**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!
Carisa, Hillsboro, KS:
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:7 NLT
Emily, Tulsa, Oklahoma
“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens and so complete Christ’s law.” Galations 6:2 – The Message
Kathy at Dayton, Nevada
“If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
~Romans 12:18 [NIV]
Stephanie, Sparta, Tn–
“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
Romans 12:21 NKJV
Do not be overcome by evil, bt overcome evil with good.
shelly Bliss, San Dimas CA
Are you hurting? pray. Do you feel great? Sing.
James 5:13
The Message
Amber Case
Sulphur, LA
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work thcrough me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Earlene, Trego, ” So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the Law.” Galatians 5:1 NLT
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Rosalye
Vicksburg, MS
Ephesians 3:19 NIV
…and to know His love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT)
Karen, Springfield, MO: 34″Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 The Message
Cheryl, Peoria, AZ – Luke 18:27 NIV “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Tesa
Perry, GA
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you become blameless & pure, children of God without fault in a wicked & depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Philippians 2:14 & 15
Debbie Pinckney, MI
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NIV
Romans 10:17 (NAS) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:14 & 15 NIT
He gives strength to the weary and to whom who lacks might He increases power.
Isaiah 40:29
Nancy, West Virginia
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.
Cathy, Rhinebeck. “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.” Philippians 4:8(NIV)
Susan in Bradenton FL
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure everything out on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message
Renita, Woodstock, GA
Romans 5:3-5
New International Reader’s Version (NIRV)
3 And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.
Jackie
Cypress, TX
“A fool gets no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion.”
Proverbs 18:2, RSV
The Lord upholds all those who fall & lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14 NIV
Psalm 100:2
“Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs.”
Lori, Sulphur- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
Elvira , Grande Prairie, Alberta
James 5:8,9 NIV
“You too, be patient and stand firm,
because the Lord’s coming is near.
Don’t grumble against each other,
brothers, or you will be judged.
The Judge is standing at the door!”
“Teach me, O Lord to follow yhou decrees; then I will keep them to the end.” Psalm 119: 33 NIV
1 Peter 1:24-25 ESV
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
linda, colorado springs.
i love you lord, my strength. psalm 18:1 (niv)
Gina, San Antonio, TX
“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.”
Gal 6:1, NIV
Psalm 91:1 NKJV
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37 NIV
Loyce, Deer Park. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 (NIV)
Cheri, Savage, MN
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Linda, Blue Springs, MO:
“For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:13-15 ESV
Kim B., Clayton, NC
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Sabrina
Lincoln, Nebraska
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Linda Lexington , KY
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV
College Station, Phi Lamb
Psalm 119:114, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” (NIV)
Jana, Quitaque, Texas
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. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
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 4:16 (NLT)
Hanni, Indiana
I mean…Romans 6:16!
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Susan, Wake Forest
Staci, Bismarck, ND
“Do I not hate those who hate yo, o Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them, I count them my enemies.” Psalm 139:21-22 (NIV)
Robyn, San Antonio
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8
NASB
Andrea, Louisville, KY
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 NIV
Donna, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI: “Sometimes I think, “I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.” (Jeremiah 20:9 NET)
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thess. 5:11 (ESV)
Patti, Sun City Center; Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)