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.
Sylvia V, Jersey Village, TX
Hebrews 12:10 (NIV)
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His Holiness.
Kerry, Nederland, Texas
O my soul, march on with strength!
Judges 5:21, ASV
“And He said, bring them here to Me.
Matthew 14:18 NASB
Rosalee, Oklahoma City
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Matthew 12:36 NIV
Marie, Post Falls, Idaho –
“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments.” – Psalm 119:45 (NLT)
Kim Bogart
Jacksonville Florida
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Brittney, Olympia
“Do don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 (NLT)
As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:4 NIV
laura, burbank
Nahum 1:7 (NKJV)
The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
Cindy, Clarksville TN: But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14 NKJ
Tammy, Howells, NE The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
New King James Version
Susan, Bradenton, FL
Ps. 34:18 NET
The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He delivers those who are discouraged.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Wendy of Orillia, Ontario, Canada
If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NIV
Dana from Lexington: “And regardless of what else you put one, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Colossians 3:14 Message
Shelly Bliss in San Dimas, Ca.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 2:13 NLT
Shonda
Tacoma, WA
Job 22:21 NIV
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”
Alicia, Gulfport
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the lord will do amazing things among you.”. Joshua 3:5 NIV
Bunny from Fithian, IL:
Therefore, brothers, by the mercy of God,I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 HCSB
I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed
Ezekiel 35:26 The Message
Julie – Minneapolis
Lisha in Wetumpka, AL:
“Do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them with discipline and instruction about the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
Amy, Cleveland. Psalm 27:14, NET “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!”
May 1(posted late) Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be graciuos to you, The Lord turn His face to you and give you peace” NIV
May 15 “Psalm 34:16 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit” NIN
Gillian Oshawa Ontario Canada
Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12NIV
Jennifer, Garland, TX
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET Bible
Lisa Sparks, Nevada
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”
1 Peter 4:9 NIV
Melissa, Hampton, 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)
Ann, Murrells Inlet, SC
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
Amanda W, Kelowna, BC, Canada: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
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
So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 4:10
JennLee, Perfect Austin, TX
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
-Psalm 133:2, NIV ’84
Sherrie, Rome,GA “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
“And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching . . . ”
Romans 12: 6-7 NAS
jodi, Loganville “In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Eph 4:26-27, NIV
Lynda, Ocala, FL: Isaiah 49:23B – Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. NIV
Fran, Stedman, NC
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10 KJV
Tess
Cartersville, GA
1 Corinthians 15:14
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”
Rhonda, Bolivar MO.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26 NIV
Beth from Emmalena, KY
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
i Peter 4:9 NIV
Jacqueline from Akron, OH
In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a stronghold.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV
Katie in Atlanta, GA: “Be joyful always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV
Karen, Springfield, MO: Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:10 NIV
Sara in Great Bend, Kansas
“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.”
2 Peter 2:17 ESV
I raise my eyes toward the mountains, where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (HCSB)
Sharon Lakeway TX
“And he said to them,’Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’.
Luke 12:15. ESV
Kara C, Aurora, Il
Hebrews 10:35-36
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (NLT)
Stephanie, Sparta, TN
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Psalm 34:18 NET
Sharon, Griffin, Georgia
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible