**Siesta Celebration is January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, Sweet Things!
Finally, August 1st! I’m always so glad to see it come so that it can GO. But it’s not just the end of a long, hot summer for everybody. It’s also the last couple of weeks of summer vacation. Those of you with school-age children will soon find yourself back in carpool lines and going over spelling words. In just a couple of weeks, Jackson will start kindergarten and will catch our whole family by surprise even though we’ve known it was coming for five and a half years. We just cannot fathom it. We have a picture framed in our bedroom that I see everyday with Keith and I cuddling him between us when he was just a few hours old, and we brand-spanking-new grandparents are kissing over his head. Something was reborn in that couple of 25+ years that day. Our interests have always tended to be different and were getting increasingly so, but, that cold February afternoon in Dallas, Texas, we somersaulted right back into one another and tumbled into a well of love with a seven pound man-child.
Keith and I got to have Jackson and Annabeth Friday night while Curtis and Amanda went to dinner and a movie. They’d been gone for 10 days to Wyoming and, even though we’d seen them at a Mexican food restaurant the day they got home, we’d not had them to ourselves yet. We made a date right away. They delight us to no end and cause us to laugh until our sides split. Don’t get the idea there’s no work involved but investments don’t get better than this one. We have real, live conversation over dinner these days and, when you’re grandparents, not a single word gets wasted on you. All of it’s solid gold. Jackson told us at the dinner table Friday night while stuffing a piece of warm French bread into his mouth that butter is his “temptutation.” And, sure enough, it was dripping off of his chin and looked so good that we all shared that same temptutation and gave right on in to it.
We have an empty room in our house right now because we wanted Melissa and Colin to have her bedroom furniture and it’s turned into the perfect playroom. Nothing like an empty room to fire up the imagination. Jackson and I built an obstacle course Friday night that ended with a dizzying spin in my swiveling desk chair. It was so much fun. Amanda and Curtis walked through the door at 10:15 and we were all four still up in the kitchen, Paw Paw popping popcorn on the stove. It’s so good to have the Jones’s home. Melissa and Colin have been out of town for a week, too, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on them. They’re flying home from California this very moment. Most of the time they were out of cell phone range so we’ll have plenty to catch up on.
On to the business at hand! Our year is flying by! It’s time to check in with our fifteenth verses for our Siesta Scripture Memory Team. For some reason I’ve seen the word “gentleness” turn up a number of times in my Scripture reading lately so I’ve decided to choose a memory verse that makes especially important use of it. Here goes:
Beth, Houston. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.” Galatians 6:1 The NET Bible
Restoration is one of the most powerful, intentional works of the Cross of Christ. Let’s never refuse anyone his or her right to be restored. Here’s to a little gentleness in a harsh world. Everyone could use some.
Stay in the Word, Siestas! You are so loved here!
Deb Knepp in Bremen, IN
And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.
Revelations 7:10 NIV
Ruth Cherry, Royse City, Texas
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another; forgiving each other,just as in Christ God forgave you.
Bridgett, Pell City, AL: “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23 NKJV
Megan JOY Burdzy – Calgary Alberta Canada – “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
How precious to me are your thoughts, Oh God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Psalms 139:17
NIV
O LORD, you have searched me and know me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2 ESV
Paulette
Nogalus Prairie
“I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.”
Psalm 31:7
The NET Bible
Kim B, Center, TX
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Proverbs 14:1 (NIV)
Rose, Dallas
Colossians 4:6 NIV
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Melanie in Amherst, MA
“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised…”
Hebrews 11:39 NASB
Nitsa, Eugene, OR.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18
Gentleness has been God’s word to me too! He chose a different “gentle” scripture for me.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Phil. 4:5 NIV
Crystal, Livonia, Michigan
2 Corinthians 10:5
“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.” (NIV)
Houston, TX
Rachael, Chattanooga,TN
“But forget all that-it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? ” Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
Lauren, Boston, MA: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation’. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)
Hannah, Tx Phillipians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near.”NIV
Gal. 3:3 (NIV). “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
Jennifer, Lexington, SC
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
KIM SAFINA
LOS OSOS, CALIFORNIA
((((( 🙂 )))))))
HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP. JAMES 4:10 KJV
I need to add this ~
Janet W. (11:48 am Siesta) I WILL BE PRAYING for you!
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.
Romans 12:12. NLT
Sue, Earlysville, Va
Sonjia, Raleigh, MS: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12 NIV
This is for July 15th and August 1st 🙂
Stephanie, Wise
7/15: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” 1st Peter 4:10
8/1: “Even to your old age, I am He. And even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you” Isaiah 46:4
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:17,18 NIV
Micah 6:8 NIV 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.
Cindy, Gold Canyon, AZ “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:5-7 NIV
Heather
Little Rock, AR.
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
Proverbs 15:4 (The Message)
Brigid – Johannesburg South Africa
“It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Titus 2:12 NIV
Kellie Norris, Mobile, AL. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand it own way. It’s not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Stacey, Albuquerque, NM 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
Shannon, Orange County, CA: “THe mind of man plans his way, but the LORD driects his steps.” –Proverbs 16:9, NASB
Kathy, Mansfield, TX
“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
Romans 14:19 ESV
Susan from Beverly, MA
James 3:13-16 The Message
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. it’s the furthest thing from wisdom – it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the other’s throats.
Two verses I am catching up; Kay Chester VA
John 15: 14,15 NIV
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servan does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Jennifer, Charlotte, NC
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”. Colossians 3:12 NIV
Jeanie from Martin, SD
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NIV
Kem,Memphis
I will lift up my eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2, NKJV
Beckie, Florence,SC
Have mercy on me, Oh God, according to your unfailing
love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1 (NIV)
Kristine, LA Crescent, MN: A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. Pro. 15:1 NIV
Jamey, Pocahontas
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
Commit your way unto the Lord, Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass
Psalm 37:5 NKJV
Nicola Calgary Alberta
And that I may actually be found and known as in Him, not having any self-achieved righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired) but possessing that genuine righteousness which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One) the truly right standing with God which comes from God by saving faith. Phil 3:9 AMP
Jenifer B.
Frisco, TX
“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
Gal. 3:3 NIV
Carrie, Jupiter, FL
Psalm 78:32-33,41
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works. Therefore their days did He consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. KJV
Dawn, Chambersburg, PA
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Dolly, Middletown, OH
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peacable , and gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17 KJV
Jennifer, North Charleston, Phil. 4:8, NIV:
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.
Melissa, Clovis, CA: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, ESV)
Hebrews 12:13
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Sherry
Indianapolis
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114 NIV