**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!
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2 NIV
Pam/Benton, AR
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. -Isaiah 26:3
My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Elise — Newark
Alisa
Clinton, MS
For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
1 Peter 4:6
NASB
Christine
Wichita, KS
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)
Deena from Amarillo, Texas
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
Pat, Littlefield, Tx…..”So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
Debbie, Olathe, KS
Psalm 118:19 (NIV 1984)- “Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.”
Jaye – Keller, TX
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Bev ~ Austin TEXAS
If you’re going to worry,
worry about The Holy.
Fear God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
The Holy can be either a Hiding Place
or a Boulder blocking your way.
Isaiah 8: 13-14 The Message
Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.
Psalm 7:15, NIV
Colima, Klamath Falls, OR
Michelle,Morristown, “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.” Psalms 73:28 (NKJV)
Sarah, Port Angeles, Washington Psalm 19:14 (NASB) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Kennesaw, GA
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those
who make peace. James 3:18 NKJ
Philippians 4.6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Sheila, Austin, TX
Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NIV
Carol, Belleville,ON
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Jennifer, Beaverton, OR “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
Debbie, Calgary.
[I] can throw the whole weight of [my] anxieties upon Him, for [I am] His personal concern.
1 Peter 5:6-7. Phhillips Trans.
Brandy, Burleson, Tx
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
His love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
1Thes. 5:23-24 NIV “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body by kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”
Mar Jo The Woodlands
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9a NIV
Hilary, West Palm Beach, FL:
The Lord will make you go through hard times, but he himself will be there to teach you, and you will not have to search for him any more.
Isaiah 30:20
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Maribeth, Jackson, MS
Lily, Chicago. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)
Emily, Kalispell, MT
Psalms 113:9
He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord! (KJV)
Tam ~ Arcadia, CA
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9a
Becca
Salem, Oregon
Romans 15:13 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Heidi, Litchfield Park, AZ: 1 Thess. 2:8 (NIV) “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Judy, Apple Valley, CA
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Eph 3:20 (NLT) ALL GLORY!!!
You then, my son, be strong in the GRACE THAT IS IN Christ Jesus. II Timothy 2:1
Megan from San Diego
Colossians 3:17 NIV
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Lorraine M, Surrey, BC
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. [Prov. 21:30] NIV
Kelli, Anaheim
August SMT
This is the day the Lord has made. We (I) will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 NLT)
emi, white house: “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 NIV
Kathleen, Tallahassee, FL
” Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully. ”
Psalm 24:3-4 NASB
Karen Leonard, TX
Phil 4:5 NIV
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Amen! I <3 this vs. & am thinkin' 'bout makin' this one mine too.! God is so sweet!
Midge, Florence: Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Michelle, Spokane, WA
Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
Isaiah 54:4
Holly, Boulder
This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16 NIV
Brittany, Las Vegas, NV:
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)
Kathy, Tempe: Psalm 108:3-4 NIV I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Kelly, West Richland
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Colleen, Mae Sot, Thailand
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 ESV
Brandie, Longmont CO:
“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10, NIV
I hate to see the number of comments dropping so low – keep going, girls! =*)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
Psalm 23-1
NIV
Laura
Inglewood, CA
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:10 NIV
Jody, Mission Viejo
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Carrie Hays, Houston, TX
“Once our eyes have been opened, we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows we know, and holds us responsible to act.” Proverbs 24:12