**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!
Linda, Johnstown, PA.
Job 11:18 (NLT)
Having hope will give you courage.
You will be protected and will rest in safety.
Kristy in Port Angeles, WA
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
NASB
Lydia, Vicksburg, MS
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV
Mary Lisa, Glenwood, MN: Ephesians 1:11 (NIV) In him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will . . .
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Anna, Tyler Texas
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
**ALSO POSTING FOR MY DAUGTER**
Ella Grace, age 8 Tyler Texas
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Kristin
Clearwater, FL
“But let those of us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.”
I Thes. 5:8 NLT
Nanette R., Nashville, TN
“But God demonstrated His love toward us, in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Awilda – College Station, Texas
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Shannon in Louisville, KY
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
1 John 5:14 (NLT)
Peggy C — Houston, TX
The law of the LORD is perfect, REVIVING the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, MAKING WISE the simple.
Psalm 19:7
Susan, Longmont, CO
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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Caitlin, Albuquerque
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV
Lucinda Bomberger, Watsontown, PA
2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV “For this light momentary affliction is preparing us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
Crystal-Mullica Hill, NJ- Romans 8:4, ESV:In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself…Romans 15:1-3a NKJV
Sandy, Deming
” You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words.” Psalm 119:57 NIV
Charlotte, Easley SC:
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (NIV)
Ephesians 6:12
Johanna, Carlsbad, California
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)
Holly, Glendale, AZ: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Beth. Stillwater. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Beverly, Vicksburg, MS
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,who satisfies your mouth with good things,so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Jolynn, Rowlett, Tx
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
Psalms 62:5, New Living
Mei, Easley SC:
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 10:20 NIV
Kim in Springfield, MO – Psalm 71:15 (KJV)
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
Anita, Chattanooga, TN “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Colossians 3:23
Hannah R. | Norman, OK
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
1 John 3:18 & 19
Heidi Tracht
Nampa, Idaho
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
I Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Marcia B., Salem, IN
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is FAITHFUL!” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Leanne; Billings, MT
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Eph. 4:32 NIV
Joy, Altadena, CA
This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming-it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.
Habakkuk 2:3 MSG
Jennifer Monroe, GA
opps a few days late!
Heb 10:35
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
Susan Carpina, Brazil “and what of the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.” Ephesians 1:19 NAS
Jana, Port Byron, IL
John 1:2 “He was in the beginning with God.”
NKJ
Marilyn from Taylor Mill, KY
The Lord is good to those who depend
on him, to those who search for Him.
Lamantations 3:25 NLT
cathy, princeton, tx
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Kay, Houston, TX
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders ano so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV
Karen
Rochester, MN
Romans 4:21 NLT
“(S)he was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.”
I have to feminize it in order to make it good self-talk from God’s Word 🙂
Valerie, Nashville, “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Nahum 1:7 (NASB)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Lauren, Asheville, NC
Romans 8:12 NLT “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,[a] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.”
Lindsey, Lincoln, NE
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quickto listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20 NIV)
Cara – Fridley, MN
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 NIV
Tiffany, Chesterfield:
Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. Galatians 6:1, AMP
Karie Phoenix, AZ
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 NLT
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Jer. 33:3 NIV
Judy, Cottageville, WV “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Luke 1:47 KJV