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.
Michelle from Concord, CA
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10 (NIV)
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy…The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Psalm 126:2a, 3
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(1 Cor 2:9 KJV)
Faran – Bald Knob, AR
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NASB)
Deborah J., Clearwater, Fl
Do everything without complaining or arguing. (Philippians 2:14, NIV)
Reeder
Matt. 10:39 (NLT) If you cling to your life you will lose it — but if you give it up for me, you will find it.
Christina Luther
Roseburg, OR
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
NIV
Katie, LaGrange, GA: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD. ~Isaiah 54:1, ESV~
Dawn, London, UK
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10 NIV
Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us… Ephesians 3:20 NASB
Angie Belleville, IL.
“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jer. 29:11 AMP
Mary, Westfield, NJ “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” th NET Bible
Lisa, Bartlett, TN
NIV Micah 6:8 “He has showed 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.”
It is graduation time at my house….been sitting at the feet of Jesus each morning, just not sitting at the computer. Still been memorizing 🙂
Carolyn, Maryville
Gal 6:9 Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. NIV
Gena, Elgin, Texas
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:18
Jerri, Princeton, TX:
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
Michelle from Loveland, CO
I Tim. 6:10 (ESV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Lisa S., Bartlett, TN
NIV “He has showed 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.”
Sorry this is so late…graduation time at my house with company. 🙂 Been sitting at the feet of Jesus everyday, just not at the computer.
Cathy-Lebanon
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalm 121:1 KJV
Caitlin, McKinney, TX
John 8:32 NIV “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18
Donna -spanaway Wa.
Julie
Clanton, AL
I’m late on this one because we’ve been camping…and we don’t own smart phones. 🙂
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18, NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
-Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Nakeisha
Houston, TX
Marina, Kansas City:
Isaiah 44:5, ESV
“This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’
another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and name himself by the name of Israel.”
Sharon, Barrington
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,’This is the way, walk in it’, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” Isa.30:21 NKJV
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalms 27:14 (NLT)
Elizabeth R., Cypress, TX
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12 (NIV)
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant . . .” (1 Corinthians 13: 4, NASB).
“And I thought in my heart, “God will bring to judgement both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed.” Eccl 3:17 (NIV)
Isaih 63 vs 7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us, yes the many good things He has done for the house of Israel according to His compassion and many kindnesses.
Anna.
Limehouse.
canada.
Stephanie S., Houston:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1, NIV
Odessa, tx.
The lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 ESV
Joy, Fayette, AL
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 (NIV)
Alison P.
McComb, MS
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
Abby Kaufman, Vacaville CA
Psalm 37:4 NIV
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Valerie, Spring, TX – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenver you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:2-3 NIV
Jess, Auburn, Alabama
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV
stacy, magee,ms Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23 NIV
Nancy Anoka, MN
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:10 NIV
Late…again…
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 NKJV
Rachel~ Athens, GA
Robbie, Southaven, MS: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Leslie, Norwood Young America, MN
Phil 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Ephesians 2:13, NIV
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Michelle
Florida
Psalm 34: 18
ESV
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Celeste Laguna Niguel, CA
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:6-7 NKJV
Tina Marie
Gig Harbor, WA
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
NASB
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
Kathleen
Bellmore, LI, NY
Donita – Tucson, AZ
Psalm 85:11-12 (Amp)
Truth shall spring up from the earth,
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Lana, Laurel, Nebraska.
Matthew 6:33,34 (NASB: But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Roberta, Fanshawe OK
For we are God’s workmanship,created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)