**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.
Connie H – Forsyth, MO “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” NIV
Angela, Maui. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.” Psalm 119:50 (NASB)
Michelle, New Richmond ~ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 NKJV
Cindy
Columbia, MO
“Because your steadfast love is BETTER than life, my lips will praise you.”
Psalm 63:3 ESV
Elizabeth
Portland, Oregon
Psalm 147:11
The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and lovingkindness.
Brittney (lopsided halos), Lexington KY
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “this is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 (niv)
Becky – Tacoma, WA NIV Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.”
Stacey
Shelbyville, Ky
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Psalm 100:4 NIV
Tina, H-town
I tell you the truth, unless a kernal of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for enternal life.
John 12:24-25 (NIV) LOSE EGO = FIND LIFE
Heidi ~ Lindale, TX
1 Cor. 13:12 NIV
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Ps. 33:1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.
Kimberly, el paso, tx
Bur we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:7, esv
Janet
Enid, OK
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Kelly, St. Paul, MN
“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (MSG)
Chesney, Knoxville. “My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life. So I will praise You as long as I live ; at Your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3-4 HCSB. (sorry I’m late…couldn’t pick a verse.)
Kristi, OKC
“But the fruit of the Spiritt is love,joy,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25, New English Translation
Carry each other’s burdens,and in this you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galations 6:2
Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith, Abraham when God tested him offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned”.
(NIV)
Michelle – Austin, TX
Psalm 139:13 NIV
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Laura, Hoyt, KS. “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.”
Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV
Sorry so delayed.
Teri S. -Gadsden, AL
For the follishness of god is wiser than man’s wisdom; and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
ICor. 1:25 NIV
Lauren, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;Â Â your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16, NIV
Raines, Albany, GA: The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV
Elizabeth, Chesterfield, VA:
“It is not a secret laid up in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it?” Deuteronomy 30:12 (Amplified Bible)
“You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.” Joshua 23:3 NIV
Marilyn from Taylor Mill, KY
I’m very late!!
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. NIV Colossians 3: 13
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (NIV) 1 Peter 4:12
Jennifer in New Orleans Zech 9:12 Amp “Return to the stronghold of security and prosperity you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.”
Melissa of Sunset, TX: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Janell, Denver CO, continuing Psalm 91
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Psalm 91:5-8 NIV
Becky, KY
Romans 12:12 ESV
Rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Cathy, Idaho
Ps. 121:1 NIV
I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help
come from? My help comes from You O LORD, the maker of
heaven and earth!
Jan, Littleton, CO
“He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.”
– Isaiah 33:6 (NIV)
Charlotte, Easley, SC
“So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:36
Mei, Easley, SC
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
Melissa, Easley SC
“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
Amy, Huntsville AL
” Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. ” ex 23:25-26 (NIV)
Philemon 6 ESV
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
finally I can get through – sorry this is late!
Cindi, Texas
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
Carmen, Eau Claire, WI
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b NIV
Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17
Next week
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:18
Valerie in Independence, KY:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
I realize this is totally unrelated to your blog or posts. I have to admit I didn’t even read this blog post. I just had to find a way to get in touch with you and tell you that I just finished the book “So Long, Insecurity,” and friend, I feel like a new woman!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for filling this college student’s mind absolutely full to the brim of God’s truths about security. I sopped up every single word like a needy, thirsty sponge. My life has truly been changed. I could identify with every single word and example you gave and by the time I got to the end of Chapter 17, I did a mental, emotional, (and maybe physical 🙂 ) fist pump for the SECURE woman clothed in STRENGTH and DIGNITY that was in there all along. I can’t wait to go put on my favorite pair of jeans and go out in the world with confidence in who I am in my Savior Christ Jesus, knowing that thankfully my insides now look better than my outsides! Security is mine to keep; God gave it to me and no one will ever be able to take it from me again.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU SISTER!
Becky, Scottsdale, AZ-on vacation :), sorry for the delay of post!
“May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT
Amanda in Dover, TN
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
Sorry I’m late!!!!
Debbie, Houston- Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. Psalm 91:3 NIV
Martha, Lexington:“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Therefore we fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4: 16 – 18 NIV
this #12 06-15-11 couldn’t get it in earlier.I wait for the Lord,my soul waits,and in his word I put my hope. NIV Ps130:5
#13 I will exalt you,O Lord,for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my
God,I called to you for help and you healed me. NIV30:1,2
Helen, Cambridge, UK: I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: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.I say to myself, The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.
Lamentations 3:19-24, NIV (UK)