Hey, Sweet Things! I hope you had the sweetest Christmas day. You guys had such special traditions. I loved picturing many of you yesterday doing the very things you described. Yolanda, I keep thinking about you coming from a sharecropper’s family and getting to pick out anything you wanted from the grocery store at Christmas. That you got the okra and your brother got the cool whip made me so happy. What a culinary pair. I hope so much I’m remembering those details right! If I’m butchering your story, correct me and forgive me.
Our family had such a great day! We stretched from a 22 month-old to two nearly 80 year-olds. We read the Christmas story together, prayed as a family, and tore into presents of all shapes and sizes. I was so whipped by late last night that I almost couldn’t make it to the mattress but the Moores, Jones, and Fitzpatricks had indeed celebrated the birth of Christ and shared much joy and laughter. And food. God lent me the cooking gift for 24 hours and my meal was so stinking good that I kept wanting to high-five my own self. Every time the conversation went to something else, I tried to subtly steer it back to my miraculous kitchen extravaganza and how it all came off at the same time. These are Christmas miracles, people. Not pearls before swine at the Moore house.
I don’t have a single picture to show you right now because I never picked up my cell phone. Melissa took great pictures with an actual camera but those will have to be uploaded. We’ll get them to you soon. So many fun things happened yesterday but I’ll mention the one that still had me tickled when I got into bed last night: Jackson’s first shot at karaoke. I got him a Phineas and Ferb Karaoke Machine and his parents thought it best not to get it out of the box until they got home at a later hour. Amanda videoed his debut last night and texted it to me on my I-phone. I’ve watched it over and over. I sent it to Travis and he had the good sense to love it, too. He thought maybe he noted a worship leader in the making based, I believe, on Jackson’s enthusiasm for the craft rather than his actual pitch. It is so hilarious and endearing that I can hardly stand it. Of course, little Miss is right up in his business but he occasionally acquiesced and put the microphone up to her mouth. She, too, sang with considerable gusto. The two main words of the kids’ song were “born again” (really LOUD) so the karaoke experience was the richer for its fine theology.
OK, I promised myself I wouldn’t do this because I need to stick to the task at hand and keep this post very focused so that we can direct people back to it in the future. SO, on with our important purpose: how to participate in the 2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team! Here are a few things to know up front:
*For you new comers, “Siesta” is just an endearment for “Sister.” There’s no club to join and no person you need to become. If you’ve trusted Jesus as your personal Savior, you’re a sister in Christ. When we first began the blog several years ago, it never occurred to any of us how much we’d come to love each other. As the community grew closer and closer and the participants more and more familiar with one another, one of you asked what name we should call each another. I tried to say, “I’ll tell you what we are: We’re sistahs!” but spell-check switched it to “siestas.” It stuck and that’s been us ever since. We even liked the thought that its actual meaning is to take a nap. We’ll know we’ve been a place of divine intervention if we’re a respite from the female competition and clatter out there. Only Jesus can give us that kind of relief in this exhausting culture.
*We call this a Scripture memory “team” because that’s exactly what we are. We’re a really long line of women standing shoulder to shoulder with our swords drawn. And we don’t draw our swords to wound people, to convict our family members (God’s job) or to cut off the ears of our hearers. We draw our swords to fight the good fight of faith. While I was helping stuff Siesta Scripture Memory Spirals into envelopes on the 22nd, I said to my coworkers, “JUST THINK, what would happen if 6000+ women really did memorize 24 Scriptures in 2011?? What are the implications of that? What kind of repercussions might that have in our personal lives and our homes?” And we got all riled up. You bet this is a team. Don’t be too cool for it. Remember, God’s Spirit is a fire. If we’re too cool, we can’t help but quench it. If cheesy works around here, we’re not ashamed.
*Very often you will see me refer to SSMT. Just so you’ll know, that is an abbreviation for “Siesta Scripture Memory Team.” I also want the rest of you to keep in mind that we don’t limit the entire blog to our Scripture memory participants. It has a big presence on here because it’s twice a month but we still do lots of other things. Please don’t feel left out or forgotten.
OK, NOW FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS. You can cut and paste these somewhere if necessary. Here’s how it will go:
1. On the 1st and 15th of every month of 2011, you will find a post by 8:00 in the morning where I will ask for your memory verse and give you mine. This will begin New Year’s Day. You are committing to 24 Scriptures in 12 months. In previous years, I’ve found this to be a very doable pace. If you do much more, you’ll tend to fall behind and not retain. If you do much less, the impact is negligible. You really can do this. So many of you will surprise yourselves with what you’re capable of doing in the power of the Spirit. Yes, it takes work but it’s tremendously fulfilling and the results are nearly immeasurable. Look at it this way: you’re going to be meditating on something: unforgiveness, toxic memories, misery, lust, greed, dissatisfaction, jealousy, competition. Choose Scripture! Christ Himself said as a man thinks, so is he. He also said His words are spirit and life. This is work worth doing, Sweet Thing. Never – NOT ONCE – have I ever known anyone to get to the end of a Scripture memory commitment and say that it didn’t make any real difference. Not a single time.
2.You are to enter the verse you’ve chosen to memorize for that two-week period within twenty-four hours of the post going up. I’ve been asked many times if it’s okay if you’re late supplying your verse and, yes, of course it is, but try to avoid doing it often. The people who make it to the very end of the year are overwhelmingly those who stay up with it month to month. Please know up front that one of the important parts of this process is the exercise of self discipline. This culture is mass producing wimpy narcissists. Year-long commitments like these that require punctuality and focused energy push back on that degenerating trend. All that to say, please don’t drop out if you get behind. I just want you to know that this will be much more successful if you treat it as a real, live commitment you are willing to work hard to keep.
3. When you clock in with your verse those two times a month, keep your comments limited to your name, city, verse and translation. Long comments on SSMT days are no-no’s. It won’t take you long to figure out why we maintain that rule. Wait till you see the powerful sight of hundreds if not thousands of verses flowing down the comment stream. It is a gorgeous sight. When you’re having a bad day, all you have to do is scroll down a few hundred of your sisters’ Scripture selections and I promise you, you’ll get a word. It’s a very powerful thing. Here is a sample comment:
Beth from Houston, Texas: “Forget about what’s happened! Don’t keep going over old history. Be alert! Be present! I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out. Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road in the desert and rivers in the badlands.” Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message
(That was my first Scripture from last year so I wrote it from memory. If you choose that one, you better double check it. It’s at least 95 per cent accurate…I think. Yep. Double check it.) Always add your translation because so many of your sisters will want to know where you found the wording for your entry. One of the great impacts of this process is how much we reap from each other’s selections. Often you’ll see a sister say, “I’m doing the one so-and-so did last time!” (Yes, you can make a comment that brief. Those can be fun. Occasionally you’ll even see someone write, “For the sake of my marriage, I’ve chosen to memorize…” That’s okay, too, but try to keep it very succinct.)
4. As often as possible, choose a verse that means something to you in your present season or circumstance. This is the reason why we don’t all memorize the same Scripture. We’re not all going through the same things. The more you let God lead you to verses that direct you or edify your soul in your present circumstances, the more He will renew your mind toward your challenges. This is a huge part of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 where we’re told to demolish strongholds and take our thoughts captive to Christ. If you don’t have a verse on your mind or you’re drawing a blank when the 1st or 15th rolls around, you are welcome to share mine. I will always include it in the post. You might also look at a few of the comments and see if one of theirs resonates with you. I say this next part with a grin: try to refrain from memorizing Scriptures that you think your spouse or your children need to learn. Memorize what you need to learn. That means do your best to avoid jotting your verse on a stick note and planting it on your bathroom mirror where your man can see it and repent of his sins. He probably won’t because he’s got your game. I bet you can guess how I know that.
5. I strongly recommend that you stick with only one verse to memorize each time. (This is just a recommendation and not a rule. You’re free to do whatever works for you.) Keep it simple and meaningful. (If I were addressing you live, I’d have you repeat that sentence back to me so just go ahead and say it out loud in order to nail it down. That sentence could be your best friend through this process.) If you do too many verses or get too complicated, you will soon be overwhelmed and want to drop out. Better to do 24 simpler verses over a 12 month period of time than a chapter over the first month then quit. We want this to be a discipline we practice for the rest of our lives. Think marathon. Not sprint.
6. Either shortly before or after making your entry each 1st and 15th in the blog comment, write the verse by hand in your own spiral. (Again, that’s a recommendation and not a rule. I’ve discovered that there’s something about writing it with your own hand and picturing it later in your own handwriting that helps it sink into your memory bank. I’m not entirely sure why.) Take that spiral with you everywhere you go. Read it and read it and read it and read it. Do mental gymnastics with it. Flip that baby over and over. Many women have told me along the way that they’re not good at memorization and I truly understand that. I also beg to offer two responses: First, that may change. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to do something brand new with you. Second, even if you don’t get your verses down word for word, you are still meditating on them as you read and reread them. You still, thereby, accomplish one of the most important goals: captivating the mind to Christ. You just can’t lose on this one. Either way, it has a powerful effect.
OK, I think that’s enough to get us prepared for January 1st. Now, let me tell you well in advance how to qualify for our Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration mid-January of 2012. (I’m writing this from my home on Sunday evening and I forget exactly which weekend in January 2012 we scheduled it. I’ll double check and let you know shortly so you can save money for your transportation and hotel. We do not charge for the event. Your entrance fee is your well-used spiral. By the way, Travis is planning to be there again to lead us in worship and my beloved LPM staff and daughters are looking really forward to it, too.) Here’s how you qualify:
*Clock in by first name and city at least 21 out of 24 times. (But please make your goal 24 out of 24!) Let me reiterate that you can be late with your entry on a 1st or 15th of any month but, by the end of the year, there has to be a record in the comment sections of you signing in at least 21 out of 24 times on a SSMT post. Make sense? Please give us 24 hours to post your comment before you assume it got lost. We still moderate all comments and the amount we get on SSMT days necessitates a slower pace. Thank you for your cooperation!
*Bring your spiral to the celebration. Again, that’s your ticket in.
*Be prepared to say any 12 of your 24 memory verses to another Siesta (of your choice) during the designated time at the celebration. (We get in pairs.) Some of you will be tempted to let this be a deal breaker but don’t back out! Siestas are really sweet and patient with each other and we are notorious for giving each other hints. We can even act out charades if necessary. If you’re one of those who genuinely struggles with memorization, just tell your memory buddy up front and she’ll give you all the grace you need. Tell her the gist of the verse as accurately as you possibly can. She’ll be able to tell that you are well acquainted with it and that the goal was accomplished even if you can’t say the verse word-for-word.
*Register for the event when the time comes. (December 1, 2011)
Whew! Have I exhausted you?? I’ve worn myself to a pulp. Sorry this is so wordy! We just want to answer as many of your questions up front as possible.
I want to tell you something before I sign off. You have impacted my walk with Christ. This community has given me encouragement when I was nearly down for the count. I am more disciplined because you are here. You make a difference in my life. You make me think, and laugh, and study. You offer me company when I am lonely. You stir me up to love and good works. You are used of God in my life to make this hard world a better place.
That’s what Siestaville is for. Women walking alongside women on our way Home, stirring up excitement toward that great day. SSMT is just one way we do that. AND IT’S A WHOPPER. Let’s do it, Sisters, starting this coming January 1st! I’ll talk to you again about other things before then but I don’t want the New Year to take you by surprise.
Your blog mama loves you.
I’m currently reading “Breaking Free” and God is leading/convicting me on scripture memory. I can’t find my book any place tonight so I found you online and read the blog about SSMT. Clearly this is God’s direction, what a great way for accountability. Thanks!
Maybe we should just remind someone that when one thinks I can’t remember 24 verses that our sweet JESUS says we can do all things!!!!!!!! 🙂 Which includes 24 verses!!!!
*I need you to read this next part slow and try to understand this*
Now, I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of Bible Quizzing, but it’s a great way to keep young kids involved in the word. I was very active with bible quizzing throughout middle and high school. I was responsible for all the memory work. Would you believe that I can still quote scripture from when I was 14. (31 yrs old now) This is a true story I know a 15 yr old boy who can quote the entire book of John by pure memorization thanks to bible quizzing. He does the according to……………….. for example, the quiz master might say, the next question is going to be an according to. According to John chp 6 vs 4 then william would jump off his bench making his light go off the quiz master would stop talking and he would make up as many questions as he could think of that went with that verse then he would answer them. The quiz master would then say that is correct and 90% of the people would have their eyes popped out of their head because not many bible quizzers can do that. Most of them need at least 3 or 4 words before they jump!! But if you have the whole book memorized you can pretty much jump whenever you want. You only have 30 seconds once your up. So I asked him one day, how can you remember what chapter you are in? He said you know I can picture my bible in my head and its like Im reading it. I see the words. WOW………. OKAY…… GOOD FOR YOU…….. O my word did you get that???….. The main thing I know my siesta moma would love bible quizzing I’m thinking I could explain it better in person
I love you a ton ” moma bear” 🙂
I am looking sooo forward to this!! I am new to the “club” and can’t wait to get to know you all!
I am excited about the prospect of memorizing Scripture with the support and prayers of all the Siestas. I found you quite by “accident” this past year and have been hooked since then. I have my first verse picked out and will get my spiral binder this week. I look forward to getting to know you all – and you too, Siesta Mamma!!!!
I am so stinkin’ excited about this! I am nervous- but I have an awesome mentor encouraging me along the way.. I’m excited to join this community!
Ok – my man is lying RIGHT HERE asleep on the couch, but your comment at the end of instruction number 4 had me positively laughing OUT LOUD. That is TOO FUNNY and SO TRUE. And so I will avoid doing that 😉 I love you, Beth! Can’t wait to renew my mind with the washing of the Word! xo
So excited for this! Thanks Beth for the opportunity to memorize Scripture as a body instead of going solo 🙂 I am excited for the accountability.
I’m a new to SSMT and am unclear on one thing. Are we memorizing a scripture verse NOW to post on the 1st?
You sure can if you want to Ginny, especially since it is just a few days away. But we plan to post our first verse on January 1st and work on it until we add the 2nd one of the 15th. Growing until then end of 2011! Won’t it be wonderful to see what the Lord did in your life throughout the year? Welcome to SSMT!
So we post the verse we plan to memorize on the 1st? Then on the 15th we type it out from memory and pot our NEXT verse?
You can just share your new verse each 1st & 15th. =)
so excited! pen is poised to write in my new spiral… ready for accountability… just need to figure out my first verse… yay! i can imagine angels doing the dance of joy for scripture memory…what a riot.
I am so excited! I can’t wait. Never blogged so hope I’m doing this correctly.
Thanks for doing scripture memory again! I missed not doing it this past year.
I had to drop out previously due to health challenges. I still have health problems, but want to try again.
…I love hiding God’s Word in my heart! 🙂
Trudy
Alberta, Canada
I have never done anything like this but I’m in! I actually had started a small spiral this past summer and have collected some verses but never really did anything with them. This will be a great opportunity! THanks!
The store post says the spirals are back ordered but I have not ordered mine yet. Is it too late to order a spiral? Will a late order be accepted for participation? If I bring my memorized verses in a plain spiral will it be accepted for entry to the event? Thank you for answering. It would be exciting to be in this event since I am out-of-state right now in an area without a study to participate in.
We should be back in stock to order online next week, Sister. However, if you’d like to print out your own, the pdf artwork is available as a free download while the Staff is on break. Go to: http://www.lproof.org/store/search.asp?searchtext=spiral
PLEASE know this spiral is optional! You can write your scrips on napkins or post-its! Whatever you have and whatever works. =)
Welcome to SSMT!
Very excited as well to get started on the Scripture memory with all you wonderful Siestas! Am new to posting here, but love the encouragement I read! I am needing some breakthroughs to have victory over strongholds in my life. God and His precious Word is more than able! And Beth, thank you for letting the Lord’s sweet Spirit use you to soothe my soul on many occasions! You are truly a gift in my life!
I’m in!
Siestas, I have been memorizing Scripture since 2005 — initially a weapon in the battle against depression — and for those of you who are skeptical that you can do this, let me assure you – YOU CAN DO THIS! I can also attest that it is addicting! I have an addictive personality and Scripture memory is the only addiction I’ve ever had that has GIVEN me life; all other addictions came close to destroying me and my marriage.
I want to encourage you with Proverbs 4:20-23, which I recite daily to remind myself why I feed on the Word of the Lord:
“My [daughters], pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are LIFE to those who find them, and HEALTH to a [woman’s] whole body. Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy; he will bombard you with all sorts of doubts and excuses. The last thing he wants you to do is hide God’s Word in your heart! So tell him who’s boss and LET’S DO THIS THANG!!!
Terry in VA
Amen!
This is so exciting, I can hardly stand it!!!!! I haven’t received my spiral yet, but I’ll try to refrain from attacking the postman as I wait diligently for it!!
I did try to memorize Scripture in 2010. I set up a whole system for myself, and then got too overwhelmed and quit about April, I think. It was a big let-down. I’m constantly disappointing myself. So I can definitely see how “keep it simple and meaningful” is wise advise!
And I’m beyond excited about the possibility of coming to the celebration in Jan 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to do this!!!! At my church, we have what we call Fighter Verse of the Week. My pastor uses the scriptures from John Piper’s church. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses those scriptures. I am going to set up a schedule on my phone to alert me on the 1st and 15th of every month to remind me. If I don’t then I know I will grow lax in my committment. God’s blessings to you all.
I am totally up for this. Hopefully I can get other of my siestas to do this too.
So needing this!
My word for the year is “grace” so I will be focusing on scripture relating to grace.
I am excited about this and about reading the Bible through in 2011! I too look forward to what God is going to do in me and through me!
I just have to say how thankful I am for this blog.
Recently I have cut some things out of my life that were huge distractions to me and was finding myself on a new, fresh and amazing walk with God.
Yesterday those old things came flying at me and I didn’t make the decisions I should have. This morning my heart has grieved and, feeling like I wasn’t going to make it through the work day, I asked the Lord to be merciful and speak to me. I immediately thought of this blog and, in reading one post, I can’t describe what I feel God doing.
I’m so thankful for you all and am excited to begin SSMT!
I believe that God has led me to the SSMT to help me to pull down the lies again and paste up the beautiful wallpaper of hope. Thank you for stilling your spirit so that you may hear God’s words for you and your courage to share them with us. God bless you.
“I believe that God has led me to the SSMT to help me to pull down the lies again and paste up the beautiful wallpaper of hope.”
Natalie, this is beautiful. I am swiping it to send to a wonderful friend who is being attacked right now.
Miss Beth — I am sooo excited too! I have my own spiral that seems to be a “feast or famine” discipline and after reading your post…I know why!! Going from memorizing a whole book in a few months to nothing means “BURN OUT” —I love your idea of the pace of 2 per month — 24 a year, 240 in 10 years 🙂
My daughter and I are tackling together and we will be saving for a trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Houston, TX next January, our Lord willing.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
In His love and ours,
Dawn and Brooke
Clinton, PA
Is it too late to order a spiral?!
We should be back in stock to order online next week, Tonya. However, if you’d like to print out your own, the pdf artwork is available as a free download while the Staff is on break. Go to: http://www.lproof.org/store/search.asp?searchtext=spiral
So looking forward to this! I can’t wait! Looking for my first scripture now!
Okay, I’m in. I follow your blog regularly, but always felt out with the verse memorizations because I simply did not know what was going on. Thank you for this post of directions and I’m so looking forward to it.
Looking forward to this once again. I have forgotten some of what I memorized before…..will renew those and try some new ones…..What a blessing to have the “Sword” in my head and heart!!!
Blessings for a Blessed New Year,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
I am so excited to join the sisters this year new to this but excited to see what God has planed yahoo!
Siestas,
Please pray for my friend Regena. She has liver cancer. Her daughter that is serving the Lord in Elsalvador is trying to get to the states to be with her. Regena’s other daughter just had a baby and is trying to get clearance from the doctor to travel across Tennessee to be with her mom. Regena is a faithful christian woman and is a light in her community. Please ask God to work another miracle in her life. Ask Him to amaze us. Praise God because He is more wonderful than we can conceive and nothing is impossible for Him.
Thanks, Beth….for ALL that you do, ALL that you are and for allowing God to use you!
Love it! Thanks for connecting us all in the Word!
I am excited to do this. I would like to be able to recall scripture when I need it.
Dear Beth,
Is it the 1st yet? I am eagerly clutching my Siesta spiral and ready to begin! I am tweeting about it today (@jenmanskefenske) and can’t wait to see you all in Houston in January 2012.
I started memorizing Scripture last year when I belatedly read about the SSMT from 2009. I have a beat up notecard thingie from 2010.
And–really, are you sure the PostIt note master plan for spouses doesn’t work? Come on, it’s SO subtle. I guess no downloading sermons to my DH’s iPod either, huh?
Love to you all!
Jennifer
What do I do to sign up? I am a homeschool mom with two teen girls. We want to make this a team commitment. Our focus is on LOVE.
Awesome! Just comment on the SSMT posts on the 1st & 15th of each month and you’re “official”. =)
In their Christmas stockings this year, three of my daughters found blank spiral notecards. They’ve seen my spirals for the past two years, so they knew what they were for. I can’t tell you how excited they are to participate with me. We had a blast using cardstock and stickers to decorate the front of each spiral according to each girl’s personality. They are adorable!
I so much want for my girls to know Jesus so well, to love Him more than anything, and to know how much they mean to Him. So, when I post in the following months, it will be for me, my 15-year-old, my 13-year-old, and my 8-year-old. We’re letting the 9 month old wait for awhile, but we’ll be reading them and saying them out loud to her so that her faith can grow like a weed.
I hope it’s ok to add their verses with mine.
They are so excited.
My 8-year-old is doing a Flat Stanley project in school, and she wants to send her Flat Stanley to “Miss Beth, so that he can get a little Bible study.” I love it!
Penny
Thrilled to be joining this blog of sister believers!
Have been reading this blog for over a year. So ready to
begin memorizing scripture and hearing from and growing
closer to my precious Lord!
Thank you Beth for always pointing us to Him!
Looking forward to 2011!
I’ve created a chart to help me stay on-track with choosing and posting my verses. If you are interested, email me and I’ll send you a copy.
[email protected]
We love you too!!! I am so excited about the second go around with the memory verses. I would see God give me verses for just what I needed right then and His word is so powerful and alive that He continues to use them(and new verses,also)to speak, correct and encourage. Can’t wait to start,I already have my first verse:). In Jesus Love Kathy Knoblock
I can’t wait to get started 🙂 Happy NEW Year to all of you!!! xoxo
I have to tell ya’ll- I jumped up and down like a little girl at my mailbox last week when my spiral came! My husband and boys had the most bewildered looks on their faces when I back inside- this girl is in serious need of female companionship 🙂
WooHoo! I am so excited about the SSMT! I have my spiral, a partner to keep me accountable, and great hope. What a perfect way to start in 2011.
Hi! I am Kuria from Malaysia and i was wondering if it is ok for me to join the SSMT too although i am from a land quite far away? 🙂
Of course, Sister! So happy to have you! You can print your own Siesta spiral if you want. The free pdf download will be available online until the spirals are back in stock next week: http://www.lproof.org/store/search.asp?searchtext=spiral
Looking forward to the New Year with God and all of you. Several women in our church already on the SSMT and I will be too!
i am SO IN!! my first verse will be the one you posted last week about hope….i need it so. and, there are already several lined up for the weeks/months to come…
i have emailed and fb-ed out a challenge to all my girlfriends to join and do this with me. and i am hoping my 15 year old will join me, too!
I, too, hope and pray my 15-yr-old will join me in this. Will pray for yours as I pray for mine. Maybe we will all be in Houston together in 2012!
is this the blog we register at?
if so, Kathy from Ontario Canada.
will sign in with verse jan l,ll.
Hi Kathy! Look for Beth’s SSMT Blog post each 1st & 15th and post your chosen scripture then. Blessings to you!!
thank you! 🙂 looking forward to it! Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!
I’m already asking the Lord to lead me to the first verse.
For those of you who are newcomers to the Scripture Memory Team, I must tell you that it will be life-changing! Not only will having all of the Scripture hidden in your hearts be an encouragement to you, God is going to bring people into your lives who also need that WORD of encouragement! God’s Word does not return to us void !! I am so thankful for the sweet siesta friends that God has brought into my life this past year, and the prayer support and encouragement I have received from them because of the common bond of loving our dear Lord, and His Word! Let’s lift His name up TOGETHER!