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!
Tanis, Terrace BC.
“For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal: His faithfulness endures through all generations.”
Ps 100:5 HCSB
Wendy, Broken Arrow, OK. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! NLT.
Laur, Spokane, WA
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12 NIV
Nancy, Versailles,Ky -My D verse – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 NIV
Leslie, Decatur, TX
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. James 1:2-3 The Message
Amy, Little Rock – “In the morning give us Your mercy
in full measure; so that we may have joy and delight
all our days.” Psalm 90:14 BBE
Dana, Siloam Springs, AR: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 (New Living Translation)
Bambi, Houston, TX
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NLT
Anita, Cabot
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV)
Rebecca Jo
Greenville IN
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
-Proverbs 12:18
Laura Greensboro, NC: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
Krista, Birmingham
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make all your path straight” Proverbs 3:5,6
Letha
Lancaster, OH
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)
Ontario, OH “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5&6 NLT
Next up is Ephesians 1:7-10, New King James
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Peggy, Cheyenne, WY
Romans 15:13(NIV)
May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit.
Diana, Surrey, BC Canada
“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!”
Lamentations 3:22&23 N.I.V.
Barbara, Greenville,SC
Psalms 27:4-6 (AMP)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Marilyn
Fort Smith, AR
30’s
This was a tough week to choose a scripture, but here it goes:
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. (Titus 2:7, NLT)
sacha, johannesburg south africa
1 peter 3:4 you should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. NLT
Audrey, Kings Mountain NC…PS: 101:1&2
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.. I will be careful to lead a blameless life-when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart..
Lisa, Jacksonville FL 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 darkness for the prisoners…”
Bethany, Fisherville, Ky: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 NIV
Ann, Cripple Creek, VA
Romans 8:1&2 NLT
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Jen, Albany, NY; 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. -Romans 15:13 NIV
Cait from Dayton: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73: 25-26 (NIV)
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God. til I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18 NIV
Hannah, Maryland, Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” NASB
Sue, Carmel, “Therefore, there is now no condemmation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”
Jennifer, Denham Springs, LA
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15 NKJ
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20: 2-3 (NIV)
Lori, League City, TX
Carina, Simi Valley:
O LORD, be gracious to us;
we long for You.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.
Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)
Candace
East TN
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 (I am working my way through Psalm 91.)
Faith, Safford, AZ> ” Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven…” Daniel 4:15 nkjv – God’s plan to regrow us!
Michelle in Nashville: “How blessed are you, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” Deut 33:29 NLT
Lanita, Lake Jackson: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” Psalm 34:13 NIV
Lydia – Vicksburg, MS
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Psalm 18:46 NIV
Loved the verse Lydia. I’ll probably use it later.
Becky
Beth, Morristown, TN
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV
Kelli, Springfield, MO
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
1 Timothy 3:11 (NIV)
Holly Mc Tyler Texas
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it”. Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Gretchen, Cincinnati
6 “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:6-7 New Living Translation
Becky, Mechanicsville, VA
1 John 3:18 (NIV) – “Dear children, let us not love with our words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Molly~Somerset, KY
As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.
~Psalm 42:1
Tomi, Des Moines, IA
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Cathy, Lebanon, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:10 NLT
Ps. 46:1 NIV
God is our refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in trouble.
Karen
Leonard, Tx
Martha, Pine Bluff
The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thesssalonians 3:3 NIV
Annie, Alabama
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:1&2, NIV
Amanda, Kelowna, BC, Canada: “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV
Hannah- College Station, Texas- Romans 5:2- “By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” The Message