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!
We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)
I’m late in posting but thankfully not pregnant, teehee
The SPirit of teh Sovereign Lord is on me, becuase the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to teh poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness, for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 NIV
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 NIV
Michele-Lubbock, TX
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days; that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom. NASB
Jenn M from:mass
“make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the most high.then call on me when you are in trouble,and i will rescue you and you will give me glory” psalm 50: 14-15 (N.L.T)
2. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.”
1 Peter 5:7
Jaime, Mt. Holly, NC
“I consider that our present sufferings are not to worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 NIV
Cara, Lexington: “The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to anger and full of unfailing love.” Psalm 103:8
Stacy, Amherst
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Andra, Snelling. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway. Psalm 85:13
Mei, Easley SC
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
Charlotte, Easley, SC “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.” Psalm 118:8 NIV
Cast all your cares and worries upon the Lord and he will take car of you. Psalm 55:22
Auburn, AL
Marion, Royse City, TX
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version, ©2010)
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.
Elizabeth – Memphis, TN
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’.”
Hebrews 13:5 New International Version
(Rockford MI)
“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” Psalm 105:4
“Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthian 2:5 NKJV
As a Bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice
over you. Is 62:5b
Roxanne, Glendora: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 NIV
Psalm 62:2 NIV
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Dear Beth,
Have many things I wish I could share with you about how God has opened my eyes through your teaching, I have felt like we are friends, Our grandkids were even born within a few months of each other. I always knew, that you felt the same way I did about those angel babies coming into my life….But now my granddaughter, Lilly Tin (Tin was after me, Tinna.) has a tumor in her lower left shin bone, a tumor in my “Little tin’s” bone! My prayers are “Oh God help us, heal her, help us, Oh God! The first verse I was ever able to teach her was Heb. 13:5 she says, “Jesus said: I will neber, leave me or forsake me.” we would always raise our hands and scream the “nor forsake me” part. She is 3, God has not changed and I am scared to death. Please pray Thank you for your faithfulness, Honey (thats what my 2 grandkids call me)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a rightousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
Nancy Lee
Aubrey, TX
2 Corinthians 12:9
My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 1:9 (NIV).
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.
Sally, Grants, NM : 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tami says:
“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places: indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 16:6 ESV
Austin, Tx
Psalm 139:4 (NIV)
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
“Then Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
-Matthew 11:28
NLT
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 (NIV)
oops…thought I’d already submitted but had not…
“Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.”-Romans 12:21 (AMP)
Anna, Lincoln, AR
Psalms 118:24
This is the day the Lord hath made we will rejoice and be glad in it.
KJV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrew 11:1 NIV
Kristy from Port Angeles, Washington
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28 NIV
Kristi, Bethany, OK
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31, NLT
Wynne
Midland, Texas
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and info his wonderful light.”
NIV
1 Peter 2:9
Lesley, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Psalm 1:1-2 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night. NLT
Ericka from Athens, GA:
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24
Valerie, Independence, KY: For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4, NASB
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high.
Psalm 3:3
Laura, Las Uvas, NM
For the Lord God helps me: therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7
Wilmington, Ohio
Rev. 21:4 NIV
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:12
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not your own doing, it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no man can boast.
Diann, Woodburn: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23