**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!
Lori
Bangor, Maine
You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.
Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)
I have told you these things to 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
Richmond, VA
“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything is heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” I Chron. 29:11 (NIV)
Tiffany Morse
Dallas, TX
Psalm 40:14 {NIV}
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion. May all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Ruth – Shawnee, KS
Proverbs 29:25 (The Message) —
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
Ruthann – Odessa, TX
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
Celeste, Los Angeles & Toronto: Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge; it will vanish way. I Corinthians 13:8 NKJV
Laura Eloise, Austin – Being confident of this that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6
Better late than never! 🙂
Misti, Belleville, MI: “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 27:12 NIV
How precious to me are Your thoughts God. How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:17
Angie from Houston, TX
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ‘So we make it our goal to please Him, whether at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.’
Stacia Deen from Avon Park, Florida: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
Laura – Houston, Texas
“Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in You.” Psalm 143:9 (NIV)
Carrie – Eure, NC
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
Allison Eclectic AL
She is clothes with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25 NIV
*clothed
Emily, Houston TX
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” – 2 Timothy 3:14 (NKJ)
Patricia, Dallas TX
Jeremiah 29:11 {ESV}
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. plans for wholeness and not for evi, to give you a future and a hope.
Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
Carol, Poplar Bluff, MO
Elizabeth, Haleigh and Isabel say….
Isaiah 61:2
…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,…..
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a NIV
I Corinthians 13:13
Now abideth faith, hope and love, these three but the greatest of these is love.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
For we live by Faith, not by sight.
I, the LORD, do not change. Malachi 3:6
Jovin, Houston TX
Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NIV)
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
Annie, Alaska.
Psalm 136:17 NIV
Who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
Amy, Sweeny, TX
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Chirst, after you have suffered a little while, will make you firm, strong and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10
Rhonda from Anderson, IN NIV
Proverbs 14:12 Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
NIV
sheila, ok
28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
Leigh Gray, Illinois
Delta from Lakeland, florida:
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalms 103:6 (NIV)
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully. Even as I have been fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
Kristi
Charlotte, NC
kimberly mason, tuscaloosa, al:
2 cor 5:7 niv
“we live by faith, not by sight.”
For God has not given us a spirit of fearlfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement. 2 Timothy 1:7 (HCSB)
Tina H-town
Macy
Russellville, AR
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 ESV)
Zimmerman, MN
Isaiah 44:5
Some will proudly proclaim, “I belong to the Lord.” Others will say, “I am a descendant of Jacob.” Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands and will take the honored name of Israel as their own. NLT
Janelle C – Malakoff TX
My dear brother, take note of this : everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:19
Karen, Naples
Indeed, God is my salvation. I will trust Him and not be afraid. Because Yah, the LORD, is my strength and song, He has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2
HCSB
Elizabeth, Reston, VA
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,”
Psalm 33:18, ESV
1 corinthians 13:8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Sheri – Atlanta, TX
Psalm 145:8 NKJV
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
Montgomery, AL
The first chapter of James. (NIV)
Liz Lyons, Cypress, Texas; “He saved us, not because of teh righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:5
Kristi, Charleston, WV “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Eph 6:16 (NKJV)
Gina Develin, Kosciusko Ms
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.
Bethany from Waco, TX
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.
Acts 1:8 (NASB)
Christine, Augusta, Ga
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 NKJV
But he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Allison, Ruston
Galations 5:22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Great concept. Nice post.