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.
Patty, Ada, OK
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
But will accomplish what I desire
And achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
Tamara; Alabaster, Alabama: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV
1 Samuel 16:7 (New King James Version)
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees;[a] for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Fort Myers, FL
Stacy Indianapolis, Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. and no creature is hidden from His sight,but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Prov. 31:20 TLB
Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn’t last, but a woman who fears and reverences God shall be greatly praised.
Hilda in Pearland
I, of course, meant to type vs. 30 – not 20. Sorry.
Jean Schlosser Rubicon,WI
Galatians 2:20 NIV
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me.”
2 Timothy 2:23 (New International Version)
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
Amy
Oklahoma
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Melanie in Amherst, MA…
“…who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions…”
Hebrews 11:33 NASB
Christa, Greeneville, TN. “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Psalm 139:8 NIV
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.
Matt 5:16
Breanna (14)
Russellville
Sheila, Bethesda, MD. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Kristy, Woodstock, Ga
Jeremiah 32:41 “I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.”
Lyndsey, Telford, PA: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible (much needed here too, Thanks Beth for bringing it to light again:) )
Cara, Holland. “Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:5-6 ESV
Heather, Piedmont Oklahoma Proverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. NIV
Vickie
Russellville
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
NIV
Dena Davis, Hindman, Ky, ” 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
Amberley – Pasco, WA
“And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:15
Amy, Kansas City: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Psalm 31:25-26 NIV
Amy Hopper Ardmore, Ok
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:25
Donna
Loganville,PA
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Leslie, Beijing: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8 NIV
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2 NIV
Colima, Klamath Falls, OR
Jane, St. Louis
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 NIV
Paige, Overland Park, KS “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Moose Jaw, Sask
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NLT
Melanie, Arkansas “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT
Chrystie C.
Piedmont, SC
“When you were slave to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:20-22 NIV
Julie, Chesterland
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”
2 Peter 1:5-9 (ESV)
Susan, Chesapeake, VA:
“‘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
Emily Jordan
Virginia Beach, Va
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is Good
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
NIV
1 Corinthians 3:16 NAS
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God,and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
Matthew 11: 28-30 NLT “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
Hannah, Chesterland
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 14:38 (ESV)
Valerie, New Jersey
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16 (translation unknown)
Beth you were spot on for me today. Could elaborate, but know it is against the rules. So I am copying today.
Laur, Spokane, WA. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Bridgett, Pell City, AL – All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheeful of heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15 ESV
Stacey in Midlothian, VA~
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 ESV
Kristi, Cedartown, GA- “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5 KJV
Andrea R.
Chester, VA
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET
Amanda, Boaz. “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NASV
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15
Martie ~ Indianapolis ~ NIV ~ John 1:16&17 ~
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace & truth came through Jesus Christ.
Brenda, Greenville SC
Psalms 34:18. NET
The Lord is near the brokenhearted. He delivers those who are discouraged.
Marrissa, Orlando
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Karen,Virginia Beach, VA
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)
Amy; Tacoma, WA
“Many, Oh Lord my God; are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us, no one can recount to you, if I were to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. ” Ps. 40:5 NIV
Carla Ritz, Lock Haven PA – “A friend loves at all times, and a sister is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 NASB
onehappychic, Crawford, TX: “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.” John 14:15 MSG