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.
Angie, Anna TX
“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:13-14
Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ. Ephesians 5:2. NIV
Kristen, NM
Kelly, St. Louis
NIV
Isaiah 61:4- They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
kathy, bakersfield, ca:
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8, NIV
Kathy, Lynden, Wa
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8, NIV
Emily, Oklahoma City
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him” (Psalm 28:7, NIV).
Judy
Illinois
kjv
Psams 118:6
The Lord is on my side;I shall not fear. Wat can man do to me?”
Teresa, Odessa, Texas
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV
Marta
Southlake TX
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6 NIV
Tracy in Mechanicsville, VA
“I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
World English Bible
2 Cor 10:4 NIV
The weapons we fight with are not of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds!
Judi, Canada
Samina; Charlotte, NC
1Peter 5:5 “…God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV)
Moundridge, Psalm 25:4&5
“Show me Your ways O LORD; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any. Isaiah 44:8 ESV
Fishers, IN “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Temple, TX
Oops, forgot to include the town. Posting again.
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Oh, my goodness, have ya’ll ever read this verse?!? I happened to find it in church yesterday as it was right above a verse the pastor was talking about. It is A-MAZING!!! And written just for us Siestas!!
Psalm 46:5
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Kelly
Cumming, GA
I can’t remember if I posted Feb 1st verse 3
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful!
verse 4:
2Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one!
Jocelyn, Greer, SC
Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others. -Phil 2:4 (NIV)
Mary Lee, York, PA: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 NIV
Deaune, Topeka, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His.” Daniel 2:20 NIV
Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
~ I Corinthians 2:11b-12 (NIV ’84)
Kim, Orlando “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.” John 15:9 NIV
LaGrange, GA
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Eph. 6:15 NIV
Becky
Waukesha WI
James 1:3
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow!
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
Phil 4:19 (HCSB)
Debbie G., Jacksonville, FL
Michelle, Natchitoches, LA, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and LOOK, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB
from DFW
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIV
Cindy, DIberville, MS
But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20 (NASB)
Kelly, St. Paul, MN (where we got another 12 inches of snow today – I almost typed feet, because it feels like it)
Psalms 40:4-8 MSG (I’m doing this for the month of February; being the mother of many small children, it’s easier for my tired brain to pick one passage and do that for a month instead of picking two separate verses because, bless my heart, I CANNOT FOCUS)
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
7-8 So I answered, “I’m coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
Lindsay, Wenatchee, WA
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?
Jer. 32:27, ESV
Joy Klassen, Manitoba CANADA
1 Corinthians 10:23 (New International Version)
Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. Psalm91:4 NIV
Nina, Moore, OK “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters…” Psalm 23:1-2 NIV.
I just found this site….I want to try all 21 verses, which means I have to start now…..
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to Your Name be the glory,
because of Your love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 115:1
NIV
Rita Brown
Midland, TX
Allison, Midland TX
Psalms 63:3-4 NIV
” Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
Anyone who answers without listening first is foolish and confused. Prov. 18:13 NCV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though we are outwardly wasting away, yet 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 seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 [NIV]
Taylor, Texas
Matia, Fort Worth, “For this reason also, since the day we heard this we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,”
Colossians 1:9 HCSB
Lynn, Rock Hill
Romans 4:20-21 NIV
Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.
Do not conform any longer 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
Matthew 7:24-25(NIV)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Shellie
Moscow, Idaho
Sorry this is so late. I had it in my notecards this whole time, but forgot to put it on here!
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name.
Jaime, Mt. Holly, NC
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.” Proverbs 13:20 NIV
Casey
LaGrange, GA
“You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.”
Psalm 63:5 NLT
Theresa Donlon
Hockley, Texas
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strenghthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord!
I do not know the version . I got this verse from the LPM Blog a few months ago.
Vickie Redmon Gainesville Tx
In that day you will say “I will praise you,O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away” and you have comforted me. Isaiah 12:1 NIV
Brenda, Frisco, TX
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NLT
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 NIV