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!
Jennifer
Milford, OH
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
Phil. 3:9 NASB
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, Phil. 3:9 NASB
Sara, Redlands, CA – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Psalms 119:9-10 (NIV)
Beth, Lititz, PA
Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Dear Beth,
God gave me these same to verses years ago as a promise. I still cling to it today. I pray that as you hold on to these Scriptures, that God will strengthen you and bless you, in the land of the living.
Jenn 🙂
Me too! Stefani, Wildomar CA
I love this one!!
HollyAnn, Midland, “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.” 1 Peter 4:10, CEV
Jenny, Brandon, MS
God met me more than halfway,
He freed me from my anxious fears.
Psalm 34:4 MSG
I really needed to hear this word from the Lord. I like this translation.
Cindy, Montgomery, Alabama: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Heb. 4:16 (NIV)
Sarah, New Orleans, LA
“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)
Stephanie – San Ramon, CA (temporarily) Tampa (normally)
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:11 NIV
Lacy- Arlington, TX
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” NIV
Shelley from San Angelo
1 Peter 4:9
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
NIV
Search me O God, and know my heart;try me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24 (NASB)
Lisha, Texas
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
NIV
Lynda, Monterey,CA
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” ~ Hebrews 4:16, NLT
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
NASB
Vikki Cleveland, OH
Amber, Houston, 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
Lamentations 3:22 NIV
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3
Susan
Windsor, CA
The Lord is near to all who call on him, all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NIV
Pam, Elizabethtown, KY
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:14 NKJV)
Lynn, Orlando
“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)
Lori, Festus MO: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NIV)
rachel, lafayette, indiana
romans 12:2 (nlt)
don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Ashlie, Dallas, GA
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NIV
Caroyn/Kennesaw,GA. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your cares upon him; for hecareth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Marilyn Smith
Indiana
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act promped by your faith.
Nicole, Winnipeg, (Canada)
1 Peter 1:13 NIV
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Carolyn**Bismarck, ND
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32
Allison Atlanta, GA. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
Donna/ Mesquite, TX
But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Sara, Brentwood, TN – 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV
Rachel, Watseka IL
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 ESV
Gigi, San Antonio. 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 (NLT)
Titus 2:11, 12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Sarah, Sledge, MS
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)
Joy – Whitehouse, TX
Jeremiah 29:11
“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.” NIV
Jill
League City, TX
“Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”
Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)
Mt. Enterprise, TX
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 (ESV)
Shae, Broadview Hts, OH Psalm 105:4 NIV Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
Libby, Texarkana: 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. Philippians 4:8 NIV
Becky and Jacqui, Naperville. So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6, ESV
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Rev. 3:20 (NLT)
Beth, Belton, TX: “I will say of the Lord: He alone is my refuge and my fortress, my god, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
Peg from Hillsboro
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
II Cor. 4:18 MSG
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 NKJ
Finally, brethren,whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
NASB
Julie,Austin,Tx.
Carry, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Galatians 2:20 (New King James Version)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Grace
New Mexico
“But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Job. 23:10
NIV
Linda Bulverde, Texas
Psalm 141:3 (NAS)
” Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Lori, Rogers, AR
Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8