Hey, Everybody!
I am writing to you on Sunday afternoon since this post needs to go up first thing Monday morning and I am typing away on my laptop from Jackson and Annabeth’s room in our home. It’s the room where Keith and I get the best internet hookup. I like it anyway because it is filled with expressions of the only two kids on the earth I love as much as the two that I birthed. From Annabeth’s twin bed where I’m sitting, I can see a pink and green doll house, a blue and yellow race track, a dark green, fairly-convincing rubber lizard, a kids’ brightly colored exercise bike, a cardboard playhouse and a cardboard castle. It’s full on here in this room and, boy, has it had a work out in the last week.
Keith and I are blessed out of our minds to do lots of life with our grandkids because they only live about 20 minutes from our front door. Delightfully, their voices often reverberate off of these walls and their sweet feet are slap-happy on these wooden floors on a regular basis. We get to have sleepovers on occasions through out the year but once every summer Keith and I have them for the better part of a week and let their darling parents get some time together all by themselves. This last week was that segment of time – Camp Bibby we call it – for the summer of 2013. We kissed them goodbye on Friday night after a good, solid 5-day dose of them. I hate to admit to a small lump in my throat when they drove off with Amanda and Curtis, although I needed a nap in the worst way. Grin. It may be of some encouragement to you mothers of young children that, on Day 1, I did not shower until 3:00 PM. Yes, I do indeed remember what it was like to be a busy young mom whose life is not her own and when I forget, my two sweeties help me remember. Good grief, I would not trade them for anything in this world.
We do not have the time or space here for all the new quotes that have been added to my repertoire in the last week. Jackson and Annabeth are each hilarious, even when they don’t mean to be, so I try to have a pen nearby at all times. Annabeth announced to me on Friday afternoon that, when she grows up, she most definitely does NOT want to have a baby. “Why not?” I asked. “Because you have to go to the hospital,” she replied. And I thought to myself, whoa baby, that’s not all you have to do. As my mama always said, you also have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Translation: you think you’re going to die but, ordinarily, you do not, although at times your husband could be in considerable harm’s way if he spouts another word. Of course, I kept these thoughts to myself.
Annabeth paused for just a moment then spoke back up. “I just want a chihuahua and a cat.”
And that was that.
Jackson asked me how old I was while he was here because I recently had a birthday. He’s asked me that kind of thing before and it always ends up following the trail of whether or not I will still be his Bibby when he is in college. Curtis’s grandmother died a couple of years ago and I think he’s got it in his seven year-old head that grandmothers are tenuous creatures, here today, gone tomorrow. So, I said to him, “You know, Jackson, both your grandmothers are actually pretty young to have a grandkid as old as you. Because we all started so early, I think you can probably assume we’ll be around a while and see you grow up.” He sat on that a few moments then said, “Bibby, that makes you a rookie grandma. Do you know what a rookie is, Bibby?” Ah, yes, I do, Mister. I was a rookie mom with your mommy and a rookie grandma with you and I cannot think of two people on the planet through whom I’d rather be cast into those auspicious, busy, and often humbling roles.
I guess you’re wondering what all of this has to do with our Scripture memory. Well, I am getting to that right now. We have a daily verse at Camp Bibby and Psalm 32:9 out of the New Century Bible was our verse for Day 3 and the immediate favorite and clear winner for the fastest memorization. I taught the whole verse to Annabeth and Jackson but we only memorized part of it. Perhaps you will see why Jackson all but claimed it as his life verse. Kids totally love this kind of thing:
“Don’t be like a…donkey.” Psalm 32:9a
It made them almost as happy as talking about bathroom sounds. If I heard this verse once out of their mouths since Wednesday, I heard it 50 times. They could tell you what it means, too. I’ll stick the phrase back in the wider Scripture segment so that you’ll know what it means, too:
8      The LORD says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.
9      So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins,
or they will not come near you.”
Jackson would tell you that it means that God doesn’t want to have to tie us all up, or sit on us, or be all hard on us to get us to come to Him and to walk in His gracious and good will for our lives. He doesn’t want to have to make us obey Him so He can bless us. His deep desire is that we’d want to go with Him because we know that He is always for us, always leading us to triumph, always trustworthy, always right, and forever wanting to crown us with love and compassion and lead us away from bondage and such unnecessary harm.
I know it’s basic. But my mind’s been on the basics this last week with a seven year-old and a four year-old either one foot from me or on my person. I guess the question I’m throwing out on the table this week is this: Why do we continue to fight God and lash about in His grasp like He’s a big Taker instead of a Giver? What is it we think He’s trying to rob us of? To whom have we compared Him so that we’ve assumed we cannot trust Him?
Don’t be so stubborn, the psalmist is saying. Cooperate and go with God some place beautiful. Some place almost magical.
Revel in the two preceding verses in the same psalm (32), this time from the NIV:
6Â Therefore let all the faithful pray to You
while You may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7Â You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Surround sound. Oh, if our spiritual ears could only be opened for a few glorious minutes, what a musical score we’d hear all around us. To go with Jesus is to go the way of deliverance. The way of music. The way of symphonies. The way of ascent amid mighty rising waters. So, I’m going with Jackson in my memory work this round:
Beth, Houston. So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
So, what’s yours?
You are loved around here, Sister. We are honored to serve you.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Kaci; Moultrie, Ga
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psaml 27:1 NKJV
Annalee in Houston
I sought the Lord,
and he answered me;
he delivered me
from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4
Amanda The Colony, TX
Romans 12:9-10 NLT “Don’t just pretend to love others.Really love them. Hate with is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Leah from St.Thomas, Ontario, Canada
#13. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self -control.
Shannon- Bethesda, MD: Clothe yourselves with compassion kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Coloassians 3:12 (NIV)
Shelly Hough
Gordon, Texas
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement.
HCSB
(Colossal Coaster World VBS, anyone!?) 🙂
Debbie Laureen, New Port Richey, FL
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25, NIV
Dawn from Jasper, IN
“Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 NIV
“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. ”
Psalms 33:22, NLT
Teresa Tyler Tx
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. (Psalms 50:14 NLT)
Stephanie
Madison, Ms
Colossians 1:16
NIV
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Fredericksburg, VA
“No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God.” – Romans 8:39 NLT
Brittany, Norfolk, NE
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
Mandy from Mt Vernon
“But his delight is in the law of The Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm1:2 NIV
Michelle, Greenville, TX
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Prov. 31:25 NIV
Martha, Clearwater,FL,
” What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”
James 2 14 NIV
Tonya, Searcy, AR
The Lord says, I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.
Ps. 32:8 NCV
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day is enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ~Romans 5:5 (ESV)
k.joy
Lancaster, PA
The LORD is faithful in all he says; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads. All eyes look to you for help; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The LORD protects all those who love him, but destroys the wicked.
Psalm 145:13b-20 NLT
Janie, Sarah & Anna Phillips
Bartlesville, OK
Romans 1:17 NIV
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Diana—San Patricio, TX. “But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Judges 10:15 (NIV)
Heather—Corpus Christi, TX. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 (NKJV)
Theresa
Pace, Florida
Jonah 1:17
But the LORD provided (thru His grace and mercy) a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Jennifer, Wilmington, DE
verse for next week’s VBS!
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! i have overcome the world.
– John 16:33 NIV
Tami,Decatur,Tx.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Susan H.
Lady Lake, FL
Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” NIV
Brigette Brock
Morehead, Ky
So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
Sharice, Shelby, NC
“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You, because You have redeemed me.”
Psalm 71:23 (HCSB)
Jenny S., Fishers, IN
This hope we have as an anchor for our souls, both sure and steadfast. Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)
Jodi, Perth, Western Australia
Ephesians 3:16 NLT
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Kelly from Sherman, TX. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” I Chronicles 16:11. NIV
Chrissie from Aurora,
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
Kathie Mullins Chino Hills, CA
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Rachel Sweatt
Canyon, TX
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and which God has called him.”
–1 Corinthians 7:17, ESV
Melissa, Kentucky
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Surely God is my salvation
I will trust and not be afraid
The LORD THE LORD is my strength and my song
HE has become my salvation
Nancy Rose -NN, Va – Jer 17:8 a – NLT-They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep in the water
Debra, Many, La
“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 (HCSB)
Kathy, Jonesboro, AR
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Lesley, Newbury Park, CA – “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)
Cathy S., Chesapeake Beach
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV84
Laura Griffiths, Auburn, AL, Job 42:1-2. Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Honey from Cleveland, GA
2 Timothy 1:7
God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and love and a sound mind.
Diana, Cincinnati,Ohio. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12 NIV
The LORD says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
Susan Oak Ridge, Tn
I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it;
my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
Job 27:6 NIV
help me Lord.
Becky
Westerville, OH
“Restore our fortunes O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears WILL reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:4-6 NIV
The poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him outof all his troubles. Psalm 34:6 NKJ
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and dilivereth them. Psalm 34:7 NKJ