**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!
Kelly, Charlotte, NC
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
But the lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Amanda, Houston
Shelly
Amarillo, TX
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (NIV)
Gayle, Dodgeville – A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out. Proverbs 25:28 The Message
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
Kathleen
Bellmore, LI, NY
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
Galatians 6:1 (NIV)
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Jeanene, League City, TX
“I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.” Psalm 32:8 (Holman CSB)
Farrah, Jackson, ms
“put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand your ground. Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, and your feet fitted with the readiness from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:13-15 NIV
Kristin
Tulare, CA
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:14 NIV
Valerie from Oklahoma
# 15
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9a NIV
Cassandra, Marienville PA
Psalm 139:23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (NIV)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Jennifer, Greensburg
Galatians 5:14 (NIV) “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Heather, Greensburg
Jeremiah 9:24 (NIV) “But let him who boasts 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.
Emily, Greensburg
If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. We can trust God. He does what is right. He will make us clean from the wrongs we have done. 1 John 1:9 (ICB)
Roberta; Fanshawe, OK
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Libby, Normal IL
“A fool gets no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion.”
Proverbs 18:2, RSV
Troy,Ohio
Psalm 100 NIV
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord 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 and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever; his faithfulness continues through
all generations.
Wendi from Sulphur, LA
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 NLT
Penny Mansfield, OH
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:16 NLT
Suzanne, Tucson, AZ
“Like a city whose wall are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”
-Proverbs 25:28
Valerie Ontario, OH
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24 NIV
Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Cindy/Midland
Siobhan, Austin, AR “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2Thess. 3:3 ESV
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and (you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32 NASB
Jan, Rockwall
Psalm 62:11-12 NIV
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
Audrey, Rockwall
Matthew 28:20b NIV I am with you always
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
Ephesians 3:20,21 NASB
Michelle Holt
Powder Springs, GA
Kristen, Houston TX
“You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”
Psalm 139: 5-6 NIV
Annie L. Bloomington, Indiana
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”
Phillipians 4:8 NIV
Charli, Phenix City, AL
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Proverbs 8:17 NIV
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Jeri Cook
Missouri City, TX
It is the Lord your God you must follow and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and HOLD FAST to him.
Deuteronomy 13:4 NIV
Carolyn
Oceanside,Ca
Joy, Peachtree City. “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 The NAS Bible
Pam Hendersonville, NC Psalm 28:6-Blessed be the Lord because He has heard the voice of my supplications. KJV
Jan – Denton “I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121
Tiffany, Sandwich, Illinois
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
I have not been good about memorizing this spring and summer. No excuses…I just let my discipline slide. Thank you, Jesus, for do-overs. Another scripture about GRACE.
Acts 20:24 (NIV)
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
Elizabeth, OKC
Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
Ashley, Charlotte, NC – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; – Hebrews 10:23 NASB
Kristin from Kentucky, “Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good you you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed; therefore I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted’. And in my dismay I said, ‘All men are liars’. How can I repay the Lord for ALL his goodness to me?” Psalm 116:7-12 (NIV)
Angie, Cincinnati, OH~
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Galations 3:13-14 (NIV)
for with God Nothing shall be inpossible Luke 1:37
From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth –
Psalm 32:13-14 (NIV)
Sue, Texarkana, 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” NIV
Chrissy
San Tan Valley, Arizona
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love”
Psalm 33:18 ESV
Ruth Sanger Phillipians 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 praisworthy- think about such things.
Susan
Lititz, PA
He has showed you, O siesta, 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.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)(Applied to siestas)
Veronica atlanta , Goergia
For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37 (kjv)
Deanna, Frisco – 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV) – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
Beth-
I am currently going through the David devotional with a group of sweet ladies from my mom’s church. I have struggled with a couple of different addictions for a lot of my life and as I go through David’s life God is helping me to realize that I need to “De-Vault” and start living in his word. Thank you so much for letting God work through you, you bless so many lives. Tasia
Peggy, Tucson “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lam 3:22-23 ESV
Bombey Houston, TX
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36 NIV 84