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.
Pam, Illinois
Many are the plans in a man’s heart¸ but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
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Proverbs 16:3 , Amplified :
Roll your works upon the Lord [ commit and trust them wholly to Him ; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and ] so shall your plans be established and succeed .
From Serena D. in North Florida
Lynn Concord, NC
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partially and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17 NKJ
Tammy, Sugar Land, TX
“Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”
I Samuel 12:21 (NIV)
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV10)
“…and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him, and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly],”. Eph 5:33b. AMP
Psalm 78:5 “For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our father that they should teach them to their children.” (NASB)
Barb from Olive Branch:
Habakkuk 3:19 (NKJV)
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like hind’s feet,
and He will make me to walk on
my high places.
To the chief singer
on my stringed instruments.”
Charise Arlington, TX-
Romans 5:8 (ESV)”But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Wendy, Oshkosh, WI
Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send Christ who has been appointed for you- even Jesus! Acts3:19-20 (NIV)
Katrinna, Mandeville, LA, Philippians 4:19 (NIV),
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Linda & girls from Pauls Valley: “O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning…” Isaiah 33:2a, NIV
Clarice – Knoxville, Iowa
“So teach us to number our days so we can present to you a heart of wisdom. O satisfy us in the morning with your lovingkindness so that we can shout for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:12 and 14 NAS
Sorry I’m late. I just found out about this TODAY! I’m excited.
Okay. I’m Estina from Bermuda. “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
Mary, from NH
Philippians 4:11 I have learned to be content no matter what state I’m in. NKJV
Well, for me, I am learning! I need to learn.
you are the chosen race, the king’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people! chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God who called you out of darkness into His own MARVELOUS LIGHT!” 1 peter 2:9 gnt
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Lindy, NC
Laura Greensboro, NC
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willling to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favortism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18 (NLT)
Kari in St. Louis
“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)
Providence, RI – To Grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be Glorified. Isaiah 61:3 NASB
Robin, Grand Rapids, MI
Psalm 62:7 (NRSV) On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Kenzie, Cincinnati Ohio – “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” II Corinthians 12:9
Melissa Sweet, Midland, MI
“Now to him who is able to do immesurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Eposi, Houston,TX
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and
gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV
Shelly, Nashville
“Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,…”
Isaiah 40:26a (ESV)
AmyLu, Evansville
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
Job 12:11 (NIV)
Wendy, Livonia, MI: “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.'” Hebrews 13:5 NLT
Karen, Springfield, MO: “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV
Romans 12:9-10 NIV
LOVE must be sincere. HATE what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in LOVE. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Beth from Emmalena, KY
For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
Inger, Loveland. “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt 22:37-40 (NIV)
Alicia, Kitchener, ON – Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels and they will return to you. Psalm 51:12-13, NLT
Jennifer, Collierville (Memphis), TN
Romans 8:35and37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
Kathy Dow, Illinois
Jesus answered,”What is humanly impossible is possible for God”.
Luke 18:27 TEV
Nesha: Mechanicsville, VA
‘But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.’
Micah 7:7 NIV
Melanie, Groesbeck, TX
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.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
Jodi from IN
3 & 4th verses
Ephesians 1:4,5 NIV
For He chose us in Him fbefore the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as His sons throough Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Christal from Pikeville, KY : Verse 4 – Psalms 28:6-7 (New Living Translation)
6 Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
julie, tulsa
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may recieve mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:13 NIV
Hannah from Georgetown, TX Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Carroll, Waco: “Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.”. Hebrews 4:11 (NRSV)
Lori
Fort Campbell, KY –
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledege of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
Kingston, Oklahoma
You were taught with regard to your former life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on your new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:23 NIV
Mallory, Hamilton,OH Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Look not only to your own interests but to the interest of others also. Philippians 2:3 NIV
Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty”
The Word “Abide” means to rest. As I spend time with Him, then the time spent becomes a place of rest and retreat from the insanity of this world. The my R and R stands for Rest and Relationship.
Rest is difficult for me. I am a goal driven woman. I learned early on that I was good at achieving things I was passionate about, or things that could make me look good in front of others. I find great satisfaction in “killing the thing”! I guess I am a warrior at heart.
But even warriors need rest and a time of leaning her head on His shoulders.
Jan from Clarkston, MI
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
Wren from Dublin, OH Philipian 4:10-13 NIV I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
New International Version, ©2010 (NIV)
Susan – Maynard, MA
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible