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.
Amy – Custer, SD
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
John 10:9 NIV
Shonda, Aurora, SD
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 NIV
Valerie, Portland OR
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
NIV Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near the brokenhearted. He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Cynthia , Massanutten, VA
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 ESV
Ingrid, Frenchtown, MT
Ez.36:25-27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. NLT
Jennifer, Beaverton, OR Psalm 100:1-2 (NASB) Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.
Joni, Port Neches, Texas. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. (Isaiah 32:17-18, NIV)
Janet, North Vancouver, BC: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 NIV
Heidi, Anchorage, AK
Proverbs 31:26
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (NIV)
Lisa, Olympia, WA
“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 (NIV)
Shannon, Parker, CO
“It is a time to celebrate…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 TLB
Debra, Gentry, AR.
Lord,I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2 NIV
Rychelle. Post Falls, Idaho
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also be manifested in our mortal flesh. so death is at work in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Praise you Jesus!
Valerie, Yuma, Arizona
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11, NIV
Psalm 84 v 5 NIV
‘Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgramage.’
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” Colossians 2:9-10 (NASB)
Susan
England, U.K.
It is not that we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Cor. 3:5 (New Living Translation)
Praise God:)
It is not that we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Cor. 3:5 (New Living Trasnlation)
Psalm 63:1 NIV O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Beckie, Florence, SC – On with learning Psalm 103
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:6-10 (NAS)
Heather Lagrange, KY
” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Robyn Wright
Topeka, KS
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
Andrea, Louisville, KY
“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.: Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Jessica~ Jacksonville, Florida
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:7 ~ NIV
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 NKJV
1 Cor 15:58 NLT
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that NOTHING you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Mandy – Powder Springs, GA
John 4:34 – “Jesus said to them,”My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and accomplish His work.”
Jennifer Lutz, Florida
The Lord is near the borkenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. NET
Psalm 34:18
Terri, Douglassville Pennsylvania, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 NIV
Nancy, Ocala, FL – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 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 receive from God. (NIV)
Sarah, Euharlee
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:17-18 NIV
Rachelle, Ogdensburg, NY
For we are God’s worksmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 (NIV)
Kerry
Cape Coral, FL
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him.
“Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” Josh. 3:5 NIV
Kathy, Easley: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:25-26 NIV
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Jill – Noblesville: “…I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4
Tammy Monroe,Ga.
Psalm119:76 NASB
“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise.”
DeeDee Martin
Houston, Tx.
God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Ps 51:10
the message
Vicki, Burton Michigan
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without waivering (why?) for He who promised is FAITHFUL!”
Hebrews 10:23 (NASB)
Cathy,Rhinebeck,NY. “Those who live according to the flesh have their mind set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5(NIV)
Cacey from Northville, MI
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV
Emily , Portsmouth, England
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. Psalm 37v34 (NIV)
Tammy, Sugar Land, TX
“You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in the true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
Amy
Norfolk, MA
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
NIV
Kim, New Port Richey, Fl
Proverbs 18:10 NLT
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Deb, Pierre, SD
The Lord our God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Marlene, Ladson, SC, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:14 KJV
Sandra Stamey, China Grove, NC
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” Matthew 11:28 the Message