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.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Michelle, Double Oak, TX
Rissa, Boaz:”By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:3 (HCSB)
Martha, Catawba, NC
1 John 4:10-11 NASB
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Erin in Tyler
Emily, Greensburg, La
A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger. But an unkind answer will cause more anger. Proverbs 15:1 ICB
Heather, Greensburg, La
NIV Col 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Jennifer, Greensburg, La
NIV Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world, rather than on Christ.
Kathy–Lake Jackson, TX
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
Rachel, Ft. Smith, AR: “Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!” Proverbs 3:7, The Message
Sue, Texarkana, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 NIV
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Barb, Lakeland, FL
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. NIV
Ooops! I forgot the scripture reference. It’s Psalm 103:1-5 NIV 🙂
Cheryl, Everett Rom 12:9a,10 NLT
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Jane, Normal
2 Peter 1:4 (The Message)
Don’t Put It Off
3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
NKJV, Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work toegther for good to those who love God, to those who have been called according to His purpose.
Mary, Springfield, MO:
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lams in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”
Isaiah 40:11, ESV
Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Megan, Greenwood, IN: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET
Karen, San Antonio, Texas
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. Psalm 63:5 NLT
Kim H., McKinney, TX
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Ann – Sardis, AL
Php 3:10 ESV that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Jodi,Fairhope, AL: I have been crucified with Christ;it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV
Louisville ky…..Deuteronomy 24:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Tinley Park, IL
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV
Kathy from Oakland, Oregon
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The man who fears is not made perfect in love.”
I John 4:19
NIV
Ps. 91:1 (NIV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:1,*2*
April: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
May 1: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NIV
May 15: “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:8-9 NIV
Kathy, Hendersonville, TN
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” Romans 8:15 NIV
Cody. Houston, TX
“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, NIV
Job 12:13(NIV) To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.
Each one should use whatever GIFT he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s Grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
Tammy
Cincinnati, Ohio
Rebecca, Dallas, TX: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37: 5-6 (NIV)
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:13 (NIV)
Makaela, Lynchburg, Va
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)
And all things,
whatsoever
ye shall ask in prayer,
believing,
ye shall receive.
Matthew 21:22 KJV
Michelle, New Richmond, – By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 NIV
I bit off more than I could chew last time, so I’m repeating the second verse of #9 (Jer.17:7,8.)
Jeremiah 17:8 (NKJV)
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” -Exodus 14:14 (NKJV)
Diana, Waconia, Minn.
For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Pet. 2:19 NLT
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
Proverbs15:1ESV
Stacey, Albuquerque, NM The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Heather, Hot Springs, AR, Job 42:10 Amplified
“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
and for extra measure- Job 42:12a
“And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”
Martha / Albertville,AL / Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5 (New Living Translation)
Jenny, Sugar Land, TX – “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror…” James 1:23(NIV)
Faith, Safford, AZ: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Phil. 4:19 NIV
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Christa, Kansas City, MO: But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14, NIV
Amy, Los Alamos, NM
Psalm 33:11 (New International Version)
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
(NKJV) 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Holly, Boulder
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21 NLT
Maggie, Mesilla Park, NM
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:37-39, ESV