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.
Hannah, 12, Princeton,MN
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
Isaiah 32:17 NIV
“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
Josh 1:4-5 (NASB)
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
psalm 118:17
Andrea, Houston, TX
Hebrews 12:11 NIV
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
James 1:26 ESV
Terri, Pleasant Hope, MO
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NIV)
Loribeth, Rome, Italy (Houston, TX)
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields othe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
I got behind posting the last 4 of mine! I’ve got the ready-for-summer homeschool burnout going on! My last 4 verses are: Phil. 1:29 (or 27 can’t read my writing): “For you have been granted the privilege for Christ’s sake not only to believe in HIM, but also to suffer on His behalf.”
Phil. 4:6:”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Phil. 1:6″Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
and thanks Beth for the next one: Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
God’s word does not return void!
In HIM,
Karen in AZ, homeschooling 3 mighty men for HIM!
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145:3 (NLT)
Sarah, St. Peters, MO
JEN P.
Russellville, AR
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Di, Cowpens, SC
Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Alexia- Champaign, IL
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
NIV
Erin, Lolo, MT “And let us consider how we many spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 NIV
continuing Psalm 27 –
“One thing I have desired of the Lord -that will I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”
Psalm 27:4 NKJV
Becky Westerville, OH
Bobbie, Ft. Walton Beach:
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
James 1:11 (NIV)
Kathy, Elyria,Oh….. “He has shown you, O man,What is good,and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
Sarah,Sydney,Australia.
“Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20 NIV.
Jackie
Cypress, TX
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Proverbs 13:10 NIV
Tampa, FL- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings, in all yoru ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.(NIV)”
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Ps. 34:18 NET
For my husband I needed this verse! He is brokenhearted over this economy and his struggling business. He is so discouraged and feeling quite defeated. I am praying this verse over him now!
Sandy, Dallas, ESV – Ps 33:3-4; Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright and all his work is done in faithfulness.
Sandy in Amarillo, TX
Paraphrased so I can memorize the 12 tribes of Israel.
Jacob had 12 sons:
By Leah By Leah’s handmaiden By Rachel. By Rachel’s handmaiden
Reuben. Gad. Joseph. Dan
Simeon. Asher Benjamin. Naphtali
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Genesis 35:23-26
Zebulun
Hill, Los Angeles
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
Soorin,
Eugene, OR
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.”
Isaiah 49:16 (NIV)
“Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you!” Jeremiah 32:17
Rock Hill, SC
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever.” -Isaiah 26:3-4a
Shanna, Petal MS
Psalm 27:7 NIV
“Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.”
Carrie Beth, Frankfort: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Pat W, Green Bank, WV
Have regard for your covenant,
for the dark places
of the Land are
full of the haunts of violence.
Psalm 74.20 TheHolyBible.NRSV.pp.507.
Helen W, Dunmore, WV
If any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and
without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5, NKJV.
No summer Bible study?? Well girls, the So Long Insecurity workbook is coming out!!! I’m going for that!!!
“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. NIV
Joy, Salina
“…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:11-12 NIV
Mary from Columbia, PA
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart!
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Katherine, Houston, Texas. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. Psalm 119:10
Emily
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NAS
Linda, Boerne, Texas
Yet O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
Emily, Kalispell, Mt
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double-minded. (KJV)
Carrie – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 (NIV)
donna, mt. pleasant, nc
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NASB
Deanna, Willmar, MN
“Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.” 1 Peter 3:4 (The Message)
Troy, OH
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Romans 8:5 NIV
Debbie from Westerville, OH – Matthew 5:14 & 16 ESV
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Lauren, Stephenville, TX: “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4 ESV
“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB
Brandy, San Angelo, TX Psalm 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” New Living Translation
Pat, Las Cruces, NM
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jer. 33:3(NIV)
Yvonne
Fresno
Instead of the thornbush, the pine tree will grow, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:13 NIV
Sally Crystal Springs, Ms (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.
Marissa – San Dimas, CA
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV