Hey Siestas!
Can you fathom that we are on our 10th memory verse??? Good grief! 2011 is almost halfway over! Amanda and Curtis just got Jackson’s preschool graduation pictures and we all nearly flipped. It is the cutest thing ever, especially with that missing front tooth. His ceremony is in a few days but the little blue cap and gown just about put all of us over the edge. We will have a kindergartener next year and a mighty fine one at that. It just sails by. And how well many of you know.
I am getting lots of questions about whether or not we’re having Siesta Summer Bible Study. I want to say yes so badly. I have tried to turn this puzzle piece every conceivable direction to see how it would fit on the table. Between SSMT every 1st and 15th, the summer Living Proof Lives, the final Deeper Still, and, probably the biggest factor of all, the complete James manuscript due date at the end of summer, I just can’t make it work and still be a wife, mom, and active Bibby. I also don’t have my faithful blog master, Amanda, here to assist me with all that summer Bible study entails right now. I am, however, presently thinking of some ways that we can hold one another accountable to stay in the Scriptures this summer and also give you the opportunity to connect with other Siestas who want to do some of the same studies. Stay tuned for that. For now, I’ll joyfully recommend to you two that I’ve done this Spring:
Duty or Delight by Tammie Head (Many of you will remember getting to know this brand new author in April through our blog video. She is dear to me and will no doubt become dear to many of you.)
Brave by Angela Thomas (Angela is a gifted teacher and writer and I try not to let anything she offers sit on the bookstore shelf for long before I bag it and read it. I’m almost finished with this study and have been tremendously blessed by it.)
Both of those women love Jesus and communicate His Word beautifully. And you know how I feel about Priscilla Shirer and everything God uses her to bring to the table. You’ll never miss on her. Man, I wish we could do one of their studies the traditional way in Siestaville this summer but sometimes we realize that even another good thing is perhaps the wrong thing for now. If the Lord is willing, we’ll definitely do a study our usual way next summer on the off year from SSMT.
OK, young ladies, how about that 10th verse?? NO DROP OUTS!!! This verse is trying to leap off the page at me this time around and not so much for my own plight right now but for some people I really love:
Beth, Houston, Texas. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Praise You, Lord. You are so faithful. Close in on those who are brokenhearted and hold them in Your healing grasp. Deliver the discouraged in such dramatic ways that You alone get the credit. We exist here in this blog community to give You glory, Lord. Come and get it. Our eyes are to the skies.
Maggie, Sand Springs, OK
For God did not create in us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and of sound mind! NKJV
Emily Mechanicsville, VA NIV
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 2:21
Delores O. Shoreline, WA
Hear my voice when i call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of You, “Seek His face!” Your face, LORD, i will seek.
Psalm 27:7-8 NIV 1984
Kalonni, Van Meter, Iowa: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'”
Psalm 122:1 (NLT)
DeAnne, Talmage, KS
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV
Jenn, Stockton, CA “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
Thank you so much,Beth. I just could’t decide on a verse for today, and when I saw yours I knew it was the one. God Bless you for your sweet spirit and obedient heart. Love you sister.
I love you, too. Twyla. May Jesus make Himself so obvious to you.
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Matthew 21:22
NIV
Sam v.
Woodstock, VT
Amy
Macon, GA
Ephesians 1:19 NLT
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. “
Kathy, Akron, Ohio.
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)
Angie, Aberdeen, SD
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Judy, Virginia
Carrie, St. Louis, Mo:
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV
Janell~Frisco~”I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
Bridgette Jencks
Panama City Beach, FL
James 1:4-6 (NIV)
4. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5. 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.
6. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Melissa, Glasgow, Kentucky– “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”
–Psalm 112:7, KJV
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4
Jill from jacksonville, Florida says:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Psalms 62:11-12
NIV
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O god, are strong, and that you O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
Eleanor
Memphis, TN
Tanis, British Columbia
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Lk 24:45 HCSB
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message)
16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
Phyllis
Gilmer, Tx
Psalm 27:14 NET “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!”
Charlotte from Memphis
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 NIV
Karen R.
Coffeyville,KS
Is 50:4 (NIV)
The Soverign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
Megan, Maple Valley,
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 NIV
(in honor of Lew, who has multiple myeloma)
Elisabeth
Lexington, KY
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”
1 John 3:1
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Psalms 27:13-14 NIV
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Sr. Rebecca, Clyde
Num 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace. NAB
Hi, Sr. Rebecca! I think of you so often!
Missy S, Winston-Salem, NC
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a [woman] who lacks self-control.” ~ Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
How cool! I’ve never posted near someone from W-S!
Jessica, Winston Salem, NC
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
Cool! Thanks for saying hello! 🙂
Doris, Whiteville, NC
Psalm 100:4-5 ESV
“Enter his gate with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Romans 10:17 NKJV
Deidre
Hickory, NC
Cynthia, Blaine, WA. “The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army. He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)!” Habukkuk 3:19 Amplified Bible
Anne, Johnson City, TN
Psalm 103: 1 (ESV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Cathy, Gastonia
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 HSB
Deena from Amarillo, Texas:
“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” Romans 11:29 NLT
Martha
Florida
But as for me, afflicted and in pain – may your salvation, God, protect me. Psalm 69:29
…so that all may see and know/all may consider and understand/that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created.
Isa 41:20
NRSV
Kae, Jacksonville
Olivia, Tenneesee
Ruth 1.16 NLT But Ruth replied,”don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Erin, Grayson: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isaiah 61:1, KJV
Monroe, LA
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”
Matthew 28:6 NIV
Lisa, Calgary
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.
Deuteronomy 6:7 (NIV)
Jane, Irvine CA:
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Kim B. from Center, TX
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
Delight yourself in the LORD;And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NASB
Harriett, St.Albert, Alberta
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; HE delivers those who are discouraged. Psalms 34:18 The Net Bible
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
Psalm 56: 3-4 (NIV) When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust: I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Priscilla, Denton, TX. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV
Shelbyville, Ky
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Sharon, Hamburg, NY
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV