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.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11 NASB
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 61:11
Jean, Columbus, Ohio “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is. Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Beth, Thurmont, MD
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16 (NIV)
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Phil 4:13 NIV
Nichole C, Nashville, TN
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” – Psalm 34:19
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Misti says:
Misti Fernandez, Carlsbad, NM:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Psalm 73:28
“But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.”
Deena, Corona,CA
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”Psalm 34:18,NET
Brandy, Burleson, TX
Oops! I forgot! Hope it isn’t too late.
“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.” John 16:33 NIV
Jennifer, North Charleston, 2 Thess. 5:16-18, NIV:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Anita- Gardner, KS
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Ps 34:18 (NIV)
Carol
Carthage, NY
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is in me,
bless his holy name!
Psalm 103:1 ESV
Crystal-Milford, IA (Sorry I’m late!)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
Isa, East Lansing, MI
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Karen, Caledonia
Open up before God, keep nothing back;
He’ll do whatever needs to be done.
Psalm 37:5 The Message
Sandra, Florida. “The Lord God is with me; The Mighty One will save me. He will rejoice over me. I will rest in His Love; He will sing and be joyful about me. Zephaniah 3:17 (NCV)
Kate- Charlottesville
Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
“The Lord is near the broken hearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Sara, Orange, CA
Why do you fight and argue with eachother? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? James 4:1 NIV
Nancy Tucson, AZ
“May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.” Ps. 119:169 NIV
Laura, Jefferson, ME
Phil. 4:11, NKJV: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Vickie, Louisville, KY
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Rhonda, Houston – Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5 NIV
Erin,
Chippewa Falls WI
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;”
Psalm 37:7a NIV
in Muscle Shoals, AL
“I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6
I Peter 3: 8, 9 (NKJV)
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; (8)
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (9)
Tyler, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Isaiah 61:1 (CEV)
The Spirit of the LORD God
has taken control of me!
The LORD has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed the good news,
to heal the brokenhearted,
and to announce freedom
for prisoners and captives.
Judy – Houston
Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Autumn – Foster, KY
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. NIV
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11(ESV)
Rebecca Boehm, New Kensington, PA: Matthew 22:37 (New King James Version)37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Luke 12:4-5 (New International Version 1984)
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Patty M – Glendora, CA
“Yet I am poor and needy; come quicly to me, Oh God. You are my help and my deliverer; Oh Lord, do not delay.” Psalm 70:5
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…”
2 Cor. 10:5 NASB
Tammy G.
Greencastle, IN
“For this reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7
Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the LORD thy GOD is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9
Carol, Roswell GA
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)
Jamie, Bothell, WA
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8; NASB
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
Karen
Ponte Vedra, Florida
Nanaimo, BC
“I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
Victoria, Fort Worth, TX; “BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will).” Psalm 119:1 Amplified
Laura Beth
Houston, TX
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Matthew 5:14-15 NASB
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18 NET
Ashley
Queen City, TX
Barbara, Arcadia, CA
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.’ Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Amanda
Houston, TX
Psalm 138:8 (NKJV)
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.”
Colossians 2:6-7 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.