According to a study done by Kelton Research, 80% of Americans polled knew more about the ingredients of a Big Mac hamburger (two all beef patties, etc…) than they did about what is listed in the Big Ten! *
So, if you want to start 2016 off with something new for your mind, heart and soul to chew on, learn this great little trick that will surely win you fame and fortune at your next party.
Resolve to learn God’s Top Ten List!
I have come up with some “finger prompts” as memory joggers (see above):
Make a fist and put your right thumb up- “I am the Lord Thy God; Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.” ( memory jogger: only have 1 God.)
Put your index and middle fingers (2 fingers) up and make a “V”- “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” ( Memory jogger: “V” for “Vain”)
Place 3 fingers up and turn hand downward making a “front facade” of a Church building- “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.” (memory jogger: Go to church on Sunday)
Put your four fingers up and thumb down-- “Honor thy father and thy mother.” (memory jogger: looks like you are saying “On my Honor.”)
Place all five fingers up like you are saying “Hi!” and then turn them sideways to make a gun-”Thou shalt not kill.” (Memory jogger- looks like a gun...nuff said.)
Make two fists and place both thumbs together. Make them kiss! :) “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” ( Memory jogger: Love your mate!)
Moving to LEFT HAND: Use thumb and “seventh finger” (left index finger) and make them “pinch”-”Thou shalt not steal” (memory jogger: think My Fair Lady- “Them that PINCHED my hat!”)
Using left index and middle finger (eighth finger) and thumb, form an “L” and place on your forehead- “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Memory jogger: “Losers” often LIE.)
Wiggling your left ring finger (finger number nine) -”Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” (Memory jogger: This happily happens to be the WEDDING BAND FINGER:)
Take all ten fingers and open and shut them making “creepy fingers." "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.” ( Memory jogger: Don’t desire everything you see.)
Ta da! You did it! (with a little help from Daisy and her friend Helen!)
But KNOWING these will do you little good. KEEPING them out of LOVE for our dear Savior is what’s really necessary. May 2016 be the year that we desire Him more “than all of these”, (John 21:15) so that our Top Ten will be what pleases Him most.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Dear Lord,
Oh, how I love You. But I want to love You so much more! Take my heart and change it to want to do the things that You would have me to do. Take my mind to help me re-think situations where I may be in error, or could stand to “give” a bit in order to do the most loving thing. Take my lips to speak only the words that you would speak-- words of love and affirmation as well as correction, but only in that order. Take my eyes to see, not only what is on the surface, but what is much deeper inside a person’s soul--perhaps years of hurts and wounds that I could be instrumental in healing. Take my ears to be great listeners, so that I may listen twice as much as I speak, as You gave me twice as many ears as mouths. Take my hands, and use even my fingers to speak of your glory and love. And lastly, take all of me. I rededicate myself to You this year. Take me and use me for Your Kingdom’s sake, that all the world may know and love You more because of the way I live my life this year.
I ask this in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Here is wishing you a Happy and Blessed New Year!
*http://www.christianpost.com/news/survey-more-americans-familiar-with-big-mac-ingredients-than-10-commandments-29557/
Want more info on learning the Catholic 10 commandments? http://www.saintanneshelper.com/catholic-ten-commandments.html
