**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!
Proverbs 3:5-6 – NIV – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Jodi, from St. Paul
“and his name will be the hope of all the world.”
Matthew 12:21 NLT
Deborah, Cheyenne, WY – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” Colossians 3:23 NASB
Natalie; Trussville, AL; “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)
* to you, not you you. Sorry, typo…
Fenton, Ashburn, VA “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1John 2:5, NKJV
I forgot my city and state – Richmond, VA
Linda Perry
Annville, KY
8 Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 Complete Jewish Bible
Laurie, Lubbock, TX: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God. Philippians 3:14-15 (NIV)
Lois, Abilene, KS
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Melanie – Lebanon, Ks
The following is from the Holman’s Christian Standard Bible and contains several verses that I will be working on the entire month of August…so this is for both the 1st and I’ll repeat it again on the 15th.
2 Peter 1:2-8 For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jane, Gulfport – “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27 (NASB)
Pam, Naperville, IL “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.” Rom.5:5 NIV
“be wise in then way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have.” Colossians 4:5
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
Oops!
Annie, Alabama
Scripture is from NIV 🙂
Karen, Sacramento, CA:
“Take control of what I say, O Lord and guard my lips.” —Psalm 141:3 (NLT)
Theresa, Columbia, SC.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NASB
Dayla, Springfield, MO
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. Psalm 121:5-6 NIV
Mandy from Mt. Vernon
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.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
Tomi, Des Moines, IA
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:3 NIV
Megan, Greenwood, IN: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 NIV
Vanessa, Florence, SC:
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts 20:24 (NLT)
But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17.7
Beth, Oklahoma City
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Karissa, Martinsburg, WV
Exodus 15:13 HCSB
“You will lead the people you have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength.”
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.
Galatians 6:1 (NIV)
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
1st John 4:12 (NKJ) “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us”.
Bonnie, Seattle
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
Crystal- Everett, Ontario “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31: 25 NIV
Erin Albion, IL
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdoned again by a yolk of slavery. (NIV)
Linda, Longview: “Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.”
Proverbs 7:2 NLT
Marcie, Frisco, TX
Galatians 5:14 NLT- For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Linda, Lincoln NE: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” Isaiah 49:15 NIV
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own live for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us. NIV
Allison Moldenhauer
Gina, Atlanta: “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17 NIV
Vicki
Murfreesboro,TN
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
Beth, Morristown
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9a NIV
Sarah Millers Creek NC
He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness will be your sheild and rampart. Psalm 91:4 NIV
Susie, Knoxville, TN
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Phil. 2:3 (NIV)
Karen Basham, Lutz, FL: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edificiation according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)
Alyson – Tallahassee
Isaiah 26:3 NLT – You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Wendy from Mesilla Park NM
Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
NASB
Kelly, Lilburn, GA :
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Danna M.- Atlanta, TX.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” -2 Cor.12:9a (NIV)
The fruit of righteousness will be peace, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 (NIV).
Joy, Salina
“God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to GOD.”
Psalm 27:6 The Message
Leah from Athens, GA
“And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” 1 Peter 3:13 NKJV
Jennifer, Denver
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
Mandy, Idabel, For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6 NIV