Hey Siestas!
Can you fathom that we are on our 10th memory verse??? Good grief! 2011 is almost halfway over! Amanda and Curtis just got Jackson’s preschool graduation pictures and we all nearly flipped. It is the cutest thing ever, especially with that missing front tooth. His ceremony is in a few days but the little blue cap and gown just about put all of us over the edge. We will have a kindergartener next year and a mighty fine one at that. It just sails by. And how well many of you know.
I am getting lots of questions about whether or not we’re having Siesta Summer Bible Study. I want to say yes so badly. I have tried to turn this puzzle piece every conceivable direction to see how it would fit on the table. Between SSMT every 1st and 15th, the summer Living Proof Lives, the final Deeper Still, and, probably the biggest factor of all, the complete James manuscript due date at the end of summer, I just can’t make it work and still be a wife, mom, and active Bibby. I also don’t have my faithful blog master, Amanda, here to assist me with all that summer Bible study entails right now. I am, however, presently thinking of some ways that we can hold one another accountable to stay in the Scriptures this summer and also give you the opportunity to connect with other Siestas who want to do some of the same studies. Stay tuned for that. For now, I’ll joyfully recommend to you two that I’ve done this Spring:
Duty or Delight by Tammie Head (Many of you will remember getting to know this brand new author in April through our blog video. She is dear to me and will no doubt become dear to many of you.)
Brave by Angela Thomas (Angela is a gifted teacher and writer and I try not to let anything she offers sit on the bookstore shelf for long before I bag it and read it. I’m almost finished with this study and have been tremendously blessed by it.)
Both of those women love Jesus and communicate His Word beautifully. And you know how I feel about Priscilla Shirer and everything God uses her to bring to the table. You’ll never miss on her. Man, I wish we could do one of their studies the traditional way in Siestaville this summer but sometimes we realize that even another good thing is perhaps the wrong thing for now. If the Lord is willing, we’ll definitely do a study our usual way next summer on the off year from SSMT.
OK, young ladies, how about that 10th verse?? NO DROP OUTS!!! This verse is trying to leap off the page at me this time around and not so much for my own plight right now but for some people I really love:
Beth, Houston, Texas. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Praise You, Lord. You are so faithful. Close in on those who are brokenhearted and hold them in Your healing grasp. Deliver the discouraged in such dramatic ways that You alone get the credit. We exist here in this blog community to give You glory, Lord. Come and get it. Our eyes are to the skies.
Lisa, Ider, AL
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 ESV
Rebecca, Elk Grove, CA
“But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”
Eph. 2:4-5 (NIV)
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titue :11 and 12 NIV
Moyock, NC
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6. KJV
Beth. Rome, GA
“Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion for the LORD is a just God. Happy are all who wait patiently for Him.”
Isaiah 30:18 HCSB
John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
A gossip betrays a confidence but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 11:13
Judy, Tyler. “In whose eyes a vile person is condemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalms 15:4
Rebecca – Boise, Idaho
John 1:6
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
Rebekah, Groves, TX
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 NIV
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. John 15:4
Tiffany Morse
Dallas TX
Psalm 40:9 {NIV}
I proclaim Your righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips as you know O Lord.
Laura Eloise, Austin – In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Prov 3:6
My 22 year old brother died will serving in the United States Air Force; we were notified Mother’s Day Morning, May 8, 2011.
Celeste, Los Angeles & Toronto: Jesus wept. John 11:35 NKJV
Ruthann – Odessa, TX
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
If I should say the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. Psalm 139:11&12
Stacia Deen from Avon Park, Florida: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NAS)
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:3
Laura – Houston, Texas
“and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;” 2 Peter 1:6 (NIV)
Allison Eclectic, AL
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. NIV
Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ. Phil. 2:5 NIV
Carol, Poplar Bluff, MO
Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away ever tear from their eyes; there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Psalm 91: 3-6
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that files by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Amy, Sweeny, TX
However, as it is written,
No eye has seen,
No ear has heard,
No mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Cor. 2:9
Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
NIV
Sheila, Oklahoma
Delta from Lakeland, florida:
Praise the Lord, o my soul: all my inmost being praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1 (NIV)
kimberly mason, tuscaloosa, al:
romans 11:29 niv
“for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
Zimmerman, MN
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak. NLT
I have been memorizing my scripture, and I have it recorded in my spiral- but have not kept up with posting. I am “catching up tonight.” I’m not sure what number I am on for posting – so I may post some repeats? please let me know if this is a problem.
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Montgomery, AL
The first chapter of James. (NIV)
Kristi, Charleston, WV “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.” Psalm 98:1 (NKJV)
Bethany from Waco,TX
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:14-15
Christine, Augusta, Ga
“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:9 NKJV
Patricia, Dallas Tx
Ephesians 3:20 {ESV}
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.
He who does not love God, does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8 NKJV
SHERRY, TULSA; “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that i might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11, NIV
Belinda, Olathe KS
If you cling to your life,
you will lose it;
but if you give up your life for Me,
you will find it.
Matthew 10:39 NLT
Sttephanie, Houston.
Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:10 NLT
Mary Alice
Dallas, TX
For your Maker is your husband-
the Lord Almighty is His name-
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth.
Isaiah 54:5 NIV
Carole, Austin: Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19:13, NIV
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened to that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
John 9:3
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 ESV
Linda, Austin, TX
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 NKJV
Nikki, Franklin, TN
He was with God in the beginning. John 1:2
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. NIV 1 john 4:7
The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day not the moon by night. Ps121:5-6
Nancy
Columbus IN