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!
Sheryl, Ankeny, IA
“Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:4 NIV
Tallahasse, FL – Ephesians 2:8 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Stephanie, Queen City: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
Kim Arlington, Virginia Do not comform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Linda, McCalla, AL
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3 NIV
Mary Kay
Fulshear
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NASB
Sheron- Rockwall, TX
Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 NLT
Tracy
Charlotte, NC
Romans 15:5 NASB
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”
Cheri
Lubbock TX
“The Lord God gives me the right words to encourage the weary. Each morning he awakens me eager to learn his teaching”
Isaiah 50:4 (CEV)
M: Monroe, NC
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
Holly Springs, NC
When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my hearts’s delight
for I bear your name
O LORD, God of Heaven’s Armies. NLT
Chapel Hill, NC
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 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 1:20-22, NIV
Jamey, Vilonia, AR
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jeus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.
Jeni, White Bluff, TN
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you wll be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2, NIV
Billie, Greenville, Kentucky “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8 NIV
Great verse! God has been showing me similar vss. such as Jer. 2:5 and Psalm 115:4-9. I will add yours to my list–thanks.
Ann, Sneedville, TN
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV
Beth, Cleveland Ohio
Gen. 1:26-28
And GOD created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Monica – Taylor, AZ
Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:18 (NKJV)
“Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.” Psalm 119:140 New Living Translation
S: Monroe, NC
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
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. Psalms 28:7 NIV
Sarah Grant
Augusta,Ga
Trina, Kings Mountain, NC
Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
NLT
Liesl, Ft Lauderdale
“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” NKJV
May the words of tmy mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14 NIV
Ramona, Pasadena:
I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20 NLT
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”
Isaiah 46:9 NIV
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6 KJV
Debbie, Hattiesburg, MS;
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Janice, Springville, AL
She opens her mouth with kindness,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs 31:26 NKJV
Correction–
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Carrie, Fort Mill, SC
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Julie, Prescott, AZ
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 6-7(NIV)
MK Gig Harbor, WA
Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Psalm 143:8
NKJV
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area, CA:
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:19 (NIV)
Mary, Cincinnati, Ohio
Revelation 21:5 NIV
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He Said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Lorraine – Modesto, CA
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. – Psalm 18:2 KJV
Heather, Mass
One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for.” Ruth 3:1 (NLT)
Heather, Fuquay-Varina,NC
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Doranda Spring Texas
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50
NIV
Kristi, Carthage
“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart. Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14
Donna, Norman, OK
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” Psalm 27:8 (NASB)
Valerie, Louisville
I will keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand I will not be shaken.
Ps. 16:8 NIV
Connie Boyd, Turlock CA
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 NIV
Sara, Indiana
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
Gretchen, Kearney, Missouri
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Psaml 41:1-3
Amy, Cleveland – “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
Rachel – Modesto, CA
Now all has been heard: here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. – Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV
Lori Alpharetta, GA
“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand I will not be shaken.”
Ps. 16:7-8 TNIV
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” John 15:7…Lord, teach me to pray!
Holts Summit, MO
Stephanie, Houston
Thanks be to God who gives us life with His word and the sweet women here who highlight how He is speaking to them now. For me, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8, niv
Kim, Laguna Niguel, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdoned again by a yoke of slavery.” Gal. 5:1 NIV