Scripture Prayer Beads

When I went on the Walk to Emmaus years ago, one of the pieces of agape love I received was prayer beads. Similar in look and function to Rosary beads, this piece was to encourage prayer and confession. I thought it was beautiful ... then immediately took it apart. I wanted to take this concept and make something different.

It has been my heart's desire for a long time that people know the Bible and understand the Word. I believe it holds within its pages the secret to life ... both earthy and eternally. Commonly referred to as God's Love Letter, this book tells the story of His passion for His creaction, His unconditional love for us ... a love so deep, that seeing our sorrowful state, He knew the only solution was to die in our place. I am overwhelmed by that love. And who wouldn't want everyone to know about that? So how to learn? After being introduced to the Lord through the love of another, get a Bible and dig in. Whatever it takes to learn about our Father ... reading the Word every single day, over and over again, memorization, recitation. Learning it and living it.

I am always looking for new ways to teach Bible learning. So my new creation from these stripped beads would be an aid in teaching and praying the Word. I decided to create Scripture Prayer Beads. My first attempt at it is above. Incorporating verses that honestly should be memorized, each bead represents a piece or concept of Scripture. Holding this in your hands, it will remind you of the road to salvation, the Beatitudes, Ten Commandments, spiritual armor, the Gospels, promises and what God requires of us, among others. I started making them as gifts for friends and family over the years as going-away, confirmation and baptism gifts. Over the years it's been tweaked a bit. I have it down to a science now so that typically directly across from the empty cross is the butterfly which represents us as a new creation in Him.

Recently I gave six of these as gifts to the precious women who hosted a bridal shower for my daughter, Ayla, Each of these women means so much to me, so I tailored each SPB to their likes. One, a geologist, has beads that are mostly stone. One, who loves brown and is named Krystal, had more brown and crystal beads than the others. One, who loves the beach as much as I do, had seashells, seablue beads and dangling yellow butterfly in memory of her father. I wanted each lady to know theirs was special and theirs alone. I've made manly ones of darker stone beads for guys and ones all in white for baptisms. It's a fun hobby all the while making sure people know what is in the Bible.

And I want you to know also. You want me to make you one, let me know. I will get right on it. You want to learn how to make one yourself and could use some tips, again, let me know and I'll clue you in. My friend Debbie, has already started making some for her family and friends as gifts.

Below is the script that goes with the beads. So have it.

Learn the Word. It will truly save your life in every way possible. And if a handful of strung beads helps you in that ... praise His name!

Scripture Prayer Beads

Two Large Beads: The two greatest commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.” Deut. 6:5; and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Lev. 19:18

Six Gold Beads: Salvation texts including the Roman Road. If you plan to evangelize to someone about salvation in Jesus Christ, these Scriptures are the backbone.

1) Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2) Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

3) John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”

4) Romans 5:8: “But God proves His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”

5) John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

6) Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Large Round Separation Beads: Nine total, one for each of the Beatitudes in Matt. 5:1-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

9 Coral Beads: Fruits of the Spirit as found in Gal. 5:22

          Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, generosity and self-control.

10 Gray Stone Beads: The Ten Commandments as found in Ex. 20:1-17

1) You shall have no other God’s before me.

2) You shall not make any idols or images of God.

3) Do not use the Lord’s name in vain.

4) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

5) Honor your father and mother.

6) Do not kill.

7) Do not commit adultery.

8) Do not steal.

9) Do not lie.

10) Do not covet.

Four Seablue Beads: Four things Scripture is good for according to 2 Tim 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-inspired and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, so that man may be equipped for every good work.”

Two Gold Crystal Beads with Butterfly between: The two beads are for the Old Testament promise and the New Testament promise. The butterfly is for 2 Cor. 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come.”

O.T. promise: Gen. 12:2-3 “I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you. And all people on earth will be blessed through you.

N.T. promise: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Three Pink Beads: For the Love Chapter in 1 Cor. 13, specifically verse 13: “Faith, hope and love, abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.”

Four Blue Beads: for the four Gospels and key verses in each:

Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the end of time.”

Mark 9:23: “If I am able?!  Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

Luke 9:23: “If anyone should become my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”

John 1:1-14 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory and glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Three Purple Beads: For the three things the Lord requires of you according to Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” 

Six Silver Beads: For the six pieces of armor we need to put on daily as described in Eph. 6:10-17: Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, Good News evangelism shoes to spread the Gospel of Peace, shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Six Green Beads: For the six verses of Psalm 23

1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3. He restores me soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.

6. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The Empty Cross is for the resurrected Christ who makes it possible for us to live with our Father forever.

Leftover Beads

Last week after my accountability group met, we ran into some women of the church getting together for a women's meeting. One of the ladies, Ruth, was wearing a beautiful multicolored beaded necklace with a cross in the middle. My friend, Debbie, commented, "Oh, I love this! Jill, make me one!" Debbie knows I do some beading. I took a good look at it and said, "Yeah, I think I could make one of those." This particular day, my mom was not doing very well in the hospital, 16 hours away from me, so my mind was preoccupied with her healing and with prayer. Not knowing what quite to do with myself, I pulled the bead case out of the closet and began stringing. Before I knew it, I had four of these multicolored necklaces strung and ready to be given away as gifts. It was very cathartic for me to focus on something else.

When I was thanking Debbie at today's accountability group meeting for asking me to make one I shared with her, "You know I buy a few beads for this or that project and inevitably have one or two of those beads always left over and never had anything I could do with them. This gave me something to do with those leftover beads." Debbie said, "I think there is a message there, isn't there?" Indeed, there is. What I thought I would not be able to use was combined with a bunch of other different beads to make something beautiful. It reminded me of the accountability group I was a part of and the very church building we were sitting in. The church is made up of many different people, all sinners, all with a story, some in the autumn or winter of their lives and others in the spring and summer. These are people searching for love and purpose. Everyone one has a different personality, talent and gift. They all come from different backgrounds, environments and socio-economic levels. We all look different, dress different and even worship differently. But bring us all together and you have the most beautiful thing. You have the body of Christ, uniquely designed, working exquisitely together for His glory.

These necklaces I made ... you can wear them with anything. They have so many colors, they would work with whatever you wear. I think the church is like that as well. It works for everyone. No matter where you came from and where you are going, your church family fits perfectly. It's a blessing in this country of ours that we have the option to worship our Creator wherever we want in whatever way is most comfortable for us.

I am grateful for my peace of mind, that my friend asked me to make her a necklace and even more grateful that she brought to my attention the message in it. I don't think it was her intention to help keep my mind occupied while worrying about my Mom, but in her sweet request, that's exactly what happened. I was able to gift her as she had indirectly gifted me. Church family works that way.

If you don't have one, find one. Find a place where you can worship unique to who you are. Make connections through a small group as soon as you possibly can. Serve in whatever way God has gifted you in the church itself and in the community at large out of love for the Father. Watch as your family grows by the many the Father puts in your path with brothers and sisters in Christ. As they bless you, you will bless them and kingdom itself. That's what the body of Christ - in it's unique, lovely way - does together. You are not alone. You are not left over. You are part of something exquisite, so work on getting strung together. And watch what beauty happens.