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!
Dora – Houston, Tx
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34 NIV
Becky, Marietta, GA
In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV
April- Jacksonville, FL
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7 NLV
2nd. Cor. 5:17 ESV
Therfore If anyone is in Christ. he is a new creation. The old has passed away. behold the new has come.
And Jesus looking upon them saith, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”. -Mark 10:27 KJV (Healdsburg, CA)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NIV
Amy W. – Columbia, SC
“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 futre.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJ)
Melissa in Edmond, OK
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT
Karlys
La Place, LA
If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 NASB
Robin – Idaho
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV
Kelly, New Cumberland, PA
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)
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.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him.”
Kim- Warsaw, IN
You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
(Ephesians 2:2) NLT
Julie, Raleigh.
“Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.”
-Matthew 11:39 (NCV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12: 9 (NIV)
Katie, Cleveland, Oklahoma: “We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” I John 4:19 The Message
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9 NIV
Linda, Houston, TX – Isaiah 58:11 (NLT) – The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Pam – Hatton, MO
For the mind set of the flesh is death, but the mind set of the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 HCSB
Shannon, Brantley, AL ~ “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance a troup; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” ~ Psalm 18:28-30 (NIV)(Please pray for my family as my husband has just been forced to resign his pastorate – esp. my boys all 3 school age, but esp. my senior in HS – Thankyou!)
Psalm 139:2
“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”
Heather, Cleveland Georgia
Kelly, Princeton, KY: The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:17-18, NLT
Christi, Newnan, GA Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 NET
Abby, Indianapolis, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” I Corinthians 4:20 NIV
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of weitnesses let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Shirley Houston, TX
Psalm 31:16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
James 1:12 NIV
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,because when he has stood the test,he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”
Stacey,Cumming,GA
Joy, Springfield, Ohio: “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:14 (NIV)
Lee Burnett – Knoxville, TN
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Shannon from Charlottesville, Va
Psalm 118:5-6
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
“set me free”
Lisa – Fort Payne, AL
Psalm 40:5 (NKJV) was already my verse! YES!
“Many, Oh Lord my God, are your wonderful works which you have done; and your thoughts which are toward us cannot be recounted to you in order; if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbered.”
rlh, erie, pa
“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.” Is43:18 the message
Donna – Kershaw, SC
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people w/ peace.
Psalm 29:11
Meredith Smith – Gridley, CA
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:-18-19 NIV
Melany Stevens, Garrison, Mo The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Isaiah 50:4 KJV
Delta from Lakeland, Florida
People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole. Isaiah 26:3 (The Message)
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Eph. 4:32 NIV
Ramona,
Medina, Ohio
Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tami, Marlette, MI
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
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. Psalm 139:2 NKJV
Sharon
Aubrey, TX
For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He lives, He lives unto God.
Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:10-11 (New King James)
Becky – Jacksonville, FL
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalms 107:8-9, NIV
Joni ~Littleton CO
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 (MSG)
Danielle- Cokato, MN
Romans 8:26
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Amy, Louisville, TN, 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’Jer 33:3, NIV
If you come across this, would you pray this for me as I currently face spiritual battle as I begin a new ministry opportunity? Thank you!
I am memorizing Psalm 23 with my son and his Sunday School class so I am going to multitask and claim it as my verse(s) for this 2 weeks.
Sherman, TX “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them should for joy forever. May you shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you. Psalms 5:11 (HCSB)
Ocean Springs -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
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 NIV
Annie in Parker, CO
Sherman, TX “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you. Psalms 5:11 (HCSB)