**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!
Janet, Georgia: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'” -Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)
Glennell Buda, Tx.
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)
Leslie, Decatur, TX
Man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. James 1:20 HCSB
Kimberly, Circleville OH: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 (NAS)
Grace, Circleville OH: For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7 (NKJ)
Beverly, Ironton OH: Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon 2:15 (NKJ)
Karlys, La Place, LA
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11 ESV
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?” – 1 Thessalonians 2:19 NIV
Lori, Velma, Ok
NLT Isaiah 40:28 Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
Robin
Aberdeen, SD
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And the is what we are!
kendal. north wilkesboro, nc
for by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. he is before all things and in him all things hold together.
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven. And whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”
Romans 4:7-8 NKJV
Lisa, Edinburg,TX
“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:5 NIV
Rebecca, College Station
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)
Laura, Southaven, MS:
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 NIV
Sheila Armstrong – Union City Indiana
Psalms 1:4-5 NIV
4″Not so the wicked! They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. 5Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
Lauren, Biloxi:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Kathy, Shreveport, La.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you may also be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Beverly, Pearland, TX
“Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call upon the LORD from a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 Holman Christian Standard
Rhonda
Gilmer
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Rhonda, Newnan, Ga.
“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” Galatians 3:3
Jana, Brenham, TX
Philippians 1:27-28a, NIV
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”
Jani, Agate, CO – Joshua 24:23 – Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. NASB
Charissa – West Chester, OH
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Janelle C. (Malakoff, TX)
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectable of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or Sabbath day.
Colossians 2:15-16
Jaime
Fort Collins, CO
I am Yours; save me,
for I have sought Your precepts.
Psalm 119:94 ESV
Tiffany, ATL
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”. Rom 12:12 ESV
Deb, Becker
And I will given them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. Ez 11:19-20 (NLT)
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Michele, Cumming GA
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
-Psalm 40:1-3 NIV
Linda, Westport
For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, a man, Christ Jesus,who gave Himself-a ransome for all,a testimony at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Eph 6:19-20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Medina Ohio
Allison Mitchell
Hanover, WV
“But dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life…To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” Jude 1:20-21, 24 (NIV).
Freida, Chatham, LA, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:4-5 NKJ
Kim/Hickory NC
We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. Psalms 33:20 NIV
Karen, Vancleave, MS
“Praise the Lord, all living creatures! Praise the Lord!”
(GNTD)
Karessa, Peoria, IL: Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14 NIV
Katrina from Tulare, CA: “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart,whether or not you would keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
Philippians 2:5-7a New Living Version
Heather, Woodstock, GA
“There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:2 (NIV)
Kathryn from Louisville, KY
“The Lord watches over you –
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.”
-Psalm 121:5 (NIV)
Julia, (Last month-Glendora, CA; This month-Queen Creek, AZ). “He changes a wilderness into a pool of water, and a dry land into springs of water.” Psalm 107:35 NASB.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NLT
Casi
Woodway, Texas
“Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way” (Romans 14:13, HCSB).
Kelly, Springfield, MO. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Beth, Hartland,MI
Psalm 19:1-4a “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.
They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world.” (NLT)
You don’t have to wait until you’re perfect to take me aside and courteously, lovingly help me do better!
Lindsey, Jenks, OK
“My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.” ~Romans 15:20 NLT
Tammy, Howells NE
My heart says of you, “See his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Psalms 27:8 (NIV)
Chrissy, Detroit Lakes, MN: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
wildlyblessed, Crawford, TX: “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.” Psalm 25:4 NLT
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
…and provide for those who grieve in Zion- a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61:3 NIV