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!
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV)
Crystal, Whitefish, MT, Ephesians 5:18-20, NIV “do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Kristi Hinkle, Holabird, SD. 2 Samuel 22:21 (NIV) “The Lord has dealt with me according to me righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands, he has rewarded me.
Crystal, St. Clair, MO “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8 NIV
Cheryl, Peoria “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 (NIV)
Stacey, Wichita, KS
“O Lord, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!” Psalm 86:11 NET
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)
Gena, Rapid City: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galations 5:22-23 NASB
Molly, Wilmington, DE:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)
L Diane, Indianapolis,
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory
and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by His powerful word.
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
Angie, Loveland: He says”Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”Psalm 46:10 NIV In honor of Joanne Heim
Rosalye
Vicksburg, MS
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.
Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God,
God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
NIV
Maxine, Belgrade, MT. “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb. 10:25 NKJV
Hannah, Austin,TX- Deut. 1:30-
Th Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, justas He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
donna in woodstock, ga, “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NIV
Elizabeth, Atlanta
He who answers without listening, that is his folly and shame.
Proverbs 18:13
Sharon
Glennville
Eph 4:29 (NIV)
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.
Jennifer – Cape Coral, FL
“The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV
Becky, Vicksburg, MS
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. I Chronicles 16:10 (NIV)
Kristin- Nashville, TN-
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again, Rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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.”
– Philippians 4:4-7
Foxy Roxy
Houston, TX
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14
NIV
Tiffany, Anaheim
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23 ESV
Donna, KC: You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2 NIV
Lindsay, Kokomo, IN ” For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matt. 6:14
Gail, Phoenix
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
Stephanie, Milwaukie, Oregon.
I wait for the Lord,
my soul does wait,
and in His word do I hope.
Psalm 130:5 NASB
Marisa Parker, Colorado
1 Peter 5:7-8 NIV
Cast all you anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.
Ginger, South Point, OH
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Amanda, Mountain View, CA
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6 NLT
Tina, Chesapeake, VA: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Phil 4:6 (The Message)
Bethany, Macon, GA:
“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help and you listened to my cry.” ~ Jonah 2:2
Gina, Kingwood, Tx.
Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure everything out on your own.
Proverbs 3:5 – The Message
Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
Well, it’s late to start… but not too late! Looking forward to the challenge and encouragement!
It’s never too late to join in this endeavor. The first time I did it, I didn’t start until about March or April but I learned a lot. Glad you are joining us this time.
Abbie – Franklin, TN
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1 – 2 NIV
Ginny-Chattanooga: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12, NIV
Hannah, McDonough. “And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!” Psalm 90:17 MSG
Johnine,Indianapolis,Indiana
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long: we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers,neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 35 – 39 NIV
Kaitlyn from Gainesville, FL
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1, NIV
Mary, Minneapolis, MN
Blessed be the God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he presdestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Eph. 1:3-6 ESV
Kristi, Inman, SC.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and blameless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness”. James 3:9 NIV
Melanie, Portland, OR
But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right – everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
Isaiah 30:18 The Message
Jean, Salisbury: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Elizabeth, Falls Church, VA
“You who dwell in the gardens
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!”
Song of Songs 8:13 (NIV)
Diane Littleton, CO
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
Joshua 23:14 NIV
Paige, Flatwoods, Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4, NLT
Erin, Highlands Ranch, CO
“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 broken hearted, to proclaim the freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1 TNIV
Stacey
Monument, CO
“As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?”
~ Psalm 18:30-31 (NASB)
Gaylene, Muldrow, OK
“Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!
Nothing is too difficult for You.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB)
Mandi, Benton, AR
Delight yourself in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 ESV