**Siesta Celebration is January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, Sweet Things!
Finally, August 1st! I’m always so glad to see it come so that it can GO. But it’s not just the end of a long, hot summer for everybody. It’s also the last couple of weeks of summer vacation. Those of you with school-age children will soon find yourself back in carpool lines and going over spelling words. In just a couple of weeks, Jackson will start kindergarten and will catch our whole family by surprise even though we’ve known it was coming for five and a half years. We just cannot fathom it. We have a picture framed in our bedroom that I see everyday with Keith and I cuddling him between us when he was just a few hours old, and we brand-spanking-new grandparents are kissing over his head. Something was reborn in that couple of 25+ years that day. Our interests have always tended to be different and were getting increasingly so, but, that cold February afternoon in Dallas, Texas, we somersaulted right back into one another and tumbled into a well of love with a seven pound man-child.
Keith and I got to have Jackson and Annabeth Friday night while Curtis and Amanda went to dinner and a movie. They’d been gone for 10 days to Wyoming and, even though we’d seen them at a Mexican food restaurant the day they got home, we’d not had them to ourselves yet. We made a date right away. They delight us to no end and cause us to laugh until our sides split. Don’t get the idea there’s no work involved but investments don’t get better than this one. We have real, live conversation over dinner these days and, when you’re grandparents, not a single word gets wasted on you. All of it’s solid gold. Jackson told us at the dinner table Friday night while stuffing a piece of warm French bread into his mouth that butter is his “temptutation.” And, sure enough, it was dripping off of his chin and looked so good that we all shared that same temptutation and gave right on in to it.
We have an empty room in our house right now because we wanted Melissa and Colin to have her bedroom furniture and it’s turned into the perfect playroom. Nothing like an empty room to fire up the imagination. Jackson and I built an obstacle course Friday night that ended with a dizzying spin in my swiveling desk chair. It was so much fun. Amanda and Curtis walked through the door at 10:15 and we were all four still up in the kitchen, Paw Paw popping popcorn on the stove. It’s so good to have the Jones’s home. Melissa and Colin have been out of town for a week, too, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on them. They’re flying home from California this very moment. Most of the time they were out of cell phone range so we’ll have plenty to catch up on.
On to the business at hand! Our year is flying by! It’s time to check in with our fifteenth verses for our Siesta Scripture Memory Team. For some reason I’ve seen the word “gentleness” turn up a number of times in my Scripture reading lately so I’ve decided to choose a memory verse that makes especially important use of it. Here goes:
Beth, Houston. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.” Galatians 6:1 The NET Bible
Restoration is one of the most powerful, intentional works of the Cross of Christ. Let’s never refuse anyone his or her right to be restored. Here’s to a little gentleness in a harsh world. Everyone could use some.
Stay in the Word, Siestas! You are so loved here!
Phil 2:5 KJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Shari, Augusta, GA
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!”
Psalm 91:1-2 NASB
Wilmington, DE. “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16. NIV
Kathy, Corinth, TX
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear,
slow to speak
and slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19 & 20
Psalm 62:5,6 (NIV)
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress [defense – KJV]; I will not be shaken.
Nancy,Columbia, MO. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
Cynthia – Richmond, VA “You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which you are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3 14-15. NIV
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (HCSB)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and my load is not hard to carry. (Matthew 11:28-30 NET)
The Lord is so funny sometimes 🙂 This was already my verse!! AND He is working on me BIG TIME with this one right now!!
Miquela, Knoxville. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.” Galatians 6:1 The NET Bible
dixie, santa monica, california
Hebrews 12:12-13 KJV
Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees;
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way;
but let it rather be healed.
Jen Pipes from Russellville, AR
Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk for I have come to you in prayer. Psalm 143:8 NLT
Sue, Groveport OH
Col. 2:13b-14. NIV
“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with it’s regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Kristina, Frisco, TX. ~ “Do everything without complaining or arguing” Phil 2:14
Melanie; Greenbrier,TN
Psalm 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
Adrienne – Jasper, TN
“The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14
Bethesda, MD “We demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Amy from Custer, SD:
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NIV
Gizmo, Spring Branch, TX
Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (NIV)
Lita – Blairsville, GA.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Rom. 12:12 NIV
Kelly, Chesterfield, Missouri
I will be working on Psalm 62 in preparation for the David study: Seeking a Heart Like His, which will begin at my church in September.
Psalm 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone;my salvation comes from him,
He alone is my rock and my salvation;he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. NIV
Sarah, Marion, KS, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ ~Philippians 1:9-10, NIV.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20 ESV
Ruth from Westerville Ohio – (Living Proof Live here Aug 12 – 13 – can’t wait!!!)
“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”!
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Angie, Kansas City, MO: I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
Janae – Riverside,PA
Psalms 57:1(NIV) “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
“Therefore, with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 NKJV
Paula, Brownwood, Tx
‘And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare, you will have welfare.’
Jeremiah 29:7. NASB
Vicki, Indianapolis
It is good for me to draw near to God
Psalm 73:28 KJV
Michelle, New Richmond: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ESV
Woodstock, Ga.
But Jesus answered him, the holy writings say” Man cannot live on bread alone. He needs to live by every word that God says” Matthew 4:4 (WE)
Theresa, Pace-Florida
But Jesus immediately said to them. “Be of good cheer! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:27
Larissa Simpson, Benbrook, Tx
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Deborah, Pinewood, TN
Eph. 6:16 hcsb
In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Liz, Logansport: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 (NKJV)
Ann K, San Antonio
Philippians 2:14, 15
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (NIV)
Richmond, VA
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Cheryl – Concord, NC
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46.10 NLT
Leah, Indianapolis
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV
Oshkosh WI
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13 NASB
Judy of Marietta says: “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 NIV
Phyllis Irvine, CA
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV
Susan L. (IL) The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like. He holds everything together with his powerful word. When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 (NCV)
“Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
Revelation 4:8 NIV
I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Isaiah 45:3 NIV
Deanne, Laguna Hills, CA
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Karen
Hope, AR
Now unto the King, Immortal, Eternal, Invisible, the only wise God be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
I Timothy 1:17
christina, Plano (Texas) –
“Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” Colossians 3:16-17, HCSB.
Lu, Raleigh, NC
Zechariah 10:12 NET, “I will strengthen them by My power and they will walk about in My name,” says the LORD.
Sue, Sheridan, Arkansas
“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your GOD?”
Micah 6:8 NKJV