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!
Lahni, Cynthiana, Ky. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV
Chesterfield, VA
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
1 John 5:14 NKJV
Dori, Jacksonville
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O LORD, my rock and Redeemer.
Ps 19:14 NASB
Carolyn, Union City, Georgia
His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV
Esabelle
Louisville, Ky.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:23-24 NASB
Please pray for me.
“Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
— Matt 14:30
Lord, I often feel I am sinking. Thank you for saving me!
“Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
— Matt 14:30
Ali, Verona, VA–
Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring (you) quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.
Zepheniah 3:17, Holman Christian Standard Bible
Praying this verse for Joanne
My daughter Riley is joining me,Indiana
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help
in time of need.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
Matt 14:30
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me
KJV
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” Proverbs 25:2 ESV
Evelyn, Bowie, MD
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, ESV)
Matthew 21:21-22
“Jesus replied. “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain,”Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” NIV
Stephanie, Oscar, LA
“Your path led through the Sea, Your way through mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” Psalm 77:19 (NIV)
Tammy, Delray Beach,Fl:”Only in God is my soul at rest;from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.” Psalm 62:1-2 (NAB) (Psst…Breaking Free, Session 8, Day 2 ‘The Freedom of Unfailing Love’ refers to verses 5-7 as well. I Thank God the day a sweet purposeful person placed your Beth Moore bible study,It’s Tough Being a Woman, in my hands. God has truly used you to enlighten my personal path to his Word. One day I will submit an entry with a heartfelt wordy tribute to you Ms. Beth Moore. My praise of you when sharing about the opportunity of experiencing your ministry is simply…’She Speaks To Me’.)
Lauren,Houston. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” (NET)
NIV Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Becky: Montgomery, AL; NIV
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:7-8
Beth Collins, Lake Jackson, TX
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down srongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
Knoxville, TN
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galations 5:6 NIV
Eugenia, San Antonio, TX.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2nd Timothy 1:7 New Living Translation.
Ashley, Knoxville, TN
2 Cor. 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Carol from Pekin,
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. Romas 15:13 NIV
Becky, Baltimore, Ohio
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
Beth, Eugene, You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock.
Is 26:3,4 ESV
Lisa ~ Zimmerman, Minnesota
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
Sherri, Cary, North Carolina
Philippians 4:6, 7
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thess 5:16-18, NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Php. 2:3 NIV
celina’texas
I sought the Lord: and He answered me; He delivered me from my fears. Psalm 34:4
Jeanene, Newnan,GA
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV
Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
“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
Kathy Yeoh
Penang,Malaysia
Laura, Del Rio, TX Malachi 1:11 “”For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.” NASB
Jessica Mount Pleasant, SC
Ephesian 4:29 NASB
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear it.
I am sorry I am so late. I thought I had posted; but realized I had only filled out my card & read the blog on my phone!
Anne, London, Ontario, Canada
May the peoples praise you, O God: may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly, and guide the nations of the earth. Psalm 67:3-4 NIV
Heather – Houston
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
NIV
Roxanne, Frankfort, KY: Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29: 12-13
The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 19:23 NIV
Colima, Klamath Falls, OR
Nealie Chesapeake, VA Colossians 1:9-10 NET
For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God
Elizabeth, Austin, “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:26 NIV
Jessica in San Diego: “Her husband trusts her with all his heart, and he does not lack anything good.”
Proverbs 31:11 (GWT)
Donna
Clarksville, TN
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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 12:1-2
NIV
Sue, Newnan, Georgia
“My mouth joyfully praises you, whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours. For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice. My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me.”
Psalm 63:6-8 NET
Valerie
Lewisville, NC
“Everything is permissible for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” – but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (NIV)
Philippians 2:14-15
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.
Kelly, MI
Whitney, Fayetteville,AR Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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.
Robbie, Southaven, MS: “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)
Marybeth from Norcross, GA
I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. – Ephesians 1: 17,19,20 CEV