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.
Mary, Charlotte, 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Lise O., Delray Beach, Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV).
Jennifer- Monroe,Ga
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NIV
Anna, Elkhart, IN
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6 (NKJ)
Jeremiah 23:29 (New International Version, ©2010)
29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Robyn– Edmond, OK
Beth – Ashville, Ohio
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jules
Saginaw, MI
“but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strenght.
They will soar on wing like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not grow faint.”
~Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Crickett, Richmond, VA: Phil 4:4-9 (NIV) – 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Corbin, KY – And He said “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest”
Exodus 33:14
Stacey
Plano, Texas
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10
NIV
Eunice, Montreal, “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.” Isaiah 55:2 NLT
Sue, Abilene, Kansas – Psalm 119:160 (NKJV): The entirety of your word is truth. And every one of your righteous judgements endures forever.
Katie, Dayton OH
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)
Kristin Scott, North Chelmsford, MA
2 Co 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in Abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
Prayer request: We have a house in Greenwood, IN that needs to sell ASAP…it’s draining us!
Dawn, Gardner, KS, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NIV
Jane, Lexington, NC
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7 (NIV)
Lenore (Grayson, GA): “Do not gloat over me my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD is my light.” ~ Micah 7:8 (NIV)
Sara, Greenville, SC – “Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (NET)
Danni Baird – Willard, MO Phil. 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” NIV
Cindy, Berry, KY
“May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
Jamye, Greenbrier, AR.
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
Psalm 37: 4-7a
Amber, Lincolnton, NC
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua, 24:15, NLT
Is. 50:3-4
The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, He wakens me to listen like one being taught. He opens my ears. I have not been rebellious. I have not drawn back.
Nancy, Sanger, TX
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might, he increases strength.”
Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV)
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 NIV
Sara, Irving, TX – The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. Ps. 103:8-9 NRSV
Natalie, Austin
1John 3:18 NIV
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth!
Julie, Fort Worth:
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.
James 4:10
Cherry, Conway, AR
It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:22-24
Marilyn, Peterborough ON Canada
2 Corinthians 9:8 (New King James Version)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Juanita in Virginia Beach:
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes. Instruction from you is better for me that thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119:71-72 HCSB
Charlotte Carty
Lexington, KY
Romans 3:12 NIV
All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
Cindy, Tulsa, OK
Psalm 23:3-4(NKJV)
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” Romans 12:21 (NLT)
Jennifer – Cincinnati
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
“Therefore we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” 2 Cor. 5:9 NASB
Marcia, San Clemente
So I say, live by the Spririt and you will not gratify the desisres of the sinful nature.
Gal 5:16 NIV
Within the a ton of comment forms of your posts, Individual Quite possibly not the only one getting all the amusement right here!
Laura, Del Rio, TX 1 Peter 3:3-5 “And let not your adornment be merely external – braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the impersihable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” NASB
Holly, League City, Texas
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 NIV
Lynn Concord, NC
But the wisdom that is from above is free pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partially and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17 NKJ
Beth
Madison, AL
“Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2 NIV
Pam in Texas using The Everyday Bible
“Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”
Ephesians 4:32
Deuternomy 6:5 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength
Allison from Ruston
Psalm 141:3 NIV “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Barb-ChiangMai,Thailand
“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
Donna, Summerfield, NC
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I needed this reminder this week!
Matthew 10:16 (NIV): “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Patti, Taylors, SC
Janice
Nova Scotia, Canada
who has first given to Him and has to be repaid?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen
Rom. 11:35-36 Holman
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Oh Lord. Psalm 19:14