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!
Marlene, Ladson, SC “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11, NIV
Nancy, West Virginia
Malachi 3:16 NIV “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name Malachi 3:16 NIV
Margie—Medina,Ohio
“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” Isaiah 50:4 NIV
Kimberly
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I Corinthians 16:13
“Be on your Guard; stand Firm in your faith, be men of courage; Be strong, do everything in Love.
NIVE
Vicki, Indianapolis
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV
Stacey Mississippi
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Proverbs 31:26, ESV
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
Amy-Texas
You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book. Psalm 56:8 (The Message)
Cherry, Conway, AR.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen
Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV
Emily, Greensburg, La
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 NIV
Carroll, Waco “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality of hypocrisy.” James 3:17 NRSV
Dawn, Zionsville
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be fooish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV
Ruth – Altavista, VA Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”
Salena, Livonia, MI
Matthew 22:36-39 (NLT)
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Terry – Louisa, VA: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14
Angela/Leland, Mississippi ~For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:10 NIV
Laura from Sharon, PA
Psalm 3:3 NLT – “But You, O Lord, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high.”
Leah, Indianapolis
Consider it pure joy, my brothers (siestas), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2,3
Tara Dahl, Tehachapi, Ca
And God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Leslie
Alpharetta. GA
Psalm 91:14-15 New International Version
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
For all God’s words are right, and everything He does is worthy of our trust.–Psalm 33:4 [TLB]
Sarah(13 years old:) Jonesboro Arkansas
Let the words of my mouth an the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight O’ Lord my Rock and Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV
Samantha, Newnan, GA: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there is pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11 KJV
Deanna, Tavernier, FL
The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. Psalm 145:17
Charity
Midlothian, TX
“I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth! May he not allow your foot to slip! May your protector not sleep! Look! Israel’s protector does not sleep or slumber!”
Psalm 121:1-4
NET version
Meredith, Wilmington, NC
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians4:6-7 NIV
Vicki – Cynthiana, KY “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” Psalm 1:3-4 (ESV)
Lorraine, Surrey, BC “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1: 19-20 NKJV
Jani – Agate, CO
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge, Selah.
Psalm 62:8 NIV
Jackie, Little Rock. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:7 NIV
I am working on changing my stinkin’ thinkin’! Philippians 4:8 (New International Version, ©2010)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Psalm 25:1-2 (NIV)
1 To, You, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
2 in You I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my emenies triumph over me.
Julie, Boone NC
Jessica, Longwood FL, Psalm37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” KJV
Deborah, Marshall, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore hohor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Brittany from Louisville, KY:
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17, NIV
Ashley, DQ Illinois:
James 3:9-10
“With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” ESV
Sharon Modesto, Ca. My brothers and sister do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. James 2:1 NET thanks Beth :o)
Baileigh, Spartanburg, SC
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depts, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn or settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:7-10
Deidra
Waynesboro
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
IIPeter 1:3 NIV
Kristen, Denver: “We pondered your love-in-action, God, waiting in your temple: Your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever it is spoken, near and far; your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action.” Psalm 48:9-10, The Message
Kim, New Port Richey, Florida
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He’s Lord of Lords and King of Kings…and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.”
Revelation 7:14
Susan, Meredith, NH: “You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on…the best and not the worst, the beautiful and not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse.”–Phil. 4:8 (The Message)
Heidi, Somerset, KY: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 12:15
Pamela,Mechanicsville,VA: 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
Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Do what it says.
James 1:22
Ann Lauree, Sheridan, AR
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Prov. 11:24 NIV
Michelle, Portage, IN
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
Amy H. Oklahoma City, OK
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLV
“But forget all that-It is nothing compared to what I’m going to do.
For I’m about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Julie Honolulu
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2 NIV
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:17