Hey, you Scripture-memory buffs! I pray that your verses are bearing fruit and that they’re right there on the tip of your tongue when you’re tempted to say something the polar opposite of God’s will. That’s one of many things I like about memory work. It’s seems out of place to use the same mouth that has been spouting Scripture to spout off a bunch of trash. That doesn’t mean we never do it but it does mean we’re likely to feel miserable over it and think twice the next time.
Two times in a row our SSMT has fallen on a Bible study day so I am forced to be much briefer than I’d like. My heart toward you is bigger than my words, particularly today. Tonight’s lesson is especially pressing because I’m further behind in preparation than I’d normally be if I hadn’t had a taping over the weekend and spent the end of last work-week getting ready for it. Yada yada yada. I am woman, hear me whine.
I bet some of you feel the same way I’ve felt over the last week: too much on your plate. Looking at all of it in one big heap on your desk or your calendar can be demoralizing. Thursday I had one of those days when you can hardly make it to your car after work without bursting into tears. On the way home I felt like God was telling me to humble myself and get the word out that I needed prayer and by the next day I felt a world better. (Some nights you just go to bed early out of love for the people who live with you.) A couple of other things have really helped me today. They seem elementary but, if so, why don’t we ever seem to learn them once and for all? Here’s what they are: Remembering to…
1) TAKE ONE THING AT A TIME! God’s grace really is sufficient and He really does meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. As much as we want to see all that manna heaped up in a mountain of provision a week in advance alongside those upcoming demands, His promise in Philippians 4:19 is to meet each one AT THE TIME WE NEED IT. Thank You, Lord. If we could learn to live in this present moment with this present provision, oh, man, life would be so much less stressful, wouldn’t it?
2) SAY NO. I have managed to get that most distasteful word for the people-pleasure out of my mouth two times today to people I really, really, really didn’t want to say no to. People I love a ton. People I want very much to please. But the fact is, I don’t have a single other yes in my pocket right now. Not one. For this moment, I am completely bereft of extra yeses. Anybody else? So it’s got to be no. Help us, Lord. We need so much help to say yes to no.
Anyway, that’s not what we’re doing on here today. We’re on here to spout off our Siesta Scripture Memory Team Verse 4!
I am continuing out of the Book of James. This round I’m going with James 3:17 –
Beth, Houston. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.” James 3:17 The NET Bible (Is that a mouthful or what??)
For any of you who could use some ideas, the alternative verse I’m selecting for today outside of James may as well be the one I mentioned a couple of paragraphs earlier. If you’ve never memorized this one, stick it toward the top of your list. It’s a staple in the mental pantry of the believer.
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
And from The Message:
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
And that is a promise, Sweet Thing. Eyes up. Chins up. Joy up.
And maybe…just maybe…say yes to no.
Just for fun, here are a couple of pictures from Valentine’s dinner last night. We didn’t have the Fitzpatricks with us because they had their own plans for their third anniversary. Can you believe it’s been that long? We missed them but had a ton of fun anyway. Here are two darling couples I got to stare at across the table. I love them each so much.
We are ecstatic to have Travis and Angela in town and the rest of the worship team lands today. They’ll lead us tonight at Bible study. Wooooohooooooo!
Are they darling or what? For any of you newcomers, that’s Amanda, my firstborn, and Curtis, her wonderful man.
This picture didn’t come out well because the lighting was so bright so I did it in black and white and it looked even goofier but, anyway, at least you know I really did go with them to dinner.
And, in case I haven’t yet bored you to utter oblivion, here is one more that Trav took with his phone:
OK, that’s it! If you’re missing my Valentine, he had to be out of town for a work thing but I will see him soon and got beautiful roses and funny text messages all day.
Let’s hear each of your fourth verses, Siestas! Name, city, verse and translations please!
I love you guys.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you
and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Sue, Visalia, CA
“Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 NLT
Judy…Apple Valley, CA
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:4-6
Cristette- Glendale AZ
“There is no fear in love,instead, perfect love drives out fear” 1John 4:18 NIV
Marlene
Princeton, IL
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:9 ESV
Alice, Waconia, MN
James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Reva Joy – Royse City, TX
Psalm 100:5 (KJV)
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”
Marlene
Princeton, IL
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Doris, Whiteville, NC
Psalm 1: 5-6 ESV “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
These 2 verses complete memorizing Psalm 1. It probably shouldn’t have taken 2 months, but that’s okay…it was worth it!
Donna, Norman, OK
Romans 12:12 NIV
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Jess, Rye, NH
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Kelly – Abilene, TX
“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:23
NIV
Sondra, Va — “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV, 1984)
Annette, Temple, Texas
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 NIV
Linda Carrollton, TX
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind. NKJV
Beki, Ball; Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up
Greta, Albuquerque, NM
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
However, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
Becki Larson, Battle Creek, MI
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)
Karen, Rochester: However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5.33 NIV
Phyllis, Rolling Hills Estates
I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that which is the reason he made me his. Phil 3:12 NCV
Josie, Tucson AZ
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:24,25 NIV
B in Georgia: Psalm 103:19 NASB
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.
Psalm 103:19 NASB
Jacquie, Prosper, TX
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, Psalm 73:26. NIV
Kelly, Lewisville, TX
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16 NIV
Megan from Milwaukee, WI:
“Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up.” Psalm 71:20 NIV
Julie- Springfield, IL
“He used his servant body to carry our sins to the cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the shepherd of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 Message
Matthew 25:21-“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (NIV)
Angie, Prosper, TX
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
Cosmina, Romania, Caransebes
“Cel neprihanit se bucura in Domnul si in El isi cauta scaparea; toti cei cu inima fara prihana se lauda ca sunt fericiti.” (Psalm 64:10)
Annie, Alaska. Psalm 27.12 NIV
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
Rosa, Sulphur Springs, TX – Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV “This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, righteaousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord.”
Beth – your James verse for this time was my verse for last time!
Holly, Midland TX
“and my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:9
Dawn – Menomonee Falls, WI
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
What a wonderful promise!
Johanna, Forsyth, MT- 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV
[Love]always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Katherine, Shiremanstown, PA
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 Cor 10:5 (NASB)
Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent
things: this is known in all the earth. Isiah 12:5
Courtney, Prosper, TX:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Chaeli- Houston, TX
Psalm 119:17-18 NIV
“Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in y our law.
Stacey, San Diego, CA
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:18-19a NIV
Heather
Mosinee, WI
Carolyn, Union City, GA, Psalm 30:11 NIV
You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
Jacki, Bettendorf, IA ~
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.” Psalm 37:3, NLT
LaGrange, Ga
If its ok, I’m going to keep working on my verse from last time.
Do not fear for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strength you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NAS
I have just joined your Siesta group!Thank you for your inspiration. My daughter, daughter-in-law and myself have purposed to memorize Psalm 91 and to claim it for my son, Jonathan, while he is deployed with the United States marines in Afghanistan. He will deploy within the next month for one year.
Carolyn,Upstate NY
Psalm 91:1-3 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High, find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I am trusting Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
Kori, Duluth, MN:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Titus 2:11-14 NIV
Stephanie, Glen Burnie,MD
Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Elizabeth, Birmingham AL: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than youselves. Phil 2:3 (NASB)
Katie C., Texas City, Texas
“So let us stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
Romans 14:13, NLT
Kristi Knoxville TN
ESV Psalm 41:1-2 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
Sorry I have been so late the last couple of times…major computer troubles at my house!
Kristine in Edmond, OK: Jer. 29:13 (NAS): “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”