**Siesta Celebration is January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, you Scripture memory freaks!
Your mama needs a hall pass in the worst way for a while regarding lengths of posts. We are now only about 6 weeks from the LifeWay deadline for all things James. To say that Melissa and I are under the gun is an understatement and, of course, so are all our friends on the publishing side. It’s stressful for everyone concerned this close to rolling the press. You will not waste a prayer on us, or on any member of our family, for that matter. Amanda and Curtis are finding out what kind of warfare you sign up for when you determine to get out there where the wind of the Spirit is blowing and dare to fulfill your calling. It’s hard to watch your children go through it. I tell them all the time (and they don’t need convincing) that enduring is so worth it but, man oh man, as many of you know, the fire is hot. And it’s often very personal, don’t you think? Satan goes for the psychological jugular.
I have had a great – almost life-stopping – time poring over James for well over the last year and I will miss the process so much. I love the intensity an in-depth journey demands and I genuinely fight a wave of depression when it’s over. (I’ll ask for your prayers about that at the time.) But, the fact is, push is about to come to shove. I no longer have the luxury of taking all the time I want. This baby is almost due. Thank you for any spare prayers! I am not in a bad way or in a contentious state. I’m just wide-eyed and aware that a very loud clock is ticking. So is my baby girl. I know some of you must be getting so tired of hearing about it! Stand with me a little longer, in hopes that Jesus may be glorified.
In my memory work, I’m still choosing verses out of 2 Timothy. I couldn’t split these four verses up without shortchanging the context so I’m posting the whole segment.
Beth, Houston. “And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 The NET Bible
This portion of Scripture and others like it seem altogether ignored or dismissed in a culture where believers stay embroiled in one heated dispute after another. Scripture tells us how to differ without ripping the fabric of our common faith to shreds. In the segment above, the Apostle Paul uses words like kindness and gentleness. When we tend to think that carnality is the only kind of sin that can keep the church from revival, we’re overlooking the steady stream of commands in the New Testament about how to treat one another. Disunity can shipwreck the whole lot of us right there on the shore of disgrace. We can even be right and fall into the chastisement of God because our hearts were wrong. May God forgive us, heal us, and help us.
OK, Sisters. Let’s hear your 13th verses. While you’re at it, remember that what we’re doing here is IMPORTANT! We’ve got to protect these minds of ours! That’s where our battles are won or lost. You will never waste a single moment rolling God’s Word around in your sweet head. Your health will be the better for it. Your marriage will be the better for it. Your job will be the better for it. Your relationships will be the better for it. Your obedience will be the better for it. Your calling will be the better for it. YOU will be the better for it.
Me, too.
I’m crazy about you. Keep your eyes to the skies.
Cindy Searcy, AR
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:2 New Living Translation
Rene Claremore OK
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. v9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Galatians 5:22-23
“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.”
Kristi, South Carolina
Prayers are being sent heavenward for you and Melissa, as well as your family, staff and all those that are responsible for meeting your press deadline! God is so faithful and He’s right there loving, watching, and blessing every single moment of your obedience. May His grace surround you and His Word stand guard when Satan tries his tricks. May nothing but the sweet assurance of eternal love and unwavering Truth guide each one of you! May Curtis and Amanda feel the blessed peace that passes all understanding and stand as witnesses to Christ and every richness He pours out!
Much love and many prayers, Kristi
Gloria in Houston says:
Fear not for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your GOD.
I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My right hand of righteousness and justice.
Isaiah 41:10 (TAB)
Sharon
South Charleston, Ohio
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ~ Psalm 86:11
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 shall direct your paths”
ESV
Kathy S. Hudsonville, MI
Romans 9:20 (ESV)
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
Kelly~Hermiston, OR
‘And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
24. “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25.Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hears, and they will learn the truth. 26.Then they will come to thier senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NLT)
Revelation 5:13 – Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.”
If you’re not into pets, please bear with me. This verse jumped off the page last month when I was in a group study of “Stepping Up.” This was my first reading of the passage since the death of my “little boy” last year, and – realistic or not – it gave me a beautiful picture of him praising God with all four of his little paws.
I know the former paragraph sounds terribly silly, but I am physically affected by Cerebral Palsy and have no husband or children…and I was one of “those” who grew up wanting the whole nine yards, so Gizzy was God’s way of letting me be a mom and I pray Psalm 126 that He’ll “do it again.”
When Beth brought this verse into the study, it reminded me of the nights I rocked this little Shih Tzu to sleep singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little ‘Gizzies’ of the World”.
By the way Beth, I so appreciated your compassionate words regarding family – or lack thereof – in Psalm 127 in the study.
Sorry, girls. I’m new here and didn’t realize my entry was so much longer than the others!
Carol Florence, MA
Let us then approach God’s throne with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.
Heb 4:16 NIV
Gina, San Antonio, TX
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.” … Isa 30:21, NIV
Kim
Arlington, VA
“…be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Your anger can never makes things right in God’s sight.” James 1:19-20 (NLT)
‎ Rejoice always,pray continually,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Norman, OK | Hannah R.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 2:10
Phyllis
Gilmer, Tx
Psalm 141:8 NIV
“But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.
Vicksburg MS
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Lisa, Bethany, OK
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Ephesians 4:17 NIV
Heather, Tallahassee The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever. Forsake not the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8 (AMP)
“Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight.”
Psalm 119:35 NIV
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.James 5:11 NIV
Suzann Benson
Kingwood, WV
“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.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Katie, NYC For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
Kristi, Lenoir City, Tn
May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is Able and He will do it!
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NIV
Terri from Mechanicsville, VA
Satisfy us in the morning wiht your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
Kristin from Kentucky, “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.”
Isaiah 38:17 niv
“But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” Deuteronomy 3:28
Karen, Vancleave, MS
Hebrews 4:16
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NAB)
Kim, Dickinson, ND
“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:23, NIV
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires ofthine heart. Psalms 37:4 KJV
Bev in Bayou Vista,
“We take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 (NET)
Cheryl, Redlands, CA: Revelation 5:12 (NIV)
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Acts 3:19 HCSB
Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16 NIV
Kaycee, Cabot: “I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NIV
Cathy, Gastonia
“And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26
NET Bible
Stacy detroit, mi
Psalm 30:2 (niv)
“O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”
“I can do all things
through Christ
who strengthens me.”
Phil.4:13(NKJV)
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.” NKJV John 10:28
Alicia, Gulfport. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 NIV)
Misty, Marco Island,Fl “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Col 3:13 (NLT)
Tricia, Pittsburgh: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4 {a long one but oh so good}
Aimee, North Aurora IL
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:16
Donna Benjamin, Tuscaloosa, AL
“O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels…” Isaiah 54:11. NLT
Jonda, Shakopee, Minnesota. Romans 12:2 NLT. Don’t copy the customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Fran, Stedman, NC
Proberbs 3:5 The NET Bible
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding.”
Heidi, Litchfield Park, AZ: 1 Thess. 5:11 NIV “Therefore encourage one another, and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Sara, Great Bend
If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victors crown unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Timothy 2:5 NIV
Nancy, Versailles, Ky
This week is sponsored by the letter O
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” -Psm 119:18 (NIV)
“If we are faithless he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 NIV