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.
Rosa, Sulphur Springs, TX – “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
Runia, Silsbee TX, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”, Matthew 11:28, NIV
Tami says,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NIV
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.
KJV
Jenifer from Sunnyside, WA – A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 ESV
*Currently doing “Stepping Up” on my own at home and want to memorize Ps 121 – going to try two verses at a time. :0) Really loving this study!!!
Ruth, Odin, IL
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.”
– Psalm 57:1-2 (NIV)
Toni, Sugar Hill, GA
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 NIV
Waylene, Loma Linda–We have plenty of hard times that come from folllowing the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of His healing comfort–we get a full measure of that, too. II Cor 1:5
The Message
Rita, Cantonment, FL
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18 NASB
Barby, Tulare, CA
“…..So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ( Isaiah 55:11 NIT)
I soooo love His word!
Beverly, Vicksburg, MS
Psalm 34:18 NLT
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Kate from Cheney, WA
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
I John 3:21-22, NIV
Nesha: Mechanicsville, VA
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who take refuge in Him.’
Psalm 34:8 NIV
“1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Glorify Him, all peoples! 2 For great is His faithful love to us; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!” Psalm 117 (HCSB)
Celeste, Anaheim Hills, CA
John 12:46 (NIV)
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
Sherrie
Spokane WA
Philippians 2:13 ESV
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and work for His good pleasure.”
Barb St Cloud, MN “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.” 1 Peter 5:7-8a NIV
Anyone who meets a testing cha11enge head on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyaly in love with God the reward is life and more life. James 1:12
Cheri
Lubbock TX
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”
Ephesians 6:12 NET
Alica Meyer, Ft. Wayne, IN (I am doing to 2 bc I didn’t post one at the beginning of this month.)
Colossians 3:2, NLT “Think about things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Proverbs 31:30,NLT “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”
Avayd Ann Merriam, KS The Lord is near the brokenhearted: He delivers those who are discouraged. Ps. 34:18 NET
Kathy, Danvers
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
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 true righteousness and holiness.
Catherine, Montgomery, AL
Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for His saving intervention.
Psalm 42:11 (NET)
Teresa – Austin, TX
Psalm 108:3 ESV
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Terry – Louisa,VA
Psalm 103:8-10 NIV
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.
Kay from Modesto, CA: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colassians 3:2 (NIV)
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Glenna, Cumberland House, SK – “Woe to me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and i live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” ISAIAH 6:5 NIV
Lori Lehrmann ~ Port Arthur, TX
Guard your hearts above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ~Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Charmaine, Miami, Florida. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)
Janet, Lenoir, NC. “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 NIV
Debi, Rock Hill, SC – Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Anita, Lehigh, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil.1:6
“Say only what helps, each word a gift” Ephesians 4:29
The Message
Mary – Chattanooga
Philippians 4:6-7
DO not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God with transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Karen, Gallatin, TN:
John 8:12(NASB)
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Misti, Belleville MI: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” Psalm 119:18 NIV
Teresa, Semmes, AL, 1 Samuel 12:24 NASB
Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all yourheart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
Josie, age 9 Princeton, MN
“‘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 a hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
May 16, 2011
Quesepro
Medina
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” NIV
Meredith Sloan
Greer,SC
Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer
Hey, Siesta Momma! I was watching and searching for my new scripture this morning and nothing jumped off, and I was still waiting….Just saw yours and it went straight to my needy heart. I’ll be memorizing it with you this time around. Thank you, Lord for your Word that gets to us just where and when we need it! Wow, you are amazing and oh, so good!
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Kelli, Dayton, Ohio
Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 (NLT)
Jennifer W., Phoenix, AZ
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET Bible
Joy, Altadena, CA
The holy LORD God of Israel has told all of you, “I will keep you safe if you turn back to Me and calm down. I will make you strong if you quietly trust Me.” Then you stubbornly
Isaiah 30:15 CEV
Jill in Trussville, AL
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
JESUS WEPT.
John 11:35 NIV
STACY, CHAPIN