Hi Siestas! I’ve spent the morning catching up on what’s been going on here in Siestaville and, I must say, y’all have been busy! What an exciting time for the LPM Blog. I have at least 50 emails in my inbox asking questions about how to operate the blog and/or sign up to memorize Scripture with the Siestas this year. I’m planning to write a separate post addressing those questions at some point today. Thank you so much for your patience while I was on vacation.
My little family left for Missouri the day after Christmas to spend a week with Curtis’ family. We had a great visit and enjoyed being there so much. We have a newborn nephew who was a particular delight to all of us. Being around him reminded me of so many things I have to look forward to in my near future. By the way, Baby Girl Jones is going to be here next month. Can you believe it? I’m already 34 weeks!
So, we’re only 5 days into the New Year and I’ve already totally blown it. The parts of me that I hate the most have come out in full force. Anyone else? I hope I’m the only one, but I know there are probably others who woke up on this first Monday of 2009 feeling defeated. Jackson slept gloriously late (thanks to some new dark curtains) and I was able to take my time with my Wisdom for Mothers Bible study (by Denise Glenn of Motherwise) and my prayer journal. Before Curtis walked out the door, I asked him to sit down and pray with me because I was feeling so rotten. His words encouraged me so much. He basically reminded me that the Lord’s mercies are not new every new year, but every morning. Thank You, God! I can already start over again today. I’m choosing to look at my failures as a very keen reminder that any victory in 2009 will come from complete dependence on the Holy Spirit and not from my own strength. In his sermon last night, Curtis said that God shows us our weaknesses to move us past a place of prideful comfort and into spiritual growth. Who is like our God, who even offers us a big ole serving of hope with our humble pie?
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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 3:21-23, NIV)
This is the third time that I have read a post with no comments. That is something when they can add up to 2500! It is meant to be for today; since this verse is the verse I have at the top of my blog! It all speaks so loudly to me! Bless you…I’m so glad that you had a wonderful vacation.
Here’s to a NEW DAY!
YOu quoted my memory verse! And I chose it for the exact reason you quoted it!!! I need to know that I can have a new year’s celebration every evening, knowing I get a fresh start in the morning from my failures today! I will pray for you today as I come before Him for my needs today…which is alot! 🙂
Welcome back, Amanda! Thank your sweet husband for encouraging me too, this morning!
Now off to find out what the last part of that scripture means, “The Lord is my portion,saith my soul,…
love
mk
Your words are just what I needed to hear this morning. I woke up this morning after two weeks off from work for holiday vacation feeling defeated and not wanting to get out of bed. Thank you for the reminder of God’s words, that his mercies are new EVERY MORNING! Have a blessed day my dear!
You are such a blessing, I cannot believe it is almost Baby Girl time! Thank you for this post, I agree, I feel it sometimes so readily, how lousy I am. But I do love to see that means I need jesus more than ever and how absolutely thankful and grateful I am that the father loves me so to send His son and that jesus loves me so to die for me.
At this point, my confidence usually shoots through the roof.
Bless you girl!
Siesta OC
PS: I love the picture of you headin’ out to the Rascall flatts’ concert, cowgirl hat and all!
Happy New Year, Amanda and Welcome home!
We’re on our way home (driving through the Dallas area as I type)from our Christmas and Brad’s wedding in C. Springs. What a messy day, but I’ve spent time with Haman and his presumption and entitlements this morning and decided to check in on the blog. Since we’ve been gone for more than two weeks, I’m anxious to get home and settled in again to begin 2009 in earnest.
February is going to be an exciting time for the Jones’ and Moore’s! A new little princess for you all! I can only imagine what her closet will look like!
Blessings,
Bobbie
Hi Amanda!
Your comments gave me a great big boost this morning. I was pondering something very similar as well…how God can dish out a marvelous blessing just as He’s pointing out a weakness in us! Only He can do that…all the Enemy does is just point out the bad stuff. And keep pointing.
BTW, I’m originally a Missouri girl myself (Springfield). Bass Pro..Ziggy’s Cafe..Battlefield Mall…ah, memories.
Many prayers going up for your new arrival! Blessings!!!
Oh Amanda!
Thank your husband (and you) so much for the reminder that we can start fresh every day and that our hope and any changes in our lives come from the Lord’s help through the Holy Spirit!
You are not alone girlfriend…I SO needed to read this post this morning! I feel blessed just by reading it and sharing this with you!
Here’s to another day from the Lord and to hope!!!
Love,
Donna (the mom of twin boys)
I think God has taught me that I need a gut check every once in a while, because as sure as I think things are going well, pride rears it’s ugly head and I am thinking about how I did something- not how I need God with my every breath not to screw everything up.
Thank you for sharing your heart!
Thanks for that Amanda. I sat down last Thursday and wrote down several goals: spiritual, physical, and gneral ones and due to an extremel busy schedule the last 4 days and a cold that is relentlessly purusing my head, I have not even come close to starting what I wanted to work on. I appreciate that God’s blessings are new EVERY morning and that we can begin fresh with Him not just because it says January 1 on the calendar. Now I better get busy!
The Journey Continues ~
Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16,17,18
AJ, I have already blown it too.
Resolution of eating better.
I would only eat 3 cookies instead of 5. 🙂 I ate 7 🙂
However, I am GIVING THANKS that I have cookies to eat!!!
Looking forward to seeing some MOMMY AND ME BABY TO BE PHOTOS OF YOU!!!
How about the following:
( if Curtis & Jackson don't mind)
1. front photo
2. side photo
3. back photo
Your "Precious One" will be gorgeous!! Just look in the mirror and then check out your men! wow!!
God glorifies us through our precious children!!
Be Still…
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
Mmm, good Word, Amanda. I have been feeling consumed today. And need to know that because of His GREAT LOVE, I will not be.
Renwing the mind. Renewing that ole heart–it’s work. But God is up to it!
What a wonderous love is that?
The Journey Continues ~
By the way, AJ ~
How did Curtis do with his “ASCEND” teaching???
Prayers for you daily!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina
Exactly what I too needed to hear this morning. Thank you for sharing Curtis’ reminder with us. God bless you, Amanda!
Thanks Amanda for your encouraging words! I needed them ALREADY too. But I have already memorized my scripture and that is usually hard for me so I have a little victory there. But I am keeping on!!
Love,
Lynn
Amanda, I don’t personally know you but I know exactly what you mean. I too already feel like I have blown it. That’s pretty much why I don’t do the “resolution” thing anymore (except memorizing scripture!!!). I just read your mom’s comments from yesterday about Nicole’s song and I feel like a “Brainwash” is what I need from all the guilt and negative thoughts I have goin on all the time. This is the enemy and I know it but still fall into the trap, plus the fact that I “know” that I have blown it already and we are only on the 5th!!! Yikes!!!! This is the scripture I have chosen to memorize this two weeks hope it helps:
“The Lord your God is with you, He is MIGHTY to save, He will take GREAT delight in you, He will QUIET you with His love, He will REJOICE over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17 (emphasis mine). Thanks for sharing your struggles. Have a wonderful and blessed day in the Lord.
Amanda, at the end of "AJ Checking In" you said:
"I'm choosing to look at my failures as a very keen reminder that any victory in 2009 will come from complete dependence on the Holy Spirit and not from my own strength. In his sermon last night, Curtis said that God shows us our weaknesses to move us past a place of prideful comfort and into spiritual growth."
Do you think Curtis or Beth would PLEASE expand on this and give examples? I am absolutley overwhelmed with life right now. I am studying the Word, praying, and applying scripture – but also are not sure which promises are for us, for Israel, etc. I've thought alot about & searched "promises".
Thanks for sharing your challenges and the Hope for change. I certainly needed that word.
Blessings,
Susan
Be encouraged sister-you haven’t blown a thing. I was away with my husband and baby over the new year holdiay and he’d offered for me to stay behind and I blew it…I decided I couldn’t go 3 days without my 9-month old son even though I’m with him every single day. And I’m glad I went, but it sure would have been nice to take advantage of so rare a time to myself and get caught up on the clutter in my house and have some me-time/God-time/girlfriend-time. I can’t believe you’re so close to Baby Girl being born…God’s Hands be upon you and she. Have a great day- and remember “I can’t live by what I feel” Casting Crowns-that East to West song
Bless you dear one and thank you for sharing your heart- I pray I will have a daughter in law like you one day- I have two sons in their 20s. You bless each of us and add so much to Living Proof- this blog has added a personal dimension although there are thousands of us “siestas” In Christ’s great love-Kathy from Austin
Amen! Siesta, Amen!
Thanks for the enouragement.
Thank goodness His compassions never fail… I ADORE that they are new every morning! : )
I love the next verse too… “I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:24 Don’t you just love that… therefore I will wait for Him! : )
I was thinking about new starts last night… I just love them… and boy do I need them!
A reminder of that exact scripture actually hangs on a wall plaque on our bedroom wall. I HAVE to see it – whether on my way to the bathroom or out to the coffeepot. God knew I what I needed.
Kim . . . who is
Grafted by Grace
I love how our God works! Last night as I was praying, I remembered that “it is God who works in me to do His good will”. I’m glad because I would surely blow it left up to me. Praise God for new beginings and do overs. Love Much, Carla Lee
Isn’t it funny how the enemy goes right after us full throttle because of all the “new” things we are supposed to be doing for the “new” year?
Your wise Curtis is so right. His mercies are new EVERY MORNING and not just because its a new year! Hallelujah!
Have a good day. I’m so glad you are back over here. Missed you.
2009 is going to be a beautiful year!
Love,
Fran
You are precious! I was thinking this morning about how often I set myself up to fail… I’ve decided that I’m just gonna lean on Him and do the best I can to make Him proud (and when I fail at that), being grateful that His mercy is new every morning! Thank you Amanda! I can’t wait for that sweet baby to come and bless you all! Love to you,
Judy
Here’s a Prayer I heard of…
“Dear Lord,
Thank you that I’ve been able to be kind, Christlike, loving and obedient in all I’ve done today. But I have to get out of bed now and it’s going to get tougher…”
Hi Amanda,
Just wash away any feeling of defeat and feeling rotten in the mighty glory of our Lord. Just take a gander at what you have brought to, literally, the world with the creation of this blog. All of the spirits who have felt crestfallen, defeated, unloved, no voice, spiritually empty or just basically bummed out for cryin’ out loud! :o) You have been much more than a blessing to us all in Siestaville but what your sweet Mom have been able to do and your darling sister Melissa. As I told you face to face during Curtis’ LIT class, you are not only beautiful on the outside but you radiant such inner beauty you glow. What a wonderful husband you have in Curtis to bring to the forefront things of God your heart already knows but Curtis was that gentle, sweet reminder.
You are blessed and a blessing.
Much love and many, many blessings in the new year!
Christine Roskamp
Houston Siesta
Thanks for the reminder that each day we get to start fresh with the Lord! I too was already feeling defeated about the new year. I was getting down on myself about my failed new plan to get my quiet time in everyday with my 9 month old. But today and tomorrow are new days and I will be able to make my time with Him daily a success!
We added a baby boy to our family in 2008 (our second). What a joy he has been. But, I like you, have many plans for this new year, one of which is to get off the baby weight. Today was the first day of our “diet.” I am already feeling like it is too much to take on. There is so much going on in our life, baby, remodeling a new house, moving in the next few weeks, lose weight, memory verses with seistas, etc. I just layed it all before the Lord last night and God is faithful and He has just empowered me today. I praise Him. I often say throughout the course of a week, it is because of Him that I am not consumed. Praise be to Him. Bless you and that your family and that new baby girl.
Amanda,
What an timely post! I’m excited about the new year and yet old habits keep nippin’ at my heels. But by the grace and power of our Lord, I too shall overcome! And I love what Curtis said –
“God shows us our weaknesses to move us past a place of prideful comfort and into spiritual growth.” I want so much for this year to be one of spiritual growth. And judging by the siesta sign-ups for scripture memorization, lots of other siestas do too. Praise God for His work in us!
Amanda,
Wow, what a man. Those are such encouraging words – to us all. I am new to the blog and am so excited about it. I am thrilled to hear about the baby girl, I know your mom can hardly wait. I remember when Jackson was born and how thrilled she was. Baby girls are really special – I just had my first grandbaby 7 months ago – a girl and I am your moms age. It is the ultimate.
It is going to be the best of years.
Robin
Amen Amanda. I have felt some defeat myself and needed that word. Praise Him that His mercies are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness!!
Can’t wait for that sweet baby girl!!
I’m so glad mercies are new every morning, because if I had to wait until next New Year to get me some mercy, I’d be out of my mind!
Hard to believe that Baby Girl Jones will be here soon! Oh yippee!
Hugs,
Adrienne
I think I finally figured out how to do the Blog thing and want to join the Siesta’s in the scripture memory. I chose Psalm 121:8 “The Lord will protect you from all harm; HE will protect your life”
I have been encouraged by all the postings and am looking forward to developing an internet friendship with all the Siestas!
AuntJ
I love what you husband said…
God shows us our weaknesses to move us past a place of prideful comfort and into spiritual growth. Who is like our God…
I think I might need to write this one down. I had a bad day yesterday with my thought life, but thanks for the reminder that everyday is a new day, and I can start over 🙂
Blessings
Yes, thank God I can start over again today because last night stunk and all I had to offer this morning was a deep sigh of relief for a new day! Thank you for this reminder of God’s love and hope for us! He is for us!
Oh also to my siestas:
I have over 60 ladies and counting signed up to do Esther tomorrow night. PRAISE GOD!!! Please pray that everyone will see it through it is so good!!!
Oh my how perfect that was for me this morning, Amanda. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Your comment about his mercies being new every morning are truly a blessing to me. I am giving my marriage to the Lord this year and expecting BIG things becuase we so need it (even though I blew it this morning already). My prayer is "Above all else, may we be fervent in our love for one another becuase love covers a multitude of sins. May we be hospitable to one another without complaint." (1 Peter 4: 8&9) Our problem is just being nice to one another, but I know that God is bigger than this and he knows the details. We definitely need a Jesus year to get us (as well as our kids) through this one. Our God is an AWESOME God and is so able!!!!
I blew it this morning too. It’s good that the Bible tells us God’s faithfulness is great. I guess he knew my faithfulness wouldn’t be anything to write about!
Anne
Amanda,
I think there’s such a big build up for the New Year and world changing resolutions. I’m writing to you as a mother of a two year old and a four year old, and we live 30 miles from town. There are so many times when I have the feeling I should be doing more and serving more. It’s hard to measure a ministry at home…is cleaning the refrigerator really blessing others? (In my house, I’ve decided I’m building up my family’s immunities by letting the organisms multiply…)
There are two thoughts I’d like to share with you, then I’ll go bless my little heathens with some domestic ministry!
1. If you weren’t a threat to the Evil One, he’d let you slide into a spiritual complacency. You must be quite a threat to him! Fortunately, you’re a mama clothed in the Lord’s armor…covered in the blood of Christ! (Now I know you’re wearing maternity clothes that you’d like to burn, so the idea of armor is a welcome wardrobe change.)
2. There’s a book called Quotidian Mysteries, by Kathleen Norris, that talks about worshiping God in our daily, everyday tasks. Cleaning toilets as prayer? Seemed like a stretch, but I’ve read the book over and over, and it gives me hope that whatever I do, even when it is the tiniest thing, I do it for the Lord. Picking up 50 little toys for the 16th time in 3 hours, it’s praise!
You bless so many, through this blog. Thank you for reaching out, with honesty! I hold you in my prayers…while I search the mysteries in that crummy fridge!
This is so true. It seems the harder you try to stop a behavior the more you do it! My present struggle is with the word “No”. It seems to be the first thing out of my mouth when I don’t agree with what the other person has said. It sounds so negative and final. I am trying to think of better ways to express my disagreement.
A much needed reminder —- seems the mountain has been a whole lot steeper lately.
By the way, this will be my scripture memory verse for the 15th!
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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 3:21-23, NIV)
Thanks, again, Amanda!
PT
You are not at all alone, and I so needed to know this morning that I wasn’t either. I have felt so under attack this morning and have been trying to focus on things above in order to shake the things in my head. In the past few weeks, I have been feeling so ugly (and I don’t mean what I see in my mirror). I have been fighting sins in my past that I thought were long gone and reminded of other past mistakes. Oh am I being humbled!
What a God we serve though! He has given me encouragement all over the place. My husband also encouraged me, after I got up the nerve to tell him (I like to think that he thinks I’m this perfect person, but he knows better. I so struggle with being just plain real me.) He prayed over me too. And in a book I just finished – Behind Those Eyes By: Lisa Whittle – I came to a truth that I believe God is trying to help me understand. I am “completely flawed yet forgiven completely; an awesome spirit being, truly loved and accepted by God.” Not to mention, my memory verse – 2 Timothy 2:21 AMP. And the point you made about what Curtis said: “God shows us our weaknesses to move us past a place of prideful comfort and into spiritual growth.” How completely powerful and relevant to where I’m at! Thank you so much for sharing that.
He is at work – Praise Him!
I feel so much better than I did this morning. And more than that, I know that God is growing me up. Oh, how growing pains are often so hard to handle!
You are precious, dear Amanda! I pray that God has brought you as much affirmation and encouragement as He has me.
I felt the same way last night.My goal is to try to love others as Christ loves us and be a fragrant offering to Him (Eph 5:2) And before my shift was even halfway over I found myself spewing less that loving and fragrant commnets about someone. UGH..thank you for the reminder we all fail and He is new every morning.
By the way Wisdom for Mothers is great. Did it a few years ago and would take it again.
this is just what i needed for today!!!
thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Blessings!
love,
jill
AJ, Our sons were born close, almost to the day. I thank you so much for your honesty. Im feeling very defeated after a total and complete melt down at the walmart. My son threw the tantrum of all tantrums. I sat there in the line asking God, what am I supposed to do? Thats my theme for the scripture memory is parenting. I started with the verse that gives the source for all knowlege and wisdom Col 2:2b-3,that is where I God told me I need to start.. i just wish in the meantime, i would know what to do sometimes.. thank you again for being honest. stephanie
Oh, I love the fact that our God gives us new mercies daily! If not, I’d be sunk. I’ve managed to keep my resolutions so far, but it is only the 5th…..
Praise God you have a husband who loves the Lord and will pray with you. That is HUGE!
Seeking Him
Beth (not your mom – ha ha)
Where do you get that Bible study?! I NEED IT!! Why is it that everyday I feel like I’ve failed in being a godly mother and example. Pooey. I am right there with ya!!