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.
Vee, Howe, TX “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14 KJV
Jennifer, Colorado Springs, CO- Psalm 9:10 TNIV ” Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
oops meant for this to be on June 1 post!
“Jesus replied, ” If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come tohim and make our home with him.” John 14:23 NIV
Lauren, Asheville, NC “Lord, You are mine! I promise to obey your words!” Psalm 119:57
Melissa, Atlanta
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18
Joyce Ellis
Ooltewah, TN
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
Deb, Topeka, KS
Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Amy, St. Augustine, FL
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken are spirit and they are life.”–John 6:63 NIV
Psalm 34:18 (The NET Bible)
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
Pam
DeLeon Springs, Florida
Psalm 27:14 NKJV
Wait on the Lord! Be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say on the Lord.
DLynn Amarillo
Rev 21:4 NIV
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance & supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 NKJ
Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Paula K, Muskegon, Michigan
Jennifer, Houston
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (NIV)
Diane, Melbourne, FL For nothing is impossible with God! Luke 1:37 NLT
Adrienne
Jasper, TN
“They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might”
Psalm 145:11 NIV
Matia, Fort Worth, TX, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!” Psalm 66:1-2 (ESV)
Psalm 18:1-2 NIV
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance about things we can not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Is. 55:8-9 NIV
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth Matthew 5:5
Ivy Morrison
Willis, TX
Psalm 130:7 NIV
“Israel, put your hope in the LORD. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in adundance.”
Oh the joys of those who trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:4
Stacy Indianapolis ESV Phil 4:8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phil $:8
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
I will teach you the way you should go,
Psalm 32:8
Judy, Princeton, TX
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:”
Phil. 2:5 (NIV)
Paula, Lake Charles, LA
“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 (NKJV)
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus the apostle and the high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
Nakeisha
Houston, Texas
Amarillo, TX
My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:26 NIV
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Gal. 5:1 NIV
Psalm 8:34 LA Study Bible
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorways.”
Barbara, Avon Park: “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3 NIV
“Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.”
Proverbs 17:14 ~NLV
Marie – Justin, Tx
Avoid Godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
2 Timothy 2:16 NIV
Memorizing God’s word this year has forced me to be a better person. In memorizing my verse it has applied to my daily work. I have become more aware how carefully I need to walk.
Deaune, Topeka, KS
For I know my transgressions, my sin is always before me. Ps 51:3 NIV
Sarah, Topeka, KS
For I know my transgressions, my sin is always before me. Ps 51:3 NIV
Penny, Cincinnati. “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Tim 1:14, NIV
Psalm 89:33 But I will never stop loving him, nor let my promise to him fail.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30
Memorizing scripture this year has taught me that God’s Word really is food and that memorizing it has a way of working it’s way out into my life for His glory. His promises are true. They really are.
“He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” Proverbs 14:21
For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, and love and discipline. 2 Tim. 1:7 NIV
Jodi Zagreb
Barb, Lakewood CO
Psalm 70:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is Great!”
Deb, Lancaster
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (esv)
Sharon, Los Angeles
“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.”
Prov. 4:23 NIV
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. My hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5, NIV
Psalm 9:106
for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Janine- Round Rock
The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
~ Psalm 69:32, NLT
Sharon McLaughlin
Panama City Beach, FL
I Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Romans 2:21 (NIV)
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?
Georgine East
Austin, TX
Hannah, La Grange, Texas “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 NET