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!
Janan, Houston: Praise the LORd, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1 NIV
Kept thinking I should pick something more optimistic, but this is me these days, so we’ll see what God does with it.
Michele, Liverpool, NY:
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.
Ps 6:6–7, NRSV
I’m with ya sister! I’ll be prayin 4 you that God turns those tears your planting into a harvest of joy! Thanks for this verse! It really spoke to me!
Love & Prayers,
A sister in Christ
I seem to be doing that here the last couple of days myself.
Allison, Opelika, AL:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
p.s. totally forgetful this weekend!
Beth, Cary, NC
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Jacki, Bettendorf, IA ~ “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23, NLT
Denise, Madison, AL
And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (I Cor 13:1 NIV)
Sabrina, Morristown, Tennessee. “The Lord will fulfill His purposes for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 ESV
Kathy, Danville, CA
“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.” Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Tammy, Marlton NJ
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15 NIV
Diane–Nokesville, VA
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
(2 Corinthians 9:10-11 ESV)
This is my second…I just never posted my first which was 2 Cor 3:4-5 ESV
Amanda F. Rome, Ga.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Phillipians 4:8 NIV
Tina. Georgetown. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Julie, Dallas. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV
Cassie, Murfreesboro,Tn. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred and you’re that temple.1 Cor.16-17. NIV
Valerie – SC
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? I John 3:17 NIV
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecc 4:12
Anna – Houston, TX
“Wait for the Lord, be courageous and let your heart be strong. Wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 (HCSB)
Lori – Pensacola, FL
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
I Corinthians 15:10
Marti-Charlotte, NC
“Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD.
These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Is. 66:2
“‘“The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
I’M LATE! Tammy, Jacksonville Florida New American Standard….Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Joyce, Churubusco
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
Brittany – Birmingham, AL
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Sara, Adana Turkey Gal 5:1 NIV
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (NIV)
Mary
Houston
Stephanie, Dacula, GA
Psalm 119:71-72 (ESV)
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Carrie, Burnt Hills, NY
If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:15, NIV
Lindsay – Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” – 2 Tim. 1:7 NLT
Sue D. New Richmond WI
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27: 13-14
Danielle-Birmingham,AL “I say to myself, The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:24
Carol ~ Florence, MA.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!
Psalm 93:4
Deborah Edinburg, TX (I’ll take Beth’s suggestion this time).
“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
Valarie, Spotsylvania, VA
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8: 3 – 4 NIV
Kim
Loveland
Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, But overcome (master) evil with good. Romans 12:21 New King James
Naomi -Elmwood, WI
Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Rachael, South Riding, VA
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.”
~Proverbs 12:4 NIV
Carrie, Tennessee – So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strenghtened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Laura WV ” But forget all that it is nothing compared to what I am going to do” Isaiah 43:18
Naomi – Elmwood, WI
Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Charity B
New Lebanon, Ohio
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 count.
Sharon, New Port Richey
Ps. 19:13 NIV
Keep your servant also from willful sins, may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgressions.
Nehemiah 8:10 Amp
for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressd, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold
Inez Barnes
Hamburg AR
Sheryl, Rocky Mount,NC, I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Phil 4:13 Amp
Susan, Old Hickory, TN
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Diann, Woodburn, IN:
“Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient. Bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Rene Claremore OK – Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of it’s possessor. Ecclesiastes 7:12 NIV
Rachelle, Ogdensburg, NY
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning. He wakens my ear to listen as one being taught. Isaiah 50:4, NIV
Hannah – Lebanon, IN (I’m stealing yours…been waiting for God to show me one, and I think this is it.)
“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 of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5, NIV
Mindy, New Providence, A
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1John 5: 14-15 NIv
Kim, Mabank, TX
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” II Peter 1:3 NIV