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!
Wendy Raleigh
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them” Psalm 8:4 NIV
Erica, Amman, Jordan; “God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
Hollie -Granbury,TX
Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. ~Habakkak 1:5 (NIV)
#prayingforjoanne
Kayla ~ Springfield, OR
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” ~ Colossians 4:2, NASB
Mari ~~ Raleigh, NC
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
Stephanie- Reno, NV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4. NIV
Here is for week one’s verse:
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Costa Mesa, CA: Blessed is the man who walks no in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
Ashley- Hungary
Ps. 40:2- “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock making my steps secure.”
Shelly, Downey, CA
“13 .I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13 NKJV
Julie, Girdwood, AK
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:3-4 NIV
Lucinda, Brisbane, Australia
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV
Elizabeth, Houston, “God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV
Pam, Honolulu, Romans 8:29 NKJ
Pam, Honolulu, HI “For whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 NKJ
Devi
Geneva, Switzerland
Jeremiah 17:8
He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. (ESV)
Justine Swingewood, Johannesburg South Africa
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be affraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Budapest, Hungary
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5 NIV
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength…
Isaiah 30:15 (New International Version, ©2010)
Kathy – Seymour, IN
Myra, Lisbon, Portugal – “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
Galations 5:16 KJV
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Amy Dawsvonville, GA
2 I will go before you
and will level the mountains[a];
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you hidden treasures,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)
Sorry…I’m from Vancouver WA.
Heather, Tallahassee: Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear Your Name. Psalm 86:11 NIV
Jennifer – Yellville, AR
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
Isaiah 43:10 NIV
Kate
Everett, WA
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Linda from Gahanna Genesis 15:1
“Do not be afraid, Abram (Linda).
I am your shield,
Your very great reward.”
Ioana, Oradea, Romania, Europe
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
trust in your heart with all your heart with all your might and do not lean on your on understanding, Proverbs 3:5(nas)
Kelly ~ Paducah, Kentucky
Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen in temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 16 – 18 (NIV)
Vicki,Springfield,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
Lori ~ Roseville, Ohio
I’m choosing because of Joanne Heim
Psalm 46:5 NIV ~ God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Sarah, Chocowinity, NC, 1Peter 3:15 NIV “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Traci, Knoxville
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
“Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Trust in the Lord with all you heart and do no lean on your own understanding.In all ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path. (esv)
Danni – Willard, MO – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col.3:12 NIV
Kathy Knoblock, Akron, Ohio
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18&19 NIV
I think I posted my scripture on the wrong page!
Toni, Mississippi, Psalm 29:4 (NIV)
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! Theyare like chaff that the wind blows away. Psalm 1:3-4
Rhonda Benson, IL-
In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.1 Sam 18:14 NIV
Angie, Missouri
I’m late! Still memorizing….
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5
Sheila-Stockton Ca.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)
Deb, Foxboro, Ma
New Living Translations
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Kendra, Middle East
“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Eph 3:20 The Message
Valerie, Louisville KY
2 Peter 1:3 NIV 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.
Jayne, NC, 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
vonda-Keller 2 Timothy 2:19 But God’s truth stand firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “all who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.”
Kay, Wausau, WI
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Carrie: Lincoln, RI
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ~Proverbs 31:12-13 KJV
Melody, southern NH. “I am the Lord; that is My name. I will not give My glory to another; not My praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8, NAS