**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!
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (Ephesians 1:17 ESV)
Nancy Tucson, AZ
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ps. 51:10 NIV
Chicago, IL
Psalm 118:13-18 (NIV 84)
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shout of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Jay, OK.
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ (Philippians 3:8 NLT)
Marlinda, Heppner Oregon
25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Tim 2:25-26 (NIV)
Rita
Hickory, NC
” And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant”
1 Chronicles 17:26 KJV
Betsy, Lincoln Park
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-” Romans 6:6 NIV
Liz, Okemos, Mi
1 John 5:3
“And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world!”
Julie, Goodyear. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 NIV
Deena, Corona
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Susan, Jonesboro, AR
Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 HCSB
Amanda Rearden, Windermere, FL (Orlando) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; Psalm 103:11
Marybeth in Oxford, PA- “Train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:4-5 ESV
Psalm 34:16,17 Amplified
16)The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17) When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.
Lino Lakes, MN
Barbara, New Orleans,LA
Hand for Hand! An evil(man) shall not be held innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Proverbs 11:21 Darby translation
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect
2 Samuel 22:33 (NIV)
Deborah, Philadelphia, PA
Psalm 29:1,2: Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. (NIV)
Jennifer, Highlands Ranch, CO
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Col. 1:9-10 (NIV)
Mary, Satellite Beach
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” ~ Ephesians 4:29, NIV
Stacy B. Detroit, MI
Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
“the lord is my strength am my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps fr joy and I will give thanks to him in a song.”
Sharoni, Houston, TX. “Live out this GOD-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously & graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind, you be king.” Luke 6:36, The Message
Whitney Snow: Hamptonville, NC: “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glority You.” Psalm 63:3 NIV
Valerie, Farmington MN
I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10, NIV
Shirley Barry, Mooresville, NC
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8, NIV
Lynchburg, VA
Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Patti Rae, Saskatchewan, Canada
“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
Michelle Parma, Ohio
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD. Ps. 31:24 NIV
Jennifer, Florida “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19
Lisa, Boerne, Tx.
“Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:2 (NIV)
Lynda, Ocala, FL: Philippians 2:14-16: 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 as you hold out the word of life. (NIV)
Sherrie, Spokane WA
Psalm 37:34 NIV
“Wait for the LORD and keep His way.”
Prov. 18:1 (HCSB) One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
Whitney, Birmingham. “…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20, NIV
“You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” Deut. 2:3
Janet
Amarillo TX
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NET)
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Andrea Bishop: Smackover, Ar
Long ago the Lord said ” I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love, with unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Romans 15.13
Monica, and daughters Trinity, Faith and Eden,
Toronto, Canada
It’s still August 1st somewhere…
“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glority You.” Psalm 63:3 NIV
Jennifer, Nashville
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)
This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)
This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Michelle, Prosper, TX “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
James 1:17-18 (NIV)
Shirleen, Greenville, SC…..”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34 (NIV)
Hebrews 4:16
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.
Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)
17 This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.”
-Katie, IA
Bev
Louisville, KY
“Search me o God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24
Kristi Rogersville, TN
Romans 8:28 NIV
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.
I accidentally posted the wrong verse on the first. It was one I have already used.
Karen, San Antonio, Texas
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”
Hebrews 10:23 NLT
sr. jane, clyde mo
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds, and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Is. 31:33 NIV
Judie,South Bend,In Your name O Lord,endures forever
your renown, O Lord through all generations NIV Ps135:13
michelle J Charlotte NC
“My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9a NIV