**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.
Christy, Katy, TX “The LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: the LORD, the LORD the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeing loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. Exodus 34:6-7 the NET bible
Kelley, Russellville
“I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works.” Psalm 9v1. KJV.
April, Hume
“The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.”
Deuteronomy 33:12 ESV
Linda Delray Beach, FL
“LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day, in our time make
them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Habakkah 3:2 (NIV)
Diane – Spring, TX
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!
Ps. 109:28-30 New Living Translation
Kalonni, Van Meter, Iowa: “All the tribes of Israel- the LORD’s people- make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD, as the law requires of Israel.” Psalm 122:4 (NLT)
Debra, Gentry Arkansas
The Lord you 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.
Zeph. 3:17
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NIV
The Netherlands
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 KJV
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NIV
Linda, Johnstown, PA
Ephesians 4:29 (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, that it may benefit those who listen.
Laura, Greenville: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17 (NIV)
Carolyn**Bismarck, ND
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
Karla, Sheboygan.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
sr.jane, clyde, mo
Let us then apporach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb.4:16 NIV
Nancy, Girard, KS
My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
Prov. 4:20-22 NASB
Deena from Amarillo, TX
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain where Jesus who went before us entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:19-20a NIV
shelley, creswell
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Ps 34:18 NIV
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. I John 3:18 NIV
Carolyn
Oceanside,Ca
Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rest between his shoulders” Deut 33:12. NIV
Connie, Tyler “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day” Psalm 25:5 NKJ
Genevieve, Orange, Texas
John 14:16-14 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Linda Lexington, KY
My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long.
Psalm 71:8 (NASB)
Julie, Goodyear. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV
Deborah – Cheyenne, WY – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 NIV
Michelle, Oklahoma
“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made” Ps: 145:13 NIV
M’Lissa, Keller TX
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (ESV)
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Pamela Sue Palm Bay, Florida 🙂
“For our heart rejoices
in Him,
because we trust
in His holy name.”
Psalm 33:21
New American Standard Bible
1Samuel 16:7 NIV
Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
Kim, Louisville, KY
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit. Ps. 51:12 HCSB
Joan, Portage,MI
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through & through. May your whole spirit, soul & body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful & he will do it.”
1 Thessolonians 5:23 & 24 NIV
Bobbie: Ft. Walton Beach, FL
…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
James 1:14 (NIV)
Karen, Sacramento, CA
“I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” —Psalm 34:4 NIV
Ephesians 1:7 ESV
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9b NIV
Dana
Boerne, TX
Barbara, North Tonawanda, NY- “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think on such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Diane – Spring, TX Sorry — It’s Ps. 107:28-30 not Ps. 109:28-30.
Amy, Granby, CT
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
Psalm 18:30-31(NIV)
Tanya, West Paducah, Ky. “Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” John 8:12 ESV
Heather Piedmont, OK Luke 1: 45 NIV “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Jess R. Katy, TX
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Thanks, Julie).
Beth – Oak Grove, La
*For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) KJV
Andrea, Saskatchewan Canada
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1, NIV
Lily, Chicago.
“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 62:8 (ESV)
Debi, Alva, FL
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
Debby, Ellicott City, MD “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:3-6
Anne, Minneapolis; Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4, NIV.
Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Lori
Friendswood, TX
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ps. 19:14 NIV
Jennifer OKC