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.
Marybeth in Oxford, PA- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 ESV
Betsy, Antwerp, OH. I am continually amazed at how God uses your verses to speak to me … thanks Beth!
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:10 NIV
Kathy – Aurora, CO
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. NASB
Toni, Morgans Point, TX: Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8 NIV
Tiffany, Anaheim CA
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10 ESV
Elizabeth, Charlottesville
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7, ESV
Elizabeth, I can’t really go into any detail as to the how or why, but the verse you selected this time really ministered to me, so thank you for being obedient.
Blessings to you,
Patti Hayes
Brooke, Alabama – I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul. Psalm 31:7, ESV
Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and so let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV
Grace, Silver City, NM “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prov. 15:1 NIV
Marlies, The Netherlands
“To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:9,10
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
I would so appreciate your prayers.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Kelly (Greer, SC)
Be hospitable to one another without complaint. -1 Peter 4:9 (NASB)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4. NIV)
Elizabeth Meagher, Richmond, VA
“But those you who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31, NIV
Carrie, Boston
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Tammy-Siloam NC / Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Gina, Ridgeland, MS
“The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life. The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:7,8 ESV
Darcy, Lenoir
James 1:2,3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Darien, Lenoir
James 1:2,3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Sharon, LP, MI
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14
Jae, Lenoir
James 1:2,3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Eph. 4:1 NIV “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling You have received.”
Libby Texarkana: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the lord. Isaiah 55:8 NIV
Mary Ann from Summerville, SC
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 4:5,6 NIV
Katherine Lee
Jonesboro, AR
NIV
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing,so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
Phil 2:14-15
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. NIV
Jeri, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3 (NIV)
Valerie J. Eades, Scott City, MO
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
Psalm 91:4, KJV
Stephanie, Mount Carmel, TN
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
I’m going to share Beth’s this time. It’s exactly the verse I need right now.
Vaness from Victoria, Texas. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”. Psalm 34:18. NIV
Nicole, Portland OR: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Melisa, Roanoke, VA
For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
– Jeremiah 2:13 CSB
Katherine, St.Johns,FL
“You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.” Psalm 17:14 NIV
Emily – Topeka, Kansas
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV)
Tisha, Pilot Mtn, NC
“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Psalm 16:1 (NIV)
Betty, Wendell, NC
James 1:17 The NET Bible
All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
James 1:17 The NET Bible
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (Chronicles 29:14.)
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12
Lisa
Van Buren, AR
Psalm 18:28-29
For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
NKJV
Diana, Hawkins, Texas
I Peter 3:1-4 (NKJV)
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Deidra – Waynesboro
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18,19
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18
Sue, Earlysville, VA
Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door.
James 5:9
NIV
Christina – Edgewood, Kentucky
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NAS
April, Hume
…”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.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
Tami, Palm Coast:
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4 (NIV)