Sheila Puckett: A Champion for Hiding God’s Word in Hearts of All Ages

Sheila Puckett is making the Bible relevant, fun and exciting to the next generation of believers.

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but at the beginning of 2022, when I reflected on some personal goals I have for my spiritual life, one of them is to be more intentional about memorizing scripture.

That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to a wonderful woman of faith who is very intentional about memorizing scripture. I’ve never met such a passionate, beautiful and faithful soul like Sheila Puckett. Sheila coordinates the Bible Drill program at our home church of Cross City Church in Euless, Texas

What is Bible Drill? Bible Drill is a program where children and youth memorize verses, locate key passages and learn the 66 books of the Bible in chronological order. Students also participate in regional and state competitions to demonstrate their knowledge and skills as Bible Drillers.

During the more than 20 years she has served as the Bible Drill coordinator, Sheila has taught hundreds of children scripture memorization and now teaches the kids of former students. She taught our middle daughter several years ago and now teaches our youngest daughter. We are in awe of her energy and commitment to sharing God’s word.

A teacher by training with a bachelor’s and master’s in education, Sheila is fueled by her calling, her love for God’s word and a commitment to raise up new generations of believers who prioritize studying God’s word and memorizing scripture. 

Sheila knows she is up against some troubling statistics. According to the Barna Group’s State of the Bible 2021 findings, only one in six U.S. adults (16%) reads the Bible most days during the week, up from 12 percent in 2020. Other stats from Statista show that only 11% of the U.S. population read the Bible daily in 2021. Not only is Bible reading becoming infrequent among adults, it’s not being studied or passed down like in previous generations, especially with church attendance declining.

Despite the statistics, she believes God can “turn things around” and is praying for a great awakening and revival.

Through my daughter’s involvement with Bible Drill, Sheila motivated me to memorize scripture more. Along with the interview below, check out the free download of verses I’ve compiled from Sheila and some other folks in my life who are passionate about God’s word and memorizing scripture.

I hope you enjoy this question-and-answer interview with Sheila Puckett, a passionate lover of God’s word and Bible teacher for the next generation. She talks about the importance of scripture memorization and how adults, as well as kids alike, can benefit. 

Leona: Sheila, you’ve been teaching Bible Drill for a really long time. Can you please tell me when you got started and what motivated you? 

SHEILA: I started teaching in the children’s area [at Cross City] more than 40 years ago. It had a Bible Drill program then, but I did not know that much about it at the time. Then, I saw the program in action and it blew me away. Having children hide God’s word in their heart is a passion of mine. Someone vested in my life, and I have a responsibility to do the same. I have been the coordinator of Bible Drill for more than 20 years and still have a passion for instilling a love for God’s word into children and adults as well.

Leona: What would you say to someone who is thinking about memorizing scripture but needs some motivation? Why memorize scripture?

Sheila: The two most powerful weapons to combat the enemy are God’s Word and prayer. Jesus used both during His time on earth. When He was being tempted, He used the Word. His Word is powerful. The enemy knows the Word so shouldn’t we? 

That way, we know how to fight for TRUTH, and be on guard when the enemy twists scripture. Memorizing scripture is important because we need the truth to guide us. We can use verses committed to memory to encourage, teach and comfort others. 

We don’t always have access to our Bibles, so when we have those verses in our heart/mind, we can recall them at any time. You never know when a situation will arise when you can call on or share scripture. 

A child told us that when he was fearful during a thunderstorm, he recited Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You, and it helped him to calm down.

Sheila Puckett
Sheila believes every parent has a responsibility to teach the next generation Gods word. Says Sheila, I read a passage [recently] in the Bible where it talked about a generation that didn’t know the Lord. Scripture is replete with examples of God telling His people to teach their kids when they walk by the way. It does take time and sacrifice, but we need to count the cost and teach the next generation. 

Leona: What’s at stake if we don’t make scripture memorization a priority?

SHEILA: What’s at stake is very serious. There are so many Biblically illiterate people who have no clue what is true and what isn’t. The world wants to fill our hearts and minds with things that are anti-God … they go against His word. 

For example, when cashiers are taught about fake money, they study and feel real money so that when counterfeit money comes across, it can easily be detected. How can people know if something is counterfeit unless they know what’s real? 

[In Acts 17:10-15], the Bereans were people who checked out the Apostle Paul’s message [instead of just taking his word.] It’s important for kids to know God’s word. They know the lyrics to songs…and God’s Word is far more valuable than that. 

Leona: How can we spark greater interest in scripture memorization among grown-ups and our kids?

SHEILA: We need to ask God to give us a passion for what pleases Him and our enthusiasm and passion will hopefully spill over to those who God brings across our path.  

Leona: How should you get started memorizing scripture? 

SHEILA: I would start on a small scale at first and make a list. John 3:16 is a classic one that should be memorized first. Then, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9 and Genesis 1:1. 

GET A FREE DOWNLOAD OF 12 VERSES

At the end of three years (grades 4-6) of Bible Drill, our Bible drillers will have learned 75 verses, 30 key passages and all 66 books of the Bible.

Leona: How can adults be more intentional about scripture memorization?

SHEILA: I would get an accountability partner and ask them to hold you accountable for scripture memorization … better yet, find someone to learn the verses with you. I realize we are really busy with families, work, etc., but scripture memorization should be a priority. I can’t emphasize that enough.

Leona: I know you’ve been teaching kids for many years, but do the same rules for scripture memorization apply to grown-ups as they do for students?

SHEILA: Yes, adults can use the same strategies we use in memorization, such as writing out verses and repeating them out loud. You can put them on a card and keep them in a location where you will see them often. The most important verses are those you would be able to share with someone who is seeking God. Bible Drill also has an App available at minimal cost. 

We had a student tell us she has the verses beside her bed and she reads one as the last thing before she goes to bed and reads it first thing when she gets up. Repetition is the key to retention. 

Leona: Bible Drill programs like the one at Cross City are rare. If a parent reading this wanted to start a program at their church, what would you recommend and where should they go to get started?

SHEILA: I would love to talk with them and give them the information they need to start a program at their church. Bible Drill is a Southern Baptist Program, and it’s a very unique and amazing program. We are funded through the offerings that come through the cooperative program. Churches that are giving to the cooperative program are certainly eligible to participate. (Note: You can email Sheila at spuckett33@gmail.com.)

Leona: You have such a great love for the children in Bible Drill and implanting God’s word into their hearts. What else motivates you to do Bible Drill since you are so committed and you have been doing it consistently for so long? Do you ever get tired or run out of energy?

SHEILA: God placed in my heart years ago the desire to help children KNOW the Word of God and the God of the Word. Even if I am tired from working or have responsibilities at home, I am energized by the Holy Spirit to keep teaching the next generation about how crucial it is to hide God’s word in their hearts. 

I love this assignment and am so grateful for God’s calling in this ministry. It is my passion, and even if I am weary, I know that God will give me the strength to do what He has called me to do. 

Right now, we are doing Bible Drill on Sunday mornings for almost three hours and then we return in the afternoon for another hour to minister to those who don’t have Bible Drill at their church. I have Zoomed on Sunday afternoons with students … so some Sundays it is a 10-hour day but a very blessed day.

Leona: Sheila, I can’t do this interview without asking you what your favorite scripture verse is.

SHEILA: One of my favorites is a timeless verse, Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” 

Another one is my life verse, Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Leona: Anything else you’d like to add?

SHEILA: God will always honor His Word. It never returns void. He will enable and help us to learn His word. There is truly nothing more important than having His Word in us. God’s word is transforming … faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.


Reminder: Make sure you download the scriptures and join me in memorizing the 12 verses for the year! Whichever month you start, join us in the Scott Ink – Facebook Group for some encouragement and also accountability as we memorize God’s word together!

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Kitchen love challenge

Show the hardest-working room in your home how much you love it by joining the Kitchen Love challenge.

28 days to a cleaner, better kitchen

In celebration of Valentine’s I thought it would be fun to organize a daily kitchen challenge that shows the hardest-working room in your house how much you love it. Join me!

Each day, I will put out a different kitchen challenge here. By the end of the month, you will have a clean kitchen that you can be proud of. I don’t know about you, but a clean kitchen gets me pretty excited because it motivates me to cook more and dine in versus going out.

The challenges are easy and most of them should be completed in 15 to 30 minutes (and maybe even less!).

Breaking up tasks day by day makes things more manageable for busy households.

Special thanks to the folks at The Kitchn for inspiring me with this challenge. I bought its Kitchn Cookbook a few years ago, and I thought their monthly kitchen clean-up plan was brilliant.

An indispensable resource for recipes, kitchen tips and hacks.

So I wanted to share it with others in the form of a challenge in case it can help get your kitchen in better order. Please check out its site for more helpful resources for those of us foodies who live, work and breathe in this hallowed space of our homes.

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Stockings to the rescue

Organizing your child’s Christmas ornaments

Many years ago, I learned a great tip from home organization expert Janna Lufkin. It has made organizing Christmas ornaments for our girls so much easier. As I was putting away the last of the decorations this weekend, I recalled this tip that is just too good not to share. It can help you get better organized for next Christmas.

I know many families have a tradition of gifting a different ornament to their children each year. Across multiple children, the collection of ornaments can grow faster than you can say “baby bunnies.”

To help organize them from year to year, Janna suggests storing them in your child’s stocking. I thought it was a brilliant idea (thank you, Janna!) and have been using this method for years.

When we decorate the tree, I give each girl their stocking full of ornaments. They love unwrapping them one by one and hanging them on the tree. Once they’re finished, I hang the empty stocking on the mantle, leaving the tissue paper inside to reuse later.

Here’s my simple process for getting them organized. Use these tips as a basic guide to get you started as you develop your own process:

1) First, organize ornaments by child. Working on my dining room table – so I have room to spread out – I separate the ornaments by each of my three daughters.

2) Next, I gather the heavier, more durable ornaments and place them in the stocking first so it’s bottom heavy.

3) For more delicate, breakable ornaments, I wrap them in tissue like below.

Wrapping the more delicate ornaments in tissue keeps them better protected. You can also try bubble wrap but that tends to get bulky so you may not be able to fit as many ornaments in each stocking.
This stocking holds about 8-10 ornaments. If you have additional ornaments, simply store them in a box labeled with your child’s name.

Storing your children’s ornaments in their stockings is a simple yet smart way to organize. And during the Christmas hustle, simple can go a loooong way.

Christmas is 345 days away, but by organizing your ornaments now, it can make decorating the tree much easier (and faster) later. Let me know if you have any other tips for organizing your children’s ornaments or their decorations at Christmas.

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What’s in a name?

You may be wondering why Scott Ink? I love to write and always have a notebook or pad near me, along with my favorite writing instrument (I love a good pen or a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil). While I have come to embrace digital publishing, I will always be a print girl at heart. Like so many of my generation, I prefer tactile over technology any day. From time to time, my husband will be contributing to this blog. Among his many creative pursuits, he is a calligrapher and painter.

So we thought Scott Ink would be a perfect marriage of our loves and interests.

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Nice to meet you

Welcome! I am so glad you are here. My name is Leona Scott, and I started this blog, Scott Ink, as a way to slow down the fast-paced life of families today and concentrate on savoring the everyday moments. Like enjoying a meal around the dinner table. Doing a simple craft that allows us to tinker with our hands. Studying a Bible verse for daily inspiration and application. Or just watching a favorite movie or playing a game. I believe that time is the most precious of resources that God gave us and it is finite.

Starting this blog is a way to keep me accountable, too. You see, I’m a  classic type A, action-oriented person who is most happy getting things accomplished and checking off an endless list of “To Dos.” Scott Ink is a way for me to stop and savor those special moments with family.

Sloooow down time

If your family is like ours, we cannot believe how quickly each day is passing. I started this blog as a way to make family time count. Scott Ink began during a season in my life when our oldest daughter was embarking on her middle school years. I wanted greater flexibility with my schedule and time so that I could be more accessible to her and our other two daughters. So I left my full-time job to become an independent contractor and start my company. Alongside my career goals, I had always wanted to start a blog to have a creative outlet and share the special journeys that so many of us share as mothers and women.

Goal of Scott Ink

Scott Ink is a way to share ideas and be a source of inspiration for other families to join us in savoring the everyday moments as we build our families and homes. One day, we can hopefully look back with no regrets and be content that we did make the most of the time we had.

Follow along!

Our family invites you to join us as we make family time count. We look forward to sharing some of our favorite recipes, activities and everyday moments with you so that we can grow and share in this great journey of family life together. From time to time, my husband, Robert, will be joining us here on the blog, along with our daughters, to share hobbies, crafts and other ideas. We want Scott Ink to be as much about our family as yours. So please share your journeys and comments with us. Thanks for visiting, and we hope you come back soon.

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