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!
Char Pampa, Texas
When Jesus saw her, He called her over, “Woman, You’re free!” He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing strait and tall, giving glory to God.
Luke 13:13 The Message
Char, we just moved to Pampa from Midland. Glad to find someone else from Pampa in here 🙂
Annie, Midland TX
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 15:2
Knowlodge flows like springwater from the wise; but fools are leaky faucets dripping nonsense.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”
Psalm 139:17
King James
Laurie T.
Richmond, Maine
Colossians 4:6 – Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Darlene K., Pittsburgh, PA
Karen, Grapevine, TX “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8 (ESV)
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you not forsake you. – Carol K., Pittsburgh, PA
Colossians 4:6 – Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Darlene K., Pittsburgh, PA
Laura, Beaumont, CA. “Therefore, behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2:14
You crown the year with Your good blessings, and You leave abundance in Your wake. Psalms 65:11 NET
Colossians 1:9 “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” ESV
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Psalm 73:24 NLT
Carrie Ann
Gainesville, GA
Psalm 62:8 HCSB
Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
Lisa, O’Fallon, MO
“But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.
John 14:3 ~NET Bible~
Rene, Crestwood
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me & heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog & set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. ~ Ps. 40:1-2 (ESV)
Trina
Pampa, Texas
Psalm 86: 11 & 12 NIV
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an UNDIVIDED HEART;
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, WITH ALL MY HEART;
I will glorify your name forever.
Andrea
Columbia, SC
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.
Kitty, Centerton, 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
Dionne, Pittsburgh, Pa
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love” Proverbs 27:5
Erika from Coral Springs, FL New Internation Version
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
Psalm 86: 11 & 12 NIV
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an UNDIVIDED HEART;
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, WITH ALL MY HEART;
I will glorify your name forever.
Trina
Pampa, Texas
Jessica, Lancaster, PA
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:6,7 NLT
Katie
Dallas,TX
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (The Message)The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Brooke, Pensacola, FL. Blessed is the one who is not offended by me. Luke 7:23
Rachel from New Castle, IN….Starting today! “God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God.” (God’s Word Translation)
Denise, Skiatook, Oklahoma:”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Heb. 12:1 NIV
Virginia, Waco, “These things I have spoken to you that in ME you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” James 16:33
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Jenny, Frankfort, “The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV
I left this in the comment section on the iPhone app but wasn’t sure if that would work so I’m doing it here, too.
Susan from Chicago
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Bonnie, Houston “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
Joyce
Oklahoma
..the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:10-11
Kate,Amarillo “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” Psalm 19:14 NLT
Donna, Summerfield, NC
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
LeAnn, Gettysburg, John 14:31a NLT ..but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.
Kimberley, Houston, Tx
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Jamie, Eureka TX
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
Psalm 19:1-4 NLT
Amanda, Arkansas “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.Psalm 16:7-8 NIV
Patti ~ Austin, TX
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NIV
Sheila, Appleton, NY
Isaiah 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devestated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devestated for generations.
Isaish 61:4
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” {Matt. 22:37-40}
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me; and the life that I now live in the body I live through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Gal 2:20 NASV
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”
1 Timothy 6:12
Amanda – Springfield, MO
Kelly, Houston, 40.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14 NASB
Debbie Kehoe, Sachse TX
Shelly,Seminole, FL: “Therefore I urge you brothers, is view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Christy, Carol Stream, IL
Isaiah 61:1 NIV
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkenss for the prisoners.
Vicki from Loveland (sorry to be late) Proverbs 19:8 NIV He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.