**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.
Nicole, Norman, OK
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 (NIV)
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 NASB
I did this one last time too, need to finish off memorising it š
Susan
England, U.K.
Kathryn from Louisville, KY
“He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber.”
–Psalm 121:3 (NIV)
Ann from Abilene
“The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Kierstan
Portland, Oregon
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
Kristi, Elba, AL: “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:24 (NIV)
Karen, Eupora,MS
Hebrews 4:12 NKJ
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Ashley Beth, Baton Rouge, LA
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV)
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Fresno, CA
Joni, Port Neches, Texas. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34 (NIV)
Anxiety, caretaker’s burnout–immersed myself in God’s Word & prayer & have peace and rest in my soul. Praise God!
Deborah, Dublin.
Continuing with The Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31:13-17 KJV…
“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”
Monica, NY.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy & good fruits, without favoritism & hypocrisy.”
James 3:17 HCSB… (free from doubts, wavering, & inSincerity)AMP
Wanda
Osborn, Missouri
Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.
Kristen C, Three Rivers, MI
“When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” Proverbs 4:12 AMP
Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save:neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: Isaiah 59:1 KJV and here is one for the middle of the month that I forgot to put in
Who sahall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemeth? It is Chritst that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who is also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:33-34. KJV
Fresno, CA
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
~Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)
Philippians 2:3
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Do nothing [a]from [b](A)selfishness or (B)empty conceit, but with humility of mind (C)regard one another as more important than yourselves;
onehappychic, Crawford, TX: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”
Nancy, Morehead
I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. 1 Samuel 1:27 (NAB)
Barby from Tulare,
“He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Isaiah 26:3
Cathy, Dallas, 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 is right were I am living!
Kerry,
Sheridan, Wy
ESV. Is.55:3 “Incline your ear, and come to me:
Hear, that your soul may live,
and I will make with you and everlasting
covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Yolanda, Queen City, Texas
Do not conform and longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approved what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV Romans 12:2
Diane, Missoula, MT: “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” [ John 3:21 NIV]
Jaime
Fort Collins, CO
Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
Psalm 69:6 ESV
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)- Teri, Corpus Christi, TX
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
(Message translation of same verse)
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”
Melanie, Arkansas
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Wendy, Cody, Wyoming NIV Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Lori, Syracuse
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)
Eva, Knoxville- If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3(NIV)
Lanita – Lake Jackson, Texas
Psalm 101:2
I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.
NIV
Angie, Cincinnati~ Be at rest, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7 (NIV)
Tammy, Sugar Land, TX
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
Teresa
Mississippi
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
Wendy Raleigh NC
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire”.
Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV
Erin, Albertville, AL
“He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:3-4 NIV
Romans 5:11 NLT
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Bartlesville, OK
Hebrews 5: 8 – 10
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Shannon from Buda, TX
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Judy of Marietta says:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV
Valerie Ontario, OH
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (NET)
Penny Mansfield, OH
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,according to the power that works within us Ephesians 3:20 NASB
If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romands 10:9 NIV
Elise –Newark
Susan, Canton, Mi
“For great is your love, higher then the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Ps 108:4 NIV
Nikol, Birmingham, AL:
“For I hold you by your right hand–I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.āĀ – (NLT) Isaiah 41:13
Lauren Asheville, NC (currently in Nicaragua)
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ” James 1:5 NLT
Jennifer J. — Texarkana, AR
27 āNow my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? āFather, save me from this hourā? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!ā
Then a voice came from heaven, āI have glorified it, and will glorify it again.ā
John 12:27-28 (NIV1984)