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.
Karen
Rochester, MN
2 Corinthians 1:3, 5 NLT
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort…. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
“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 byt he 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 12:1-2 NIV
Ashley
San Angelo, TX
Our church is memorizing this together as we begin a sermon series on Romans.
nancy – LPM
houston
“The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11 NKJV
Pam Hendersonville, NC I Tim.2:16-And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. KJV
Dorinda, O’Fallon, MO
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NIV
So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 NKJV
Ashley
Queen City, TX
sharon, marion, illinois
For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 corinth. 4:6,7 ESV
Beth, Oak Grove, La
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (Exodus 15:11) kJV
Valerie, SC
NIV I John 3:19
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence,”
… to be continued 🙂
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV)
Dianne, Fairfield, CA
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Galatians 6:9 (NASB)
“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)
Kim, Advance,NC ” Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” ~ I Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)
Kathryn Tempe, AZ
Proverbs 3:5-7 The Msg
Trust God from the bottom of your heart: don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God!
Jerusalem, Israel
Eph. 17b-18
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Leigh,Montgomery: Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Psalm 100:3 The Message
Anna,Montgomery: Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be – you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Psalm 32:1 The Message
Carrie, Cincinnati NIV
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Michelle, Houston, TX
Luke 12:32 NASB
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom”
I snicker every time I see your gravatar…
Lauren – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father;
we are the clay, and You are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.”
–Isaiah 64:8 ESV
Amanda in Dover, TN
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let youselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Annette, Mount Pleasant, SC. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 HCSB
Courtney, Fort Collins, CO
“He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals His thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness and treads on the heights of the earth–the LORD God Almighty is His name.” Amos 4:13 NIV
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
“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. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2Peter 1:3-4 NIV
Sharon, Nixa, Mo.
Remember the things I have done in the past;For I alone am God! I am God and there is none like Me! Isaiah 46:9 NLT
Hollie, Waco, TX:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Michele, Cumming, GA
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Sallie, Rocky Point
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV (Thanks Beth! I need that one!)
Mary, Satellite Beach
“For I know the plans that I have for you”, says the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Carol, Gig Harbor
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
danae | lafayette, in
for God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. — II timothy 1:7 [nlt]
Jane, Normal Il, Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. NIV, 2010
Sue, Groveport OH
“He chose David to be his servant, took him from the sheepfold, took him from tending ewes to pasture his servant Jacob,and Israel his heritage.” Psalm 78:70-71 NJB
(so tender)
Beth, Hartland. “The rain & snow come down from the heavens & stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with My Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT
Stephanie Clinton, MS
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 NIV
Marina, Kansas City: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NIV
Jamie, Harrisonburg VA: “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24, NIV
Colleen, Lyndonville, NY:
The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. Zeph 3:17 NIV
Pam-Campbellsburg,In.
Jeremiah 23;29 Is not My word like a fire? says the Lord. And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? NKJV
Shannon, Kissimmee, Florida
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:11-12. (NIV)
Wendy, Vero Beach:
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.
Discipline your son,and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
Proverbs 19:18 & 29:17 (NIV)
I lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
PS 121:1-2
Dendy, Hernando, Ms “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls her lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 HCSB
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jer 29:11-13 NIV
Shannon, Houston
Connie, Tyler, TX.
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19 NET
Kim Tuscaloosa, AL
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 TNIV
Any my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:19
Jenn, Charlottesville, VA
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 ESV
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart,
Thought outwardly we are wasting away,
Yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Angie
Deltona, FL
Liz, Logansport
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can not be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 12:18 NIV).
Karey
McKinney,Tx
1Peter 2:9-11NET
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You once were not a people but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy but now you have received mercy.