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!
“Forget about the former things; do not dwell in 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 desert and springs in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 18,19, NIV
Saw that some of my sisters had memorized this last time and it spoke to my heart!
Caprice from Kokomo…”Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:32 NLT
Yeah God!!!<
Debbie R, Atlanta, TX
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. KJ
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
Wendy, Livonia, MI: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 NLT
Janice, Arcanum OH:
“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pang.” I Timothy 6:9-10 NASB
anna, ruckersville, va:
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (esv)
Arlene, Morganville NJ
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
2 Cor 4:7 NIV
Martha, Ashdown, AR
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Heb. 13:5 NKJV
Melissa, Locust Grove, GA. “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
Kathy Chatterton Price, Utah
“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
Beverly
Tupelo, MS
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4(NIV)
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (HCSB)
Bonnie, WV Romans 15:13 NIV 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.
Kim, Atlanta. “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” – Psalm 65:11 (NLT)
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:19 NKJV
Tammy
Howells, NE
Dee, Zeeland MI
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for in you I have put my trust. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
Adrienne
Jasper, TN
“I will exalt You, my God, the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.”
Psalm 145:1 NIV
Carolyn, Raleigh, N.C. Hebrews 12:1 “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 perserverance the race marked out for us. NIV
Beth, North Little Rock, AR, NIV
The Lord is my light and my salvation
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
“This you know, my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 NAS
Tammy from Fort Myers, Florida: “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NLT
Jennifer Little Rock, AR
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Nancy, Oxford, FL, 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
Amber, Drexel MO
“Satisfy us in the morning, with Your unfailing love. That we may sing for joy, and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14
No temptation has siezed you except what is common to man; And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:13 NIV
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect an answer for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6 NLT (1996)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16 (NKJV)
Linda,Augusta
yes, my soul find rest in God, my hope comes from Him.
truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, i will not be shaken. My salvation and honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock, my refuge. trust in Him at all times, pour out your heart to Him. God is our refuge. Ps. 62:5-8
Bree, Arlington, VA
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obediant to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
Jennifer, Knoxville, TN: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:11 NIV
Lorie, Columbia NIV
When I am afraid, I will trust in you, In God whose word I praise, In God I will trust, I will not be afraid.
Ps. 56:3-4a
Any chance that is Columbia, Missouri?
Valerie, Lincoln. “And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45, ESV
Faran, Judsonia, AR: He is your constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him. Isaiah 33:6, The NET Bible
Jessica, College Station, TX
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my ROCK and my SALVATION; he is my FORTRESS, I will NOT BE SHAKEN/
Psalm 62:5-6 NIV
Carolyn Medlin Oceanside Ca
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,kindness,humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV
Ronda, Kingman, AZ.
Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Esphesians 1:4 The Message
Mary H in Illinois
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven.
Matthew 10:32 (NIV)
Fenton, Ashburn, VA “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” John 12:49 NKJ
Tess, Cartersville GA
Colossians 3:1 NET BIBLE
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, KEEP SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”
Esther from Lehigh, FL “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
Freida, Chatham, LA, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18 NKJV
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:12-15 NIV
Suzanne, Decatur, Texas
“I desire to do your will, O my God, your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 NIV
April, BonneyLake
Your love,God,is my song,and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. Psalms 89:1 Message
Angie, Kingston:
“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
Tesa
Perry, GA
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2-3
Evansville, IN “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:16-18 NIV
Mary O
Tuscaloosa,Al
“Forget the former former things,Nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NJK
Danielle, Lansing, MI
“O Lord, you are my God; I will exhalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)