**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!
Kathy-Aurora,CO
Philippians 4:6 NASB
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Boni, Manassas, VA; 2 Tim. 2:25 (NIV) “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentence leadng them to a knowledge of the truth”
Bonnie, Alexandria, LA
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:34 NKJV
Martha, Catawba, NC
Matthew 6:16 NASB
And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Troy, OH
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17: 9-10 NIV
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” ♥ ~ Exodus 10:14 NIV
Becky, Springfield, MO
And this is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
Ephesians 1:19, NKJV
“You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.”
Psalm 31:3
Cindy, King City, Missouri
“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the Lard, ‘You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you.” Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
Psalm 25:20-21
“Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.”
Judy, Virginia
Jenny, Des Moines, IA
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3 NIV
Tatia, Elkridge, MD –
“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139:5, 6 (NIV)
Julie/Deer Park,TX/Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psam 37:4 NIV
Dana, Birmingham, AL
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19
Mary Jane, Troy, Kansas
“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you.” Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
Sherie
Spring, TX
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Mindy, Van
Genesis 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Priscilla, Mesa, AZ
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
Janice, Springville.
Proverbs 29:11 NKJV
A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
There is therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus will set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 R from Round Rock, Texas
Laura, Del Rio, TX
Philippians 2:14-15 (and the first words of 16)
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life;”
NASB
Cheryl, NC
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ~Deut. 30:11~ TNIV
Hannah, Chesterland, OH
“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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then,I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
Lynda, Monterey
“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” ~ Proverbs 15:1, NLT
April, Greensboro, NC Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV
My heart and my flesh may fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Ps 73:26
Stephanie, La Habra, CA “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV
Patti, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior,” Isaiah 43:1-3, NIV
Julie, Chesterland, OH
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”
Psalm 119:114 (ESV)
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalms 127:13-14
Amy, Columbus, OH: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV
Kara, Ponca City, OK: Lamentations 3:22 (NKJV)
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Marybeth from Norcross,GA – I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. – 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (TNIV)
Marilyn, Amarillo, TX: ” There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others, but if you have been merciful; God will be merciful when HE judges you” James 2:13 NLT
Allison, Annapolis, MD, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Connie, Chariton,Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed
Holmes Beach, Florida
So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31 NIV
“…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience & our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb. 10:22 NASB
Cheri, Lubbock TX
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Colossians 4:6 NIV
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalms 16:2 NIV
“A fool gets no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion.”
Proverbs 18:2, RSV
Krista
Centennial, CO
Shelly, Rochester, MN — We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8
Cheri
Louisville, KY
(16)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(17)For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16,17 KJV
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Kelly in Bham, AL
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
1 Corinthians 7:1 (the Message)
Michele, Weber City
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
Psalm 40:6 (NIV)
Carrie Hunter, Hindman KY
Romans 1: 16 niv
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Kathy, Bradford
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18 NIV