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!
Shannon – Houston, TX
Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.
Isaiah 37:20 NIV
Brandi, Fayetteville, AR
John 15:5 RSV I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Gina, Poland, OH. “For who is God beside the Lord? And who is the Rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
Psalm 18:31 – 32 NIV
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.
2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV
Danaly Payne
Lumberton, TX
Tami, OKC – See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. Is. 43:19 NIV
Mandy, Oxford, Ms “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will hav sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21
Kate Charlottesville NIV
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to kill steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Linda, O’Fallon, IL
Isaiah 43:1a-3a
“Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. This is because I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
NCV
Gina, Poland, OH. “For who is God beside the Lord? And who is the Rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
Psalm 18:31-32
Erin – Fort Worth, TX
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20, ESV
Shara, Somerset, CA Psalm 138:2 NIV & ESV
I will bow down toward Your holy temple, and will praise Your name, for Your unfailing love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word.
Kellye, Oklahoma City
Proverbs 21:23 The Message
Watch your words and hold your tongue;
You will save yourself a lot of grief.
Kelly, Huntsville
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB
Shannon, North Little Rock, AR
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.
Psalms 40:5 NIV
Kendra – Portland, Oregon
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56: 3-4
Sharon, Springfield, MO
“”I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered e from all myfears.” Ps 34:4 (KJV)
Pam from Jonesboro:
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Bec from Bendigo, VIC, Australia
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:18, 19. NIV
Andrea, Ontario Canada
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Ps 37:4) NIV
Allison-Wichita- 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
Sharon Lynn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure: then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere
Amy
Princeton, TX
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJ
Karla and Hannah, Ft. Thomas, KY
Proverbs 31:10-11 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Carrie Columbus, OH Romans 1:16-“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NIV
Amy, St. Louis
Isaiah 58:10, ESV
if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desires of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be as noonday.
Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Stormy: Ephraim, Utah
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”.
-1 Peter 2:10
(I am building off of my last verse 1 Peter2:9)
Forgot to put that it is from the NIV.
Laura Beth Fletcher, Unicoi Tn.
(I pray) that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:15 ESV
Carrie Rogers
McKinney, Tx
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.
2 Chronicles 20:12b (NIV)
Shelly, Inola, OK
“But I tell you that men will have to give account of the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37
NIV
Sarah, Russellville, AR…”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NIV
Kim B., Thatcher, Az
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;indeed,I have a beautiful inheritance.
Ps 16:5-6 (ESV)
Kay, Flower Mound,Tx
“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live; may my meditation be pleasing to Him as i rejoice in the Lord. But, may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord.”
Psalm 104:33-35 NIV
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you 1Peter 5:6
She will have no fear of bad news,her heart is steadfast and trusting in the Lord. Her heart is secure, she will have no fear,in the end she will look in triumph on her foes. Psalms 112 7&8. Made fit to gender. 🙂
Lesley — Des Moines, IA
But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
Psalm 9:18 NLT
Betsy from Avon Park, FL
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV
Talitha, Wise I command you- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord you God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NLT
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. NIV
Debra Arkansas
Psalms 46:1-3 NIV
God is our refuge and strength , an ever- present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though earth give away and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it’s waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging
Anna, San Diego
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Eph. 3:19 NLT
Woops, Forgot my name and state!!! 😉
Jennah, Edmond, Oklahoma!!!
Jenny, Longmont CO
Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Nancy, Moberly, MO
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:15,17 (NIV)
Norma, Dallas, NC:
“As for God, his way is perfect, the word of ADONAI has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
CJB (Complete Jewish Bible)
Angie, Cincinnati~ “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Penne, Spokane, WA
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
Psalm 34:8
Nancy, Dallas
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5, NIV