**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. Itās 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. Itās hard to watch your children go through it. I tell them all the time (and they donāt need convincing) that enduring is so worth it but, man oh man, as many of you know, the fire is hot. And itās often very personal, donāt you think? Satan goes for the psychological jugular.
I have had a great ā almost life-stopping ā 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 itās over.Ā (Iāll 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. Iām 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, Iām still choosing verses out of 2 Timothy. I couldnāt split these four verses up without shortchanging the context so Iām posting the whole segment.
Beth, Houston. āAnd the Lordās 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 devilās trap where they are held captive to do his will.ā 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, weāre 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. Letās hear your 13th verses. While youāre at it, remember that what weāre doing here is IMPORTANT! Weāve got to protect these minds of ours! Thatās where our battles are won or lost. You will never waste a single moment rolling Godās 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.
Iām crazy about you. Keep your eyes to the skies.
“Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” Nancy ,Columbia, Romans 6:11
Toni, Morgans Point, TX – Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10a NIV
Debra, Sulphur Springs, Tx. In honor of our 39th wedding Anniversary ~ “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger (indignation) resentment, quarreling, slander be banished (put it away) from you with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God for Christ sake forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV
Colette, Mesa, AZ.
“And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,”
Phillipians 1:9-10 NIV
For You are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 2 Samuel: 29,30(ESV)
Rachel, Rochester, NY: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” ~ Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
Shari, Augusta, GA
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Shiffra Vicksburg, MI
“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 (niv)
“Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NIV
Candace
Colorado Springs, CO
Katie
Duluth MN
Praise him for his might deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness. Psalm 150:2 ESV
Rebekah Freelan from Marion, IN: May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
Cheryl, Coffeyville, KS
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Rom. 12:18 NIV
Peggy, Tucson, AZ “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Ps 143:10 NIV
Judy, Littleton, NC
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I hae being.
Psalm 104:33 (ESV)
Jennifer, North Charleston, SC, Eph. 3:20-21 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ps. 37:4-6 NASB
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.
And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
Hilda in Pearland
āI have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Erin- Denison, TX
Dianne, Florida
1 Peter 1:13-16 (MSG)
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
Courtney, Fort Collins, CO
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Donnicia/Raleigh, NC
Matthew 25:40
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
āThe King will reply, āI tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.ā
Berni, Albuquerque
“Teach me your ways O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” Psalm 86:11 NLT
Natalie, Olive Branch – “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
Kelly
Avon Park, FL
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.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
Jeannette, Land O Lakes, FL
āBut encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sinās deceitfulness.ā Hebrews 3:13 NIV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied. matthew 5.6 NASB
Kadie- Tinley Park
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. Psalm 71:5 (NIV)
Laura K, Spearfish,SD: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV
Tanya, Valley Center, KS
He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord–happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.
The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener].
Proverbs 16:20-21, Amplified
Annabel, Valley Center, KS
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.
Psalm 33:18, ESV
Gayle, Salinas;
May the God who gives patience, steadiness and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other.
Romans 15;5 tsb
Romans 5:20 TLB The more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding grace.
Missi- Walker, LA: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1 NIV84)
This verse has been mentioned to me by
2 different people, and speaks where i am.
Psalm 34:4-6 (NIV)
Ā Ā 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
Ā Ā Ā Ā he delivered me from all my fears.
Ā Ā 5 Those who look to him are radiant;
Ā Ā Ā Ā their faces are never covered with shame.
Ā Ā 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
Ā Ā Ā Ā he saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 126:3 – NIV
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Amy
Norfolk, MA
Rosie, Tacoma Word
The Lord is good, A Stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust Him.
Nahum 1:7 NKJV
Valerie, NJ
Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam.3:22,23 (NIV)
Sheryl, PA – Isa 33:6 The Message
God keeps your days stable and secure – salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus, and best of all, Zion’s treasure, Fear-of-God.
Michelle, Austin, TX
Ezekiel 11:19
“And I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them, I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh” NIV
Stephanie, Oscar, LA
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place (Eph 6:14 NIV)
Renita, Woodstock, GA
Romans 15:13 NIV
āMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.ā
Kelly Snodgrass
Rogersville, TN
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum 1:1 NIV
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7 NIV
Lisa, Marion IN
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableāif anything is excellent or praiseworthyāthink about such things. Philippians 4:8(NIV)
Gizmo, Spring Branch, TX
“Therefore, as Godās chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Angie, Toronto.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NIV
Romans 8:37- NIV
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Molly, Wilmington, DE:
“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)
Cathy S., Terra Ceia, Florida
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NLT)
Deidre, Hickory, NC
“You have hedged me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”
Psalm 139:5-6
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh.
Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV