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.
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16
New American Standard
Jan in Loveland
O LORD my God, I called to You for help
and you healed me. PS 30:2 NIV
Sharie, Chillicothe
but those 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
Jana, Quitaque, TX
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET
Cathy, Houston. Do not repay evil with evil or insult. On the contrary repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9, NIV.
2 Peter 1:3 NIV 1984
His divine power had given us everything we need for life and godliness through him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Lisa
Jenell, Springfield, MO – 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Jeanene, League City, TX “Psalm 34:18 (The NET Bible)
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Sue C., Middletown, IN
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Ahvy- Olathe, Kansas:
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Isaiah 30: 20-21 Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity…Your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ESV
Bev
Austin
Christina, Longmont CO
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14 NIV
Amy, Hood River, OR, God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Psa 67:7, KJV
Jennifer, Kodak, TN
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Elizabeth, Oxford, PA
John 1:2 NIV
He was with God in the beginning. =)
Kathryn from Louisville, KY
“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)
Danna M.-Atlanta,TX.
The LORD is near the brokenhearted;He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET
Loretta of Bloomfield, NJ
Ephesians 4:29 – 5:2
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do no grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Hannah, Oxford, PA
Psalm 139:5 NIV
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Marie, Harrison; “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Karen, Centralia, MO: For God is working in you giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
Kerri;Greenville, MS
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT
Shiffra, Vicksburg, MI
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Barbra, Oxford, PA
Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Poorna, Indianapolis: “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Tammie, Columbia, SC: Psalm 36:7-9
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
Veronica-Atlanta, Georgia
The Spirit of the sovereing Lord is on me, because the Lord has annointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4 esv
Carrie from Piqua, OH: Acts 5:29 NIV
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men”
Petra in Ceres, CA
Galations 3:21-22 (NIV)
21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
actually, NLT (New Living Translation) for my Gal 3:21-22; mistyped it as NIV.
Laura, Helena, AR “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Seeing so many flood victims all around me, I chose this verse last week because it fit our circumstances so well.
Nancy, Tyler, Texas
Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalms 32:7
I am on time!!!!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Nancy, West Virginia
@ Cor. 12:9 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.
Michelle Eidson, Oklahoma. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV
SusanD, Southern Illinois, In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Psalm 31:1 (NKJV)
Rachelle, Gardner, KS
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thansgiving present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7, NIV
Emily in Washington, D.C. …. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to view.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Sue M
Grand Rapids, MI
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Hebrews 10:35 ESV
Vanessa, Rio Rnacho, NM
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1 NIV
Dutchess of Winterville, NC, “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart;” 1 Samuel 12:24a NIV
Whitney, Hamptonville, NC: “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Psalm 139: 3-4 NIV
Cindy, St. Pete Beach, FL
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
Sharon, Moore, SC Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Kristi Knoxville, TN “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
I’m on time this time!!! Waawhooo!
Hi Beth!:) I’m from Chicago and this is my verse:
“…Let the beloved rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders.”
-Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV)
Hey beth, you know what’s really hit me (of course this applies to others, but this is cool for me)
my name, well technically I have two first names, but we put it together, Lynn means beautiful, and
Amy, is a Latin name that means Beloved! It certainly refers to more than me, but I feel like God is especially calling me by name:) I just wanted to share that with you.
I’m praying for you and your team Beth!
Your Little Siesta:)
AmyLynn
I love that, AmyLynn! I think He is calling you by name, too!
Anne Squamish BC Canada
Teach me your way O LORD and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. I will praise you O Lord my God, with all my heart I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 86:11-12 NIV
Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Shannon Michaelis, Houston, TX
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Psalm 20:4-5
Theresa, Columbia SC-
“25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ” Matthew 16:25 NASB