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.
Patty – Glendora, CA “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16
Cathy, San Bernardino, CA
Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but He would put strength in me.
Job 23:6 KJV
Joyce, OKC. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance.” Eph 2:10, NIV.
Vicki, Chehalis, WA
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Jill, Chillicothe, MO
“Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Julie Elrod, Smyrna, GA: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version, ©2010)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for 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.
***Please pray for my Daddy tomorrow-he has his 2nd bone marrow aspiration done and is terrified.***
“Good Planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NLT
Cheryl, Tylertown , (nas) Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.
Laurie, Eureka, MO
Wives, submit to your husband as to the Lord.
Eph. 5:22 NIV
Eileen, Sarasota, Florida
1 Corinthians 10:13 (English Standard Version)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Michelle Austin, TX
Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.
Psalm 139:4 NIV
Jaime, Chesapeake, VA
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11, NIV
Marilyn, Seattle
The Lord All-Powerful is with us; the God of Jacob is our defender. Come and see what the Lord has done, the amazing things he has done on the earth. Ps. 46:7-9 NCV
Rhonda, Sulphur, LA “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,” Philippians 1:9 NIV
By the way, I think I forgot to leave my city and state on the last one, so I’m going to go repost that one on the last one. Sorry about that.
Linda, Johnstown, PA.
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
–Jeremiah 32:17(NIV)
Molly, Timberlake, NC
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6
NIV
Teresa, Amarillo
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 4:19 NLT
May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)
Zela from Wichita Falls, Texas
If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and heal their land. KJV
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” 1 John 5:4 NASB
Christine, Longview – A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day. Proverbs 27:15 (NIV)
Philippians 2:14,15 – 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.
NIV
Betsy – Antwerp, Ohio
Believing in a new job that allows me to use my gifts and passions!!
Psa 138:8 “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your hands.”
Pat S., Lago Vista, TX
Do everything without arguing or complaining 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. Philipians 2:14-15 NIV
Hannah
Louisville, KY
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2, NIV
Suzy, Wheelersburg, OH “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18, NIV
For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14
Kari
Las Vegas
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Romans 10:10 NLT
Rita, Cantonment, FL.
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness. According to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” NASB
Shelley, San Angelo
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV
Ouida in Trenton, TX
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Teri in Corpus Christi, TX
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV)
Kae, Jacksonville
I will open rivers in high places/and fountains in the midst of valleys/I will make the wilderness a pool of water/and the dry land springs of water.
Isa 41:18
NRSV ( “in high places” from KJV)
Rebecca, Vancleave MS:
Psalm 73:26 (NKJV)
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Tanya, Sheffield, AL:“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
Laura, Morrill “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 NIV
“For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from those that walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11
Amplified
Laurie T.
Richmond, ME
Jennifer, Dallas, TX
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV
Kim B., Orlando, FL
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
~ Romans 12:9, NLT
Rita, Cantonment, FL
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness. According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalms 51:1-2 NASB
Angie, Elizabethton, TN
“These words which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NASB
Nancy, Bridgewater, NJ
But love your enemies, Do good to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, Just as your Father is merciful.
NIV Luke 6:35-36
2 Cor 10:5 (NIV)
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.
Tria, Somerdale New Jersey
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
– Ephesians 4:29-30 NIV
Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Tiffany, Wesley Chapel, FL “for you have been my refuge a strong tower against the enemy” Psalm 61:3 ESV
Betty; Somerset, MA
Jer. 32:39-40 (NLT)
“And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good from them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.”
I am praying this for my children AND my husband and me!
Diane, Spring — “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10) Holman Christian Standard Bible.
Tammy Wisterman, Woodland CA
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV