**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.
Carolyn, Dover
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me;
Your love, O LORD, endures forever —
do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8 NIV
I’m memorizing the same one!
sharon, illinois
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God. ps. 42: 1,2a esv
From Fontana, CA
I love that verse that Beth is using so I am going to copy “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
Diane, Florence: Isaiah 11:15 The Lord shall utterly….make a way (for the remnant) to cross (the Red Sea) on foot. NSRV
Laura, Clay Center, KS
Hebrews 12:22-23 (first half of verse 23) (NIV)
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.
Suzanne; Pasadena, Texas
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 NKJV
Jennifer, Fairfax VA
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”
Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)
Erin, Grayson: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Diana, Waconia, Minnesota
Colossians 3:7-8
“You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Teresa, Orange City, I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD. Hosea 2:19-20 (NASB)
Margot Martinez, Round Rock, TX
“Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NIV)
Ann – Sardis, AL
Debbie, Calgary, AB.
I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2 NIV
Darcy, Houston, TX
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 NIV
Sharon, Barrington
“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
Jo Ann, Philadelphia area. “With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.” Psa 119:10 (NASB)
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Psalms 125:1-2 A song of ascents NIV
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore.
Cindy, Jackson Hole
Psalm 85:12 NLT
Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings.
Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.
North Palm Beach, FL
Acts 10:34 NCV
“Peter began to speak: ‘I really understand now that to God every person is the same. In every country God accepts anyone who worships Him and does what is right.'”
Natalie
Nashville,TN
“Be Still And Know That I Am God.” Psalm 46:10
Connie, Chariton,Psalm 103:4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,NKJV
The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine!
Proverbs 4:18
The Message
Ann – Sardis, AL
Since no one knows me other than by first name, I feel I can share something without receiving any glory except for God. I think this is a safe place to share!
In the first 6 months of 2011, I have memorized the entire book of Philippians from the ESV! I have had a long commute each day and I have learned it all in the car. I am sharing this so others can know you can do this too! I am 53 years old and have never memorized a book of the Bible in my life….and never had a desire until January when the Lord put it on my heart through this blog and one other.
I’m sorry I haven’t followed the rules for this post, but I wanted to share this victory with someone!! I hesitate to share this with people personally because I really don’t want any of His glory. He enabled me to do it…I just gave Him the time!
Blessings on all who are on this journey and thank you Beth for the challenge to hide God’s word in our hearts!
Ann,
To God be the glory. Thank You for Sharing, Andrea
Wow, Ann! I have no doubt that God will use those wonderful words to produce much fruit in your life 🙂
Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Your post reminded me of that verse – thanks for sharing with us!
Tatia
Charli, Phenix City, AL
“Let us then approach God’s 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
Natalie, Houston
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”. Ephesians 4:32. NIV
Lynette, Alton, IL
One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 (NIV)
Pamela Bishp, Ca. Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” ESV
Nashville, 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)
“I will sing to the Lord,
For He has been good to me.” Ps. 13:6
Kristi
Arlington, TX
Psalm 32:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
“I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.”
James is my very favorite book and I hope to have the whole thing memorized one day. For today…
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I’m a social worker! 🙂
esthersdestiny.blogspot.com
Shannon, Elmira, Canada” Romans 8:1-4 (NASB) Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Tammy, Hendersonville,TN “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weakness so that the power of Christ may work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Dayna~Ontario,Calif.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind.
2Timothy 1:7
Vanessa; Florence, SC: “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” Job 5:9 (NIV)
Susan, Buena Vista, GA. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverb 11:25. NLT.
Mary, Portland–“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Tracy, Spring TX
Psalm 16:6 NIV
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Philippians 2:3-5 NIV
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I will not sin against you. Psalm 119:11, NIV
LeAnne, albertville. “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” psalm 5:3 NLT
Barb Shelby Twp, MI
couldn’t pick between 2 versions so am posting both: Ps 37:7
NLT-“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act.”
Amp.-“Be still and rest in the LORD; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him.”
Rachel, Ft. Smith, AR: “But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Tim. 1:16 (NET)
Chicago, IL – “Let us 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
Christa, Denver, CO
“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
Cheryl Conroy
Leesburg, IN
Do not judge or you too will be judged.
Mat. 7:1 NIV
Sarah T. – San Diego
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”
Kelley, Round Rock, Tx
Therefore thus says the LORD: “ If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile,You shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, But you must not return to them.
Jer 15:19 (NKJV)
Beth, I just found Siesta on another blog site so I thought I’d stop by. I must say you are an inspiration to me. I memorized the same passage as you many years ago and it has admonished and corrected me many times since.
I, too, love in-depth study of Scripture but am a relative newcomer to it in the past two years. What would I have done without wireless internet connection and all the study tools and sites available now?! I was just really digging into Moses and the burning bush passage. I am so humbled and amazed at the revelation and inspiration that the Holy Spirit loves to bless me with! Me! How amazing and humbling is that?!
I so long for the opportunity to sit and study with a woman like you (we are a lot alike in many ways except that I’m a Yankee in the Northwest and a couple of years older [but ONLY a couple]!) To encourage and share. The internet is good but there’s a lot to be said for an in-the-flesh, Believing-God, Holy-Ghost-filled, beloved-of-the-Father, friend-of-Jesus, sister. Iron sharpens iron.
Prayers for you and yours as you go forth with your James study.
Toni, Benton, AR: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. NIV