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.
Stephanie, Oscar, LA
“Praise the Lord because he is good. Sing praises to Him because it is pleasant.”
Psalm 135:3 NCV
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:14,15 (ESV)
Debbie from Elon.Beth I was ready to put another verse but after reading yours, it touched me and I needed to read that one.”The Lord is near the brokenhearted.He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET
Karen, Clarksville “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior–from violent men You save me. I call to the LORD, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:2-4 NIV
Karen, Vancleave, MS
“And Jesus wept”
(NAB, Catholic edition)
Vicky, Enders
Isaiah 66:5, The Message
But listen to what God has to say to you who reverently respond to his Word:”Your own families hate you and turn you out because of me.They taunt you, ‘Let us see God’s glory! If God’s so great, why aren’t you happy?’But they’re the ones who are going to end up shamed.”
“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15 NIV
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whonever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25
Emily, Monroe:
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant” Psalm 135:3 NIVUK
Elvira , Grande Prairie , Alberta
Duet. 33:27 NIV
“The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Kathy
Shattuck, OK
Ephesians 1:9 (NIV) “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,”
Patty, Granite Bay, CA Isaiah 40:31 King James ” But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Love and apprecite you Beth.
Michele
North Oaks MN
Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
Katrina, Tulare, CA: “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.” Proverbs 18:19 NIV
Deb, Pelzer, SC
Psalm 119:81 (NIV) “My soul faints with longing for Your salvation, but I have put my hope in Your word.”
“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV
Jess, Grand Forks ND:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
I will also add Beth’s this time as it fits so well. It has been 6 weeks since I miscarried and the grief is hitting hard right now.
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
My heart and prayers are with you
Oh Jess, I’m praying for you. May God blanket you with His comfort and peace. Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, may His healing touch be real to you today.
Peggy, Crowley Lake, CA
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7
Kristen, Tuscaloosa, Alabama:
Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
I just saw this email today and wow how awesome is God!!! I have been trying to feel so sorry for myself and just plain out selfish and yucky!! I’m so humbled and blown away that God just doesn’t allow me to stay there!!
Thank you, Beth for sharing your memory scripture and I will have to make it my own now!! It spoke so deeply to me and I’m sitting here crying with tears of humility and joy!!
Much love in Christ!
Marla-Yakima
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40 NIV
Melanie; Greenbrier, TN
But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NASB)
Gail, Phoenix
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET
Sarah, Marshfield, MO “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” Psalm 119:71 NIV
Penney
Caribou, ME
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ESV
Kimberly, Denton TX:
“In peace, I will both lie down and sleep O LORD, for you alone make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 ESV
Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life.
NIV
Heather Joy
Birmingham
Tricia, Tucson, AZ. Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (NIV)
Arlet, Fircrest, Psalm 57:10 NIV
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Sheryl, PA – Gal. 5:1 NIV – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Matthew 6:33 MSG
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Holly Smith
Monument, CO
Heidi – Lancaster,Pa
I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Isaiah 46:10 (HCSB)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Sandy, Lexington. KY
Patti – Northville, MI
Psalm 63:7-8 (NIV) “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
Julie- Texarkana- Philippians 4:8- “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” NLT
Nancy,Columbia,MO. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed. I have a beautiful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6
Jolinda, Kearney NE
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
I love that verse! May do that in the next couple of months.
Jan
Elaine, Powder Springs ~ For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
Isaiah 59:1 NIV
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
Chris, Seattle
Sarah, Manchester WA
The Lord is near the broken hearted. He delivers those who are discouraged. PSALM 34:18
My best friend took his own life. Please pray. Im so broken.
Oh mercy, Sarah, I am so sorry. May Christ hold you so tightly.
Thank you. I am clinging to this scripture. Trying so hard to understand and grasp onto something so I do not sink
Words fail at times like this, but your siestas grieve with you. May you feel God’s arms wrapped tightly around you.
Melanie – San Antonio, TX
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145: 13-14 (NIV)
Nashville
Rom 8:31 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”. Romans 8:31 (NLT)
Carol
Albuquerque NM
1Corinthians 16:13 NIV
13- Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith be men of courage be strong, Do everything in love.
Becky, Beaverton OR
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:19 NIV
candifer, sd: “you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after.” isaiah 43:10 (NIV)
Vicki Knott, Greenwood, SC
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 (NIV)
Dianne – Hartselle, AL
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Yes, what I need today, THANK YOU
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Jane, Milton, GA – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV