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.
Lynette, Nashville, TN:
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 3:11 NIV
Lori Tremblay, Mapleville, RI
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children. Psalm 103:17 KJV
Sara from Pierre,
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
Psalm 149:3 NIV
Joyce
Sparta, NJ
“…who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” James1:13 (ESV)
Jennie, Johnson City, TN
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Lindsey, Charleston, SC: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18, The NET Bible
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Ps 34:18 NIV
Jennifer, Portsmouth, VA: “The Lord your God is with you, the Might Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Ringgold, GA
John 6:37 NIV
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
Lacie from Chesapeake, VA
Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Sharon Nixa, Mo.
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 32:18 NET
Lita – Blairsville, GA
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10 NIV
Sharon Nixa, Mo.
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18
Amy, North Texas
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8.28
Stephanie
Rome, GA
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Bonnie, Charleston SC “You, My god, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3
Brooke, Carterville IL
Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning Lam 3:23 NLT
So thankful, His love never fails!
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90.17 Number 9
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 Number 10
Leanne, Mississippi
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10 NIV
Denise,Ocean Springs,MS -One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD Psalm 27:4 NIV
Becky in Wixom, MI
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18 (NIV)
Jennifer H. Jonesboro, AR
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Leslie
Wisner, La.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10
Kris, Maine
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 NIV
Cindy, Indianapolis, Indiana
Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. 1 Sam. 2:3
Sandy K. MD, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col. 1:10 ESV
Lindsey
Fuquay-Varina, NC
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD.”
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)
Cindy
Newton Tony, England
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
Denise, Madison, Al.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Cor 13:8
A day late…
Darbi, Saltillo, MS
“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Deuteronomy 30:19b NIV
Just completed “Measureless Love” at a ladies retreat this past weekend! It was marvelous and challenging and energizing and sobering and funny and serious and deeply moving and inspiring…WOW ! And now, my mind has a completely different frame of reference. My frame of reference is Jesus !
Zephaniah 3:14 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.
Michelle (Airdrie) Calgary Alberta Canada
Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed willing but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:28
Savanna, Atlanta, GA
The Lord your God is with you…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
Holly Mc Tyler Texas
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8 NIV
Cassie; Fulshear, TX:
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.”
John 10:28 (NET)
Pat S.
Lago Vista, TX
“The mind governed by the flesh is death,
but the mind governed by the Spirit is
LIFE and PEACE.”
Romans 8:6 NIV
Tara D., Philippines. “Everything is permissible”- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive.” 1 Cor. 10:23 (NIV)
*Entered in January…then adopted a baby and got sidetracked…but now I’m back to finish out the year strong. Hope I’m still welcome!
Nancy, Moberly, MO. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 (NIV).
Kay, Sheridan
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do nor fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Judy, Oswego, NY
1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) ‘Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather TRAIN yourself to be godly.’
Reba, Chattanooga,
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you. Psalm 63:3
Chris, Louisville, KY
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1Corinthians 9:27 NIV)
Diane – Chesapeake,VA
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
Romans 14:13 NIV
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 NIV
Kim, Atlanta
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound…” – Isaiah 61:1 (AB)
Susanne, El Paso, TX
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 (NIV – 1984)
Joyce, Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada
“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
1 Corinthians 6:17 NKJ
Aubyn, Corinth, TX “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2
Gettysburg, SD
Jude 1:24-25
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.