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.
6-18-11 Matthew 6;34 KJV
Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the
morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Prov. 31:27
Tina, Cynthiana, KY
7-6-11 Psalms 18:2 KJV
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my GOD, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalms 91: 14-16
7-16-11 Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law
wildlyblessed, Crawford, TX: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 NIV
Sara Pipkin
Denver, CO
Psalm 56:13
13 For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us.”
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”
jamie, houston tx “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
Jamie, Houston , TX “Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NKJV
Jamie, Houston, Tx 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
Psalm 28:7a
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5
Karen, Lincoln, NE
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7 NIV
Linda, Lincoln NE; “I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy” Psalm 116:1 NIV
8-17-11 Mark 10:27 KJV
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: For with God all things are possible.
Hebrews 13:2
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 TNIV
Wylie, Texas
Mark 11:23 (NLT)
I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Stacey, Houston, TX: The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord grants his people security. – Psalm 29:11 NET
Kelly, The Hills, Texas
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone. Proverbs 16:24
Kelly, The Hills, Texas
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Brook, Santa Monica
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5.6-7
Dallas, TX:
Deut. 1:30-31: “The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (NIV)
my verse is Romans 14:7
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV)
ELizabeth Gainesville, GA
“But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on that Law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:2 (NIV)
Caroline Auburn, AL “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:2-6
For it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galations 5:1 NIV
Heather – Richland, WA
Philippins 4:8 8 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. (NIV)
This is the verse written on the wall in my daughters’ room…oh, how I pray they write this on their hearts!
Revelation 3:1b-2 NIV
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
Marissa, Oklahoma
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 is may benefit those who listen.
Ephesian 4:29 NIV
Moyock, NC
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. 2 Cor. 3:5 KJV
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6 (ESV)
1 Peter 1:3 (NASB)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
Rebecca – Boise, Idaho
John 1:1 NIV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing- nothing living of dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high of low, thinkable or unthinkable- absolutely NOTHING, can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:37-39
Laura Eloise, Austin – See if there is any offensive way in me and lead in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:24
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“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
Celeste, Los Angeles & Toronto: Help LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of man. Psalm 12:1 NKJV
Ruthann – Odessa, TX
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
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lifr you up in due time.
Before a word is on my tongue, You, Lord know it completely. Psalm 139:4
Allison Merrell, Eclectic Al
Truly my soul finds rest in God my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1
O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:1 NIV Carol, Poplar Bluff, MO
Amy, Sweeny, Tx
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly light, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV