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!
Christy, Elizabethton, TN
Everytime I think of you, I thank my God. Whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. (Philippians 1:3-4 CEV)
Kay, Everett, Wa “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT Bible
I think I understand your intent with this blog post but I was bothered by one of your last statements, “I pray that Christ is so pleased. I feel in my soul that He is.” I’m grateful that my salvation isn’t dependent upon anyone’s feelings or my attempted works of “righteousness.” God is not pleased by our feeble attemps at personal devotion or anything that we do to try to make ourselves righteous before him. A statement like this implies that you believe we can please Christ by doing something such as memorizing Scripture. God is only pleased with His children because of Christ’s work on the cross. We can’t add to Christ’s work or make it better. Scripture memory is valuable in as much as it reminds us constantly of our need for Christ and His righteousness alone, understanding that our actions do not change our standing before God or His view of us. You are influencing many women; please give them the gospel of Christ and His righteousness alone.
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God”.
Psalm 31:14 NASB Study Bible
Robyn~ Plano, Texas
Romans 8:18 Amplified Bible
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Hinm, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5&6
Verse 1
But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3 KJV
Verse 2
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV
Maryviille, TN
Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
(NIV)
Edmond – “Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)
The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. Psalm 16:7-8 (MSG)
Ellen,Lewisville. Ps 40:5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them yet they are more than can be told. RSB
Anna Catherine
Brandon, Mississippi
“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; According as he hath CHOSEN us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestined us unto the ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us ACCEPTED in the beloved. In whom we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the FORGIVENESS of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
Ephesians 1:3-7
That’s a mouthful! Good job and many blessings!
Chrissy, Birmingham AL – I’m late in starting but better late than never! Thanks to my mom and sis for encouraging me to do this with them!
Verses 1 & 2: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:20-21, NIV)
Kay
Atlanta GA
Psalm 118:24 NASB
This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Prissy Midland, TX
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord.
He said,’Who will I send? Who will go for us?’
I said, ‘Here I am. Send me!'”
Isaiah 6:8 New International Reader’s Version
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
(Psalm 9:10) NIV
Julie, Kansas City
“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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
(Isaiah 43: 18-19) NIV
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts, and make you wise. Use His words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a represenative of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:16-17
from Prospect, KY
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such there is no law. Galations 5:22
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Stephanie
Pawleys Island, SC
Ina. Lancaster, PA
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mark 8:34 NIV
Celeste from Round Rock, “Show me your way, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 15:4-5 (NIV)
1 John 2:5 NLT
“But those who obey God’s Word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.”
Tracy
Ozark, MO
A fool gives full vent to his anger , but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:11 NIV
Karen, St Louis, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deu 31:6
Sandy – Alton, IL
Jeremiah 15:16(HCSB) Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, YahwehGod of Hosts.
“My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” James 2:1 The NET Bible
Theresa Donlon
Hockley, Texas
Phillipians 4;7 ( Life application Study Bible NIV)
and the peace of God , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Beverly, Augusta -Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. (Isaiah 58:8) NLT
Betty Kamman
Vicksburg, MS
Proverbs 3: 5-6
New American Standard
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Sandy, Cedarburg, WI, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29 NIV
Laurel – Zeeland, MI And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Angela J. – Grand Ridge, FL
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
Stacey, Shreveport “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” James 1:19/NIV
Donna-Birmingham, AL
2 Timothy 1:7 (King James Version)
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Amy – Bowling Green, KY
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?
Isaiah 43: 18-19 NIV
Dothan, AL ~ Here am I. Send me Isaiah 6:8
Lindsey, Lancaster, SC, Isaiah 61:1 – NIV
The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners.
Melissa – Smithville, MO
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope (expectation) is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (kind of a mash-up of NLT and KJV, because I’m dealing with expectations right now.) 🙂
Vickie, Iowa Park, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 (New American Standard)
Psalm 65:11 NET
“You crown the year with Your good blessings, and You leave abundance in Your wake.”
Kim
Orange City
You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteouseness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
NIV
Paige. Bryant, AR – 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)
Manthie, Picayune
“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)
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Phillipians 2:14-16 NIV
Liese Maples
Kirkland, WA
Emily, Atlanta
Many, LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, the things You planned for us. None can compare with You; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5 TNIV
Christina, Waukee. “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24 NIV
Lissa, Greenville
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (HCSB)
MAC – OLYMPIA
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.
2 Chronicles 16:9a
Message
Megan, Maple Valley,WA: “You crown the year with Your good blessings, and you leave abundance in Your wake.” (NET)