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.
Kelly, Charlotte, NC
Micah 7:7 NASB
But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Marie , Orange, Texas
IJohn 3:1 NIV
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God
Susan – Statesville, NC
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 (ESV)
Lexington, KY
I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil.
Psalm 119:162 NIV
Connie, Reidville, SC
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23–NIV
Kim
Arlington, VA
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
Melissa, Thompsons Station, TN.:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version 1984)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Stephanie, Elkins: Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Psalm 32:10 NIV
Ashley – Charlotte, NC – “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4 NASB
Cindy – Lexington, NC
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to stand still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
April- – Griffin, GA
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalms 34:18 KJV
Karen, Wildwood, MO
“[She] will have no fear of bad news; [her] heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. [Her} heart is secure, [she] will have no fear; in the end [she] will look in triumph on [her] foes.” Psalm 112:7-8 NIV
Vicki C., Midlothian, VA
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Psalm 27:8 NIV
Ann, San Antonio, TX. Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit. HCSB
Susan, Oak Ridge, Tn
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life,which was with the Father and has appeared to to us. 1 John 1:2
Leigh, Montgomery: Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?
Matthew 6:27 MSG
Anna, Montgomery: Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light.
Psalm 8:5 MSG
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NASB)
Joan – Coppell, TX: 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
Jackie, Brockville, On, Canada
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Woodstock,Ga.
I lift my eyes up to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV1984)
Peggy, Cheyenne, WY
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Dawn, Clinton, PA
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Ps. 121:1-2, NIV
Brooke, Clinton, PA
“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” – Ecc.11:5, NIV
Christy from Lancaster, PA: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Earlene, Wisconsin. ” When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father.” Ephesians 3: 14 NLT
Linda, Delray Beach FL
“And do you seek great things for yourself. Seek them not….
But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places wherever
you go.” Jeremiah 45:5 NKJV
Misty, Marco Island; “we know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands”
1 John 2: 3-4
Romans 5:1 from NRSV
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Mary Anne, Gilbert, LA:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 HCSB NIV
Kathy, Broken Arrow, OK
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13 (NASB)
Kate, Ottawa area, Ontario, Canada
“I lift my eyes up to the hills. From where does help come to me?” Psalm 121:1
Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
niv
Diane, West Melbourne, Fl Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Baileigh, Spartanburg, SC. “Do not be led astray my dear brothers and sisters. All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” James 1:16-17 NET
Annita Haleyville, AL As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV
Melissa, Perry, GA
I’m taking Beth’s lead:
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Marie, Easley, SC
In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 NASB
julie,lexington, kentucky
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm46:10 NIV
Krista, Morgantown WV
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2 NLT
Karin, Johannesburg
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossans 3:2 (NIV)
Alisa Raleigh, NC
I Thes. 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Margie in Medina, Ohio~
“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
Denise-Meredith NH
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. Psa 119:74 (NLT)
Nancy, Springdale AR
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 NIV
Margie Allen, TX
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33 ESV
Kim,Hickory,NC
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalms 94:19 NIV
Hannah Tx Phillipians 2:14 NIV “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
Julianna Price (Istanbul, Turkiye) But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
Cathy S., Terra Ceia, Florida
Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)