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-Woodstock, Ga.
“Everything is permissible”-but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”-but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Kathy in Lake Jackson, Texas
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 New Living Translation
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
Valerie Oklahoma
Shannon, Greenville-Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Julie
Clarks Summit, PA
Colossians 3:12-14 (KJV) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
thanks to Gwen for posting verse 14 in The Message… I am attempting all 3 verses but if it takes me another session, I will stretch it out.
Jenny D; Lacey, WA; Memorizing Deut. 6:5-9, breaking it up & only doing the first two this week.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” Deut. 6:5&6 NIV
A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight. Proverbs 11.1 NASB
Tammy
Salem, VA
He who sacrifices thank offerings honor me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23 NIV
Denise, Madison, Al.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor 13:3 (NIV)
Anna, Corvallis, OR
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5-6a (NIV)
Everyone therefore who confesses Me before
men, I will also confess him before My Father
In heaven. But whoever shall deny Me
before men, I will also deny Him before My
Father who is in heaven.
Mt 10:32-34 NASB
Carrie, Lee’s Summit, MO Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1 NIV
Leanne, Billings, MT
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Phil 4:19 NIV
Trish, Harrodsburg KY
That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11 NIV
Vallee, Thomasville, AL – “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11 NIV
Megan, Charlotte “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10, ESV
Sheila, Bethesda, MD. He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” Isaiah 44:20 NIV
Nancilea, The Woodlands, TX
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Matthew 6:34 (The Message)
Jeanie in South Dakota
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans:31b NIV
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excelent or praiseworthy – think about such things. NIV
Pam, Wilmington
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 ESV
Robyn Wright
Topeka, KS
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
Leona Ickelberry from Austin, Texas
1 John 3:2 (NIV)
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Betsy, Lincoln Park: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all of his wonderful acts. 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. (1Chronicles 16: 8-11) (NIV)
Christina, Boston, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NLT
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:24 ESV
Debbie
Portland,OR
James 1:16-18 NASB
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethern.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18 In the exercise of his will, He brought us forth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
Teri, Gadsden, AL — “You receal the path of life to me, in your presence is abundant joy, in your right hand are eternal pleasures.” Psa. 16:11 MSG
Tanya, Sierra Vista, AZ
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Gal. 2:20 (ESV)
Julie, MN. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9
LISA – Idaho
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
Cassie, White House, TN
Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40 NIV
Vickie, Poplar Bluff, MO:
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
Amy, Grand Rapids, MI:
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 NIV
Sandy, Dallas, This is my 2/1/11 verse…Ps 71:5, NIV, “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.”
Laur Kappauf Spokane, WA
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:17 NIV
(in honor of the first one who asked me to be His Valentine.)
Cannot believe I found mine. Should be 1 John 4:19, not 17.
Staci, North Dakota
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV
Kristen, Denver: “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth & tell it in love – like Christ in everything.” Ephesians 4:14, The Message
Jayme; Marietta, Georgia:
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.
Philippians 2:14-15 / NIV
Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children.
Lamentations 2:19
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. NIV
Correction from last time… my #3 verse shud be Ephesians 6:10-11 (not Galatians) 🙁
Janet
Amarillo, TX
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in teh heavenly realms.
We just studied this last night in our David study – session 4!!! 🙂
Maria from North Dakota
I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God.
You are the God who performs miracles. Psalm 77:12-14a (NIV)
Nancy from Roswell
My soul finds rest in God alone. My salvation comes from him. he alone is my rock and my salvation he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assult a man? Would all of you throw him down – this leaning wall a tottering fence? They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place. They take delight in lies. With their mouth they bless but in their hearts they curse.
Psalm 62: 1-4
Dinah from Baraboo, WI
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
Been listening to “Eat, Pray, Love”!
Patty- Talbott
The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome. Deut. 10:17 (NIV)
Kelly, Appleton, WI
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4