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!
Kari, Fulton
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV
Pam, Watkinsville
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 (KJV)
Patty, Fairfax, VA
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Tosha, Joplin, MO
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
Heb. 6:19-20 NIV
Joy, Louisville. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” NIV
Is. 56:2
ESV
Blessed is the man who does this
the son of man that holds it fast
who keeps the Sabbath, not profaining it
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Sheridan, wy
KAREN-SAN ANTONIO, TX LUKE 18:27 “JESUS REPLIED, “WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.” NIV
Kindra from Tampa, Fl
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of Justice.
Blessed are those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 30:18
Ciana, Conroe. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV.
Nelli, Kingsport, TN
This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go”.
Isaiah 48:17 NIV
Tiffany, Pella, Iowa
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
Twila Steiner – You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. TEV
But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD; for He has been good to me. Psalm 13:2 NIV
Ashley, Little Rock, AR: All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is NO variation, or the slightest HINT of change. James 1:17
Melonie, Rogers
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me – my whole life one long, obedient response. Psalm 119:34 The Message
Dana, Lexington
“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.” Ephesians 4:31 CEV
The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and will strengthen your frame. ~Isaiah 58:11, NIV, Melissa, Atlanta
Danielle, Missouri
“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.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Gunnison, CO
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:13-16 NIV
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.
Samantha. Twin City, GA. “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you–I, whom you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23 NIV
Kayla, Hernando, Ms
“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
Amy, Tupelo, MS
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3: 12
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.”
Hosea 2:14, ESV
Julie, Corpus Christi
I John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” NIV
Gay, Plain City, OH
John 14:6 (NIV)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Martha / Albertville, AL
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3NLT
Paula, Hanalei Hawaii, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. THe Lord, the LOrd is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.: NIV
Carole, Imperial, CA: “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free.” Psalm 118:5 NIV
“..You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Julie from Kansas
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Wendell, NC
Galatians 5:25-26 NIV
Since we live by the Spirit,let us keep in step with the
Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Pam, Clearwater, Florida
Philippians 4:8, NIV
” . . . 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.”
Martha / Albertyville,AL /Isaiah 26:3 (New Living Translation)
3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Kari, Las Vegas
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
1 Corithians 13:4
Amplified Version
Reseda, CA “You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” Isaiah 26.3 TEV
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:1b-3a ESV
Shannon
Katy, Texas
Cheryl, Port Angeles, WA: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world.” Phillipians 2:14-15 NET
Melanie- Helena, Alabama
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Kaitlyn Stephens
Hickory, NC
“He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; he will give you the strength to endure it.”
-1 Corinthians 10:13b
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
Gayle, Colleyville-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
Karina, Victoria, BC, CANADA
“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 (’84: 2010 version felt VERY different 🙁 )
AND I feel convicted to memorize another in Amplified version. I know the NIV version.
“My determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person.” – Philippians 3:10 (AMP)
Melanie, Groesbeck (TX)
“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Janet, North Vancouver, BC: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Margo, Laramie, Wyoming
Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:1,2 NIV
Jessica, Winston-Salem, NC
“Forget about what’s happened;don’t keep going over old history.Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.It’s bursting out!Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,rivers in the badlands.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message
Wendy Lerch, Calgary, Canada
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 for the day of Christ,
Phil 1:9-10 NIV
Cheryl, Midlothian, Va. Zephaniah 3;17 NIV – 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.
Lynette – Aurora, CO
Deuteronomy 2:3 NASB
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north