**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!
Rogers, AR “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17,18 NIV
Pam Houston, Buena Park, CA
“My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
and skillfully wrought in the
depths of the earth.”
Psalms 139:15 NASB
Kristen, Fort Worth,TX: I will delight in your decrees and not forget your Word. Psalm 119:16
Jennifer,Fairfax VA
Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength
“The Lord will make you go through hard times, but He Himself will be there to teach you, and you will not have to search for Him any more.” Isaiah 30:20 GNT
Marilyn…in Mississippi
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:”
Psalm 92:1 KJV
Lawan, Lawton, OK- Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. (Titus 2:3 NLT)
Melle, Waco , Texas
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will be successful. (niv)
Karin, Johannesburg, Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (NIV)
Sierra, Vandalia, MO
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”
Revelation 21:5-6 ESV
Kelly, Auburn, Al – “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16 NIV
Ingrid, Frenchtown, MT
Psalm 24:3-6 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy Place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols, and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their Savior. Such people may seek You and worship in Your Presence O God of Jacob. NLT
MiChal in College Station, TX
“No distrust made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God”
Romans 4:20 (ESV)
Colossians 1:15 ESV
Susan-Nashville, TN
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. John 15:5 NIV
Lynn
Rochelle, GA
How precious to me are Your thoughts Oh Lord. How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake I am still with You. ~ Psalm 139:17-18 NIV
Teresa, Semmes, AL
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. he will take geat delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Kris, Maine
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Diane – Chesapeake, Va.
“I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way each of us will be a blessing to the other.”
Romans 1:12 NLT
Carrie, Boston
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1Peter 5:5. NSRV
Lacie, Americus – It is good for me to draw near to God. Psalm 73.28 NIV
Sarah, West Monroe, La
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Psalm 103:1 (ESV)
Beth, Oxford, MS
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
2Cor.4:18 NASB
We set our minds on the things seen not on the things unseen,because the things that are seen are temporary, the things unseen are eternal.
Diane, Ontario, Canada
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
Sarah, Marion, KS ~ “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11, NIV.
Patti, Colorado Springs
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zeph 3:17 (NIV)
“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word.”
Psalm 119:37 NIV
“He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:30 NIV
Karen, Russellville, AR
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
Diana, East Peoria, IL
In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Ephesians 1:7 NIV
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NASB
Doing this one again for the next 2 weeks
Susan,
England, U.K.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!
For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
Jerry Ann, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. (1 Thesselonians 5:11) NIV
Sharie, Chillicothe
“Worthy are You, our Lord, and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Rev 4:11 NASB
Laurie New Hope, VA
Numbers 10:20 Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
Hilary from Langley, BC, Canada:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)
Tara G.
Kyiv, Ukraine
Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Isaiah 55: 1-2 (NIV)
Ashley, Huddleston, VA: “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 NIV
Janell~Frisco~For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. Ps 91:11 NKJ
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
New American Standard
Vicksburg, MS
Linda (Richmond,Va)
“He will keep you strong to the end,so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
I Corinthians 1:8-9
Melissa Smith, Houston, TX “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Ex 14:14 NIV
April, Vermilion
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
~Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
“…Pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” James 5:16 (NET)
Yvonne, Riverside/Fairfield, CA
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
~2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)~
Jennifer, Huntsville: She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. – Proverbs 31:25, New Living Translation
Beth, Gig Harbor
He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither sleep or slumber.
Psalm 121:3-4 (NASB)
Marilyn, Peterborough ON Canada
Psalm 8: 1-9 NIV
1 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!