**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.
Kris – Maine
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Pikeville, TN – “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” I Peter 1:22 NIV.
Brenda, Midlothian, VA “…My grace is sufficient for you for power is perfected in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:9a NASB
linde, dallas
Luke 6:45
New International Version (NIV)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Amy, Tyler, TX: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess 5:11 (NIV)
Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all- he is the greatest. Luke 9:50 NIV
Lora, Mooresburg
“Little children, let us not love (merely) in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).” I John 3:8 Amplified
“But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'” – Luke 10:41-42 NASB
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 KJV
(I just keep getting later and later in posting – please forgive me.)
Romans 8:6 NKJV
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Jan, Winnipeg, Manitoba “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Allison
Randolph, MN
Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of righteousness will be peace. The effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
NIV
Janell, Clovis “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11 NIV
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children –
with those who keep His covenenat and remember to obey His precepts” Psalm 103:17 NIV
Katie Enlow – Paducah, KY: “The Lord will work out his plans for my life, for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.” Psalm 138:8
KaRetha
Denham Springs, LA
I Peter 2:9 NASB “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children –
with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts” Psalm 103:17 NIV
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galations 5:25-26 (the message)
Christy
Clay Center, KS
Karen Orem, UT
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4
Jan – Clarkston, MI
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
MiChal in College Station, TX
I’m having a weepy day so I really, really, really need to remember this:
“…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
Ephesians 6:10 (ESV)
me, too. God bless.
Jennifer, Jonesboro, AR
I’m late from the holiday weekend, but still wanted to post my verse.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
I’m a latecomer to the game, so I did a few verses at once to catch up a little! These words have become precious to me.
Christi, Nashville, TN
God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? Look, I received a command to bless. God has blessed and I cannot reverse it. There is no misfortune in His plan for Jacob. No trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them. He has been proclaimed their King. He brought them out of Egypt, and for them, He is as strong as a wild ox. Numbers 23:19-22
Rhonda, Sulphur, LA – “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.” Psalm 85:10-11, NIV — Been away from the computer. Sorry it’s being submitted so late.
Dora, Houston, TX: “The Lord is near the broken-hearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”
– Psalm 34:18 (NET)
Sabrina, Redding. “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing forjoy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12 (NIV)
Judges 5:21b “…March on, my soul; be strong!”
“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 10:4-5 NIV
Beth. Stillwater. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB) “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 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.”
Cameron – Richmond, VA
“I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Karen
Hope, AR
There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
I John 4:18 NASB
“Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.” 1 Peter 2:11 HCSB
Becky
Murfreesboro, TN
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were Set FREE from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also LIVE WITH HIM.” -Romans 6:6-8 (NLT)
Nightingale
Miami, FL
Revelation 17:14 (NIV)
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.”
I’m currently doing the “Revelation: Here and Now, There and Then” study!
I pray this: that your love will keep growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:9-10 HCSB
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)
This is what the Lord says, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast in his riches, but let him boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Cindy/Midland
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:6 NASB
Sorry so late!
Paige, Atlanta 2 Cor. 3:18 NASB
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Julia, Whidbey Island, WA: “God makes everything beautiful in
it’s time.” He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
Terri, Marion, IN
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Phil. 4:8, NIV
Lynn, Lubbock. Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 NIV
Alice, Rockford, IL, Psalm 130:3-4 NLT “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.”
Donna in Kirkland, Wa
“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, new things have come.” 2Cor 5:17 NASB
(Sang this verse in day camp all last week!)
Kim, Anchorage, Alaska. “Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.” Jeremiah 33:3 (Net Bible)
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
(sorry we are late-we were out of town)
Pam/Benton, AR
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -John 14:27
Mary
West Memphis, AR
“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.”
Job 28:28
Karen, San Antonio, Texas
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 NLT
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Matt. 6:20 KJV
Parker, CO
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.”
John 14:1 NIV