Hey, Sweet Things!
You guys are so much fun. Thanks for getting excited with us about the app. I’m just thinking about how this whole technology thing was in the mind of God centuries ago when He inscribed His words on the sacred page through the pens of men. Too much to wrap our minds around, isn’t it? He is the One who knows “the end from the beginning,” and “from ancient times, what is still to come.” He says, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:10)
At the moment I’m typing up this post, we have a whopping 9250 entries under Verse 1. Never in my wildest imagination did I picture this. I was pretty blown away by our strong and steady couple of thousand in 2009. Keep in mind that the 9250 is not an exact reflection of participants because there are some replies under comments, like, “I’m copying yours!” and “I’ve never even heard that verse!” I’m not going put a restriction on that because community in Christ is what makes Siestaville work. We do know, however, that way over 8000 are participating because that many women ordered spirals or downloaded the artwork. Others who are participating grabbed their own spirals the easier way from the store. I also want you to picture the many preadolescent girls we have on our team. Don’t you remember loving stickers and pens and school supplies when you were that age? I should have known they’d take to the spirals. Just close your eyes and imagine them reciting some of the verses dearest to your heart. Many of us have lived long enough to know by life experience what they are reciting by faith. It’s such a precious thought to me. They will find Jesus faithful just as we have. Yep, we have junior Siestas but we also have plenty of senior Siestas which delights me just as much. Our joy in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with this mighty band of women is indescribable. I wonder how many football fields we would stretch across. Whew. For just a split second I saw us all in my bright red college drill team uniforms. Scratch that thought.
OK, before I call for your second verses, many of you asked for the exact date of the SSMT celebration next January. I double-checked the weekend with Sabrina and it’s January 20-21, 2012 from Friday evening until Saturday noon. Of course, we’ll get you the proper information starting early next Fall but, if you think you might want to come, put it down on your calendar, start saving your expense money, and plan to memorize your darling little head off. The event itself is our gift to you and your ticket in is your well-used spiral (of either kind).
Are you ready for SSMT Verse 2? I’m giving you a heads-up that I plan to target a lot of James verses this year so, while I’m still going to tell you mine each time, I’ll also suggest a good alternative for those of you who could use an additional idea. Remember! Limit your comments to Name, City, Verse, and Translation. Here’s mine:
Beth, Houston. “My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” James 2:1 The NET Bible
Here’s an alternative I really love and memorized a couple of years ago. My dear coworker, Diane, is memorizing it right now so it’s washing back over my mind:
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5 NIV
And that, O Lord, is the gospel truth.
OK, Sisters! Bring on Verse 2!
I pray that Christ is so pleased. I feel in my soul that He is.
Have a great weekend!
Natasha (age 21), Waterloo, ON
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Rachel, Frankfort, Illinois
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10 NIV
Jenny, Corona Ca
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NIV)
Kenzie – Cincinnati, OH : ” For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the rock except out God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:31-32. NIV
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 NLT
Danay’e
Spencer, IN
Better late than never!! John 16:24 (NIV) “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Sasha- Bellingham, WA
“I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My helps comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121: 1-2 (HCSB)
Cindy from Highland Village, TX “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)
Denise, St. Augustine, FL: For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 HCSB
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance”
Psalm 65:11 NLT
Amy
Houston Tx
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. NIV Psalm 29:11
I can do all thing through christ who stengthens me.
philipians 4:13
Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word.
Delaney – Allen, TX
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Susan Nova Odessa, Brazil You are my witnesses declares the Lord and my sevant whom I have chosen. In order that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed and there will be none after Me. Isaiah 43:10 NAS
Lauren, Huntsville. “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Psalm 16:8-9 (NKJV)
Lois, Hemet: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.” Ps. 51:12 (NLT)
Ernie, Angier NC
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
The LORD himself goes before yu and will be with you, he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Prov 4:23
“The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails.” 1 Samuel 2:6-9, NIV
Forgot to add – Jesi / North Richland Hills, Tx. 🙂
Bethany – Atlanta, GA
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you will shine like stars in the universe.
Phil 2:14-15
Heather, Potomac Falls, VA: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God, in Christ, also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32/NASB
Rebecca, Jacksonville, AL, “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” James 2:22
Amanda, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35, NLT
Kristi, Edmond, OK “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19 NASB
Dana, Concord, NC:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:9-10
Tammy, Dallas
I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be courageous and let your heart be strong. Wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-24 HCSB
Starr – Lubbock, TX Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Kara – Ephrata, Pennsylvania
“Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said He would. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said He would be.”
1 Cor 15:3-4 NIrV – from my 4 year old’s New International Reader’s Version as I’ve decided he is going to memorize with me – so far he’s better than me 🙂
Diana, Richmond, VA
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Julie– Star City, AR
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; Your spirit is good. lead me in the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:10 NKJV
Kelly, Appleton, WI
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.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Alexis Roswell, GA
Hebrews 11:6 (MSG)
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exits and that he cares enough to respond to those who see him.
Jill, Springdale AR
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
NIV
Laura, Morgantown, WV
“I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce . . . ” -Jeremiah 2:7
Carolyn, New Baden, IL
Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God lasts forever. (NLT)
louise, oshawa,ont. eph 2:10 For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (hcsb)
louise, oshawa, ont. eph 2:10 For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (hcsb)
Kim troy illinois
Philippians 1: 6
being confident of this that he who began a good work in you wei oil
carry on to the day of completion until the day
of christ jesus.
Heidi~~Boonville,IN
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. Hebrews 12:2 MSG
Kimberly- Mandeville LA
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
Hebrews 11:1 NIV–“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Karen, Raymond: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of Gods grace.” Acts 20:24, NIV
Christy (Douglasville, GA)
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Colossians 1:15-16 (New King James Version)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Ann – Houston. I Tim 4:7-8 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. HCS
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Maria, Knoxville, TN
Laney Jacksonville, FL
Isa.55:8 (NASB) “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’declares the LORD”
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make then known, in wrath remember mercy
Habakkuk 3:2 NIV
Sylvia
Georgetown TX