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.
Julie Tuttle: Chico, CA : Psalm 19:14
Lord, I want everything that I say to make you happy.
I want all my thoughts to please you.
You are my Rock and you are my Redeemer. (simple english version)
Laurie, Spokane
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
Phil: 2:14-15 NASB
Elaine Kiley, Marietta,GA~niv Psalm 2:3-4 “Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing.”
Bailey. Knoxville.
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Connie, Turlock, CA
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
Shawna in Alabama..”You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because He trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Jennifer, Nashville, TN
Luke 18:7
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? NIV
Meggie, Colorado Springs, CO.
Psalm 34:18 NIV
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Marilyn, Bradenton, FL
Psa. 55:22 (NIV)
“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Lois, Abilene, KS
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
Jana, Brenham, TX
Romans 12:1-2, NLT
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Meg, Columbus, OH: “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Galatians 5:14, NIV
Maplewood, MN
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 NIV
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Diana MO
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans, 8:28 NIV
Ceffie Bridgeport WV Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over mymouth, O LORD: keep watch over the door of my lips.
Allison, Ruston
Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5 (NIV)
Shannon, Charlotte, NC: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 ESV
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness & respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
Jeni Majors, Prescott, AZ:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:3-4
Beverly Pearland,TX
Habakkuk 3:1-2 TNIV
Kimberly – Prosper, TX
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.
Galatians 2:20
Erin, New Orleans, LA
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Lacey, Keller TX: I say to myself, “The LORD is my PORTION; therefore I will WAIT FOR HIM.” (or I HOPE IN HIM) Lamentations 3:24
Beverly Pearland, TX
Habakkuk 3:1-2 TNIV
LORD, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Meredith, Fayetteville, AR
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1, NIV
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4 NIV I just started the Tammie Head Duty for Delight study Beth has mentioned and it is wonderful!!! This is the suggested memory verse for the first chapter of the book. Hope ya’ll check it out for urself Siestas!
Rebecca
Julian, NC
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Proverbs 4:23-24 NIV
Midland, TX
that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 1:8 (NIV)
Tina – Roanoke, AL – The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Glennell Buda, Tx.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
Susan
Windsor, CA
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalms 34:18 The NET Bible
Ronda, Kingman, AZ
“No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power” Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV)
Susan (Nokomis, IL) You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory. (NCV)
Oops! 1 Peter 1:8 (I just got home late after a weekend of speaking at a women’s camp. I’m not fully awake!)
Jude 25 NIV
“to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages,now and forevermore! Amen!”
Andrea
Woodstock, GA
Kim, Salem, Oregon –
Isaiah 40:29 – He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Deborah, Dublin
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Ashley, Atlanta, GA
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27, HCSB
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Colossians 3: 5
Cara, Fridley MN
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8
Kelley, Russellville “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” KJV
Psalms 37:4.
Carrie, Logan. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Hebrews 13:15 NIV
Donna,Albuquerque: Phillipians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” NIV
Teri; Boise
“They will make war against the lamb, but the lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of Kings-and with him will be his called,chosen,and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14 NIV
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area, CA:
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”
Romans 8:33 (NIV)
Shelly, Greenville
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4 NLV
Kathleen, Tallahassee,FL:
“Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 (NASB)
rachel; conroe, texas
1 peter 5:5
in the same way you younger men be subject to your elders. and all of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another because,God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
oh sorry! That was Psalm 32:8 in NIV
Psalm 19:14 (New International Version 1984)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.