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.
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.
Psalm 34:18 The Net Bible
Kathy, St. Petersburg, FL, Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Kristi, Lenoir City TN
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV1 984
Susan, Sydney “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” James 1:19 NASB
Lanita from Lake Jackson, TX
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. NIV.
T. Cooper from Amarillo.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5 NIV 2011
Angela, Amarillo,TX
Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:4 NASB
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 NIV
Debi, Alva, FL Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Heb 12:1 NIV
Kristin from Kentucky:
God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 (message)
Rita, Alva, FL Psalm 1:3 (NASB)
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of
water, Which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does,he prospers.
Sheila, Carthage
Heb 4:12 ESV
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
melle , waco, tx.
Psalm 27:14
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” (NET)
Shelli, Almont, MI. “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 ESV
Marla
Lame Deer, Montana
Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers whatever is true whatever is noble whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praise worthy think about such things. NIV
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5. (NIV)
Mildred, Mer Rouge, LA. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147: 4-5 (NIV)
Kristin, Clearwater, FL
Kelei, Iowa Park…
Song of Solomon 6:3 NIV
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…”
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself”
~ Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
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Ps 68:19
May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation
Holman
Kristin
Clearwater, FL
“He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those who have young.” Isaish 40:11 NIV
Philippians 4:8 Finally my brethern whatever things are true,whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,whatever things are of good report,if there be any virtue and if there is anything priaseworthy,meditate on theses things.
WHAT DID I MEAN IN MY LAST POST??? I watched your video again after noticing I was the only one who did not think it was funny! Well you were tired and that is not always funny just sometimes. I meant to say you are delightful and fun usually so I did not think much of it at first. But here is a word that you may have heard a million times. In my years of being ill, I have learned to pace myself if I allow myself to get too tired it is a disaster waiting to happen. Now that is just for me but I have known many dynamic Christians with outstanding careers who went down to ruin by not taking care of themselves. Satan would like nothing better than to stretch you so thin that you are no longer effective in your ministry. I think it is great you are stepping back some this summer. You are just you and God is able to use you so much more as a well rested person. Even our Lord found it necessary on so many occasions to just get away by himself in the quiet, even though he was moved to compassion over the masses who wanted him. We will always demand more of you than you can deliver. The public always does. I will be praying for you and hope to see you this weekend.
P.S. There are several Starbucks in Eden Prairie!!!!
Hugs from the Heartland, Betty M
Deuteronomy 4:9, NIV
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Vicky, Germantown, TN
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:19 KJV
Eph. 3:20
Now to him who is ABLE do immeasurably more than
all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! AMEN
Sr. Jane, Clyde
John 10:10 (New International Version)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Carolyn, Charlotte, NC
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith – and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God – not by works,
so that no one can boast. Eph. 2:8,9 (NIV)
Laura Greensboro, NC
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NLT
Laura, Houston:
Psalm 34:5 (New Living Translation)
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
Sharon
Charlotte, NC
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Cheryl, Austin: Matthew 11:28 (NASB) Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
NIV Luke 15:7
I tell you there is more rejoicing in heaven over on sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Phyllis, Irving
Lorraine, Ada, Mi “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” I Cor.13:4-5/NIV
I pray that through his glorious,unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit.
Eph. 3:16
Cindy
Flemingsburg, KY
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.
Psalm 34:18 NET
Thank you for this verse! I found out Sunday my best friend is moving and to say the least I am BROKENHEARTED!
Becky, Scottsdale, AZ
“So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:4 NLT
Rebekah (age 10)
St. paul, MN
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.” John 14.6 (NKJ)
Kim, Warren: “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT
Shana, St. Paul Minnesota
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14.6 (NKJ)
Melissa, Sulphur, LA
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18 NIV
Lisa, Boerne, Tx
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord: keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
My 12 yr. old son and I are learning this one together!
Karyn, Elberfeld, IN
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 (NASB)
Jessie, Meriden, CT
“He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 NLT
Cheryl, Redlands, CA: John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as
possible. Romans 12:18 NLT
Becky – Mechanicsville, VA
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23 NIV
Dawn, Clever, MO
Matt 5:14 (NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”