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.
Susan, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Romans 4:21
He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6 NIV
Julie, Goldfield, IA
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” John 15:7
Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Kelli in Colorado
Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God, has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Shellie P.
Moscow,ID 83843
P.S. My children are driving me insane! They’re going to kill each other and right now, I’m not sure I care! Would someone get me a referee uniform so I can look official! And a whistle would definitely save my voice!!!
Obviously, I was a bit distracted last night, by my kids. I just automatically gave you my zip code right after my city and state just like I would on a letter! That just cracked me up! I bet you all think I’m such an idiot! It’s a good thing you didn’t ask what street I live on, I’d have probably just given you my whole address and I might have all sorts of visitors I didn’t want!
My soul, wait silently for God alone. For my expectation is from Him. Ps. 62:5 (New King James)
AmyLu, Evansville
Whether I turn to the right or the left, your voice is behind me, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
– Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
“Be anxiious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and suppplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of god, which passes all understanding, will guard yhour hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7 The NIV Bible
Tonya, Searcy, AR
Prov.2:2 (NCV)
Listen carefully to wisdom; set your mind on understanding.
Ellen, Columbus
Proverbs 3:5, 6
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.
~ New International Version ~
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
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.
Tammy
Ingleside
Lela- Livonia, MI
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
Angie G
Albertville, AL
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “and they shall all be taught of God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. John 6:44-45
Joanne
St. Petersburg, FL
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe
Janell, Denver, CO “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 NIV
Sandy, Gettysburg, SD “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (NKJV)
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:4 ESV
Nichole H
Marion, IA
Psalm 18:34 NIV
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
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)
Opps, sent the verse out too fast without putting my name to it yet, Patty from Fairfax, VA – James 1:5 NIV
Janet, Fuquay Varina, NC
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10, NIV
Meredith Barr, Trabuco Canyon, CA
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV)
The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him. Deuteronomy 28:7-9 NIV
Inez Barnes
Hamburg AR
Dawn in Menomonee Falls, WI
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Vicki,Springfield,MO You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 NIV
Angela – Natchitoches, LA
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Brandi Larsen
Danville, IN
James 1:2-3 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.
April, Lake Charles, LA
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. ~ 2 Cor. 2:14 (ESV)
Jamie, Phoenix: James 4:7, 10 NIV
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Jenny, Pingree Grove, IL
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
I can’t wait to see Beth this weekend- LPL-MN! I’m taking my mom who doesn’t know her. Prayers are appreciated!
Kaitlyn from Gainesville, FL
“Without faith is is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6, NIV
Tammy – Paducah – Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Linda – Boulder CO
But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God. John 1:12 RSV
Jenn
Frederick, MD
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
ESV
Sally
Columbus, OH
“even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:10
NIV
Amy Ann, Tulsa, OK “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” Psalm 63:3
Jamey, Pocahontas
Colossians 3:2 (New International Version)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Beth, Lititz PA
NIV Psalm 68:10
Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.
Kori, Cabot Arkansas, Psalm 133:1 NIV
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
Rene’
Edmond,Ok
This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my Word.
Isaiah 66:2b NIV
Nancy, Bridgewater, NJ
“Shout and be glad, daughter of Zion. For I am coming
and I will live among you”, declares the Lord.
Zechariah 2:10
Hi Siestas, I was hoping you’d pray for me, my aunt and two cousins are going to Minneapolis to go to the conference Beth Moore is holding and I am able to go if my passport comes in this week Thursday, everything else has been falling in place, and I ask that you please pray that it comes in time so that I may go. (I live in Canada so i need my passport) but pray above all that he would glorify his name. Thank you!
Beth C., Huntsville, AL
“I love you, Lord, my source of strength!” Ps 18:1 (NET)
Tammy, Hendersonville, TN “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Teresa, Orange City
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.
Philippians 3:7
But whatever were gains to me I now
consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Pam, Liberty: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”
Proverbs 29:18 NASB
Sarah from Brownwood,Texas
1Cor. 13:7 NLT
Love never gives up,
never loses faith,
is always hopeful,
and endures through every circmstance/
Gloria in Houston says:
I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name. For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out, You answered, and made me bold with strength in my soul.
Psalms 138:1-3 (NKJV)