**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!
“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”
1 Peter 1:15 NASB
Lacie
Chesapeake, VA
Debbie, Rochester, MN
…Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.
1 Ki 8:39 NLT
Judy, Oswego, NY
‘the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,’
Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
Ashley, Orlando, FL
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NASB
Marie, Easley, SC
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And your law is within my heart.
Ps. 40:8 (NKJV)
Tess
Cartersville, GA
Romans 12:12 NIV
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Suzie T.
Fort Mill, SC
“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jer. 17:14 (NIV)
Maria from North Dakota
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippeans 2:3 (NIV)
Elisabeth
Modesto, Ca
Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. (Psalm 37:3 AMP)
Greenville SC
Psalm 18 The Message
16) But me he caught; reached all the way from sky to sea.
17)He pulled me out of the enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning.
“Let the words of my mouth AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, MY Strength and MY Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NKJ
Kristen, Denver: “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, your God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” 1 CH. 28:20, NIV
JAMES 1:12 NIV
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Rebecca, Berlin GA
This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1St John 4:10
Christi – Colleyville, TX
Is. 41:10 NIV “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.”
Nashville, TN
“. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
“Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.” ~Philippians 4:8(NCV)
Bobbie Jo
San Angelo TX
Susan, Barrie, ON, Canada
“Do everything without grumbling of arguing, so thet 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 work of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.” Phil 2:14-16 NIV
Marita – Maricopa, AZ
Psalm 145:8 (ESV)
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
“Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
jackie from platte city, MO
psalm 106:15
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
Deborah,Marshall, Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Janet
Enid, OK
“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
II Chronicles 20:12
Kosciusko, MS
Romans 12:12
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Matthew 5:6 NAS
Blessed are those who hunger and thrist for
righteousness, for they shall be satified.
Tiffany, Columbus. “I will not fail you or abandon you.” Joshua 1:5b (NLT)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV
For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Diana, Surrey, BC
“Stand up and praise the LORD your God; who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious Name and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.”
Nehemiah 9:5b N.I.V.
(I will also toast to Gentleness! AMEN!)
Katie (Firestone, CO)
“Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” Ecc 2:24 (NKJV)
Lauren-Plano, TX
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26 NIV
Martha,Lynchburg,VA
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal.2:20 NIV
“He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him.”
Proverbs 14:2
NIV
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. Job 19 :25. KJV
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms 103:1-5
Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Karen
Ponte Vedra, Florida
Valerie, Scott City, MO
“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Psalm 91:10 (KJV)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
Lori,Friendswood, TX
Angie G
Albertville AL
For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. Proverbs 2:3-7 NASB
Tammy/Siloam NC—-Set a guard over my mouth,O Lord; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
Emily, Topeka, Kansas
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV)
Charlene, Houston
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NAS
I will proclaim the name of the Lord Oh praise the greatness of our God. He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is HE.
Marion, Royse City TX
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Deneen-Pittsburgh, PA “Knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:3-5 NASV
Angela J., Grand Ridge, FL
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5 (NIV)
Allison, Washington, DC
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:18-19 (ESV)
Kathy H College Station TX “Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon” Eph 6:14-17 Msg
Galatians 3:26 “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” NIV
Kaila, Springfield, MO
“Then David said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.'”
1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV)