Hey, Everybody!
I am writing to you on Sunday afternoon since this post needs to go up first thing Monday morning and I am typing away on my laptop from Jackson and Annabeth’s room in our home. It’s the room where Keith and I get the best internet hookup. I like it anyway because it is filled with expressions of the only two kids on the earth I love as much as the two that I birthed. From Annabeth’s twin bed where I’m sitting, I can see a pink and green doll house, a blue and yellow race track, a dark green, fairly-convincing rubber lizard, a kids’ brightly colored exercise bike, a cardboard playhouse and a cardboard castle. It’s full on here in this room and, boy, has it had a work out in the last week.
Keith and I are blessed out of our minds to do lots of life with our grandkids because they only live about 20 minutes from our front door. Delightfully, their voices often reverberate off of these walls and their sweet feet are slap-happy on these wooden floors on a regular basis. We get to have sleepovers on occasions through out the year but once every summer Keith and I have them for the better part of a week and let their darling parents get some time together all by themselves. This last week was that segment of time – Camp Bibby we call it – for the summer of 2013. We kissed them goodbye on Friday night after a good, solid 5-day dose of them. I hate to admit to a small lump in my throat when they drove off with Amanda and Curtis, although I needed a nap in the worst way. Grin. It may be of some encouragement to you mothers of young children that, on Day 1, I did not shower until 3:00 PM. Yes, I do indeed remember what it was like to be a busy young mom whose life is not her own and when I forget, my two sweeties help me remember. Good grief, I would not trade them for anything in this world.
We do not have the time or space here for all the new quotes that have been added to my repertoire in the last week. Jackson and Annabeth are each hilarious, even when they don’t mean to be, so I try to have a pen nearby at all times. Annabeth announced to me on Friday afternoon that, when she grows up, she most definitely does NOT want to have a baby. “Why not?” I asked. “Because you have to go to the hospital,” she replied. And I thought to myself, whoa baby, that’s not all you have to do. As my mama always said, you also have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Translation: you think you’re going to die but, ordinarily, you do not, although at times your husband could be in considerable harm’s way if he spouts another word. Of course, I kept these thoughts to myself.
Annabeth paused for just a moment then spoke back up. “I just want a chihuahua and a cat.”
And that was that.
Jackson asked me how old I was while he was here because I recently had a birthday. He’s asked me that kind of thing before and it always ends up following the trail of whether or not I will still be his Bibby when he is in college. Curtis’s grandmother died a couple of years ago and I think he’s got it in his seven year-old head that grandmothers are tenuous creatures, here today, gone tomorrow. So, I said to him, “You know, Jackson, both your grandmothers are actually pretty young to have a grandkid as old as you. Because we all started so early, I think you can probably assume we’ll be around a while and see you grow up.” He sat on that a few moments then said, “Bibby, that makes you a rookie grandma. Do you know what a rookie is, Bibby?” Ah, yes, I do, Mister. I was a rookie mom with your mommy and a rookie grandma with you and I cannot think of two people on the planet through whom I’d rather be cast into those auspicious, busy, and often humbling roles.
I guess you’re wondering what all of this has to do with our Scripture memory. Well, I am getting to that right now. We have a daily verse at Camp Bibby and Psalm 32:9 out of the New Century Bible was our verse for Day 3 and the immediate favorite and clear winner for the fastest memorization. I taught the whole verse to Annabeth and Jackson but we only memorized part of it. Perhaps you will see why Jackson all but claimed it as his life verse. Kids totally love this kind of thing:
“Don’t be like a…donkey.” Psalm 32:9a
It made them almost as happy as talking about bathroom sounds. If I heard this verse once out of their mouths since Wednesday, I heard it 50 times. They could tell you what it means, too. I’ll stick the phrase back in the wider Scripture segment so that you’ll know what it means, too:
8      The LORD says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.
9      So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins,
or they will not come near you.”
Jackson would tell you that it means that God doesn’t want to have to tie us all up, or sit on us, or be all hard on us to get us to come to Him and to walk in His gracious and good will for our lives. He doesn’t want to have to make us obey Him so He can bless us. His deep desire is that we’d want to go with Him because we know that He is always for us, always leading us to triumph, always trustworthy, always right, and forever wanting to crown us with love and compassion and lead us away from bondage and such unnecessary harm.
I know it’s basic. But my mind’s been on the basics this last week with a seven year-old and a four year-old either one foot from me or on my person. I guess the question I’m throwing out on the table this week is this: Why do we continue to fight God and lash about in His grasp like He’s a big Taker instead of a Giver? What is it we think He’s trying to rob us of? To whom have we compared Him so that we’ve assumed we cannot trust Him?
Don’t be so stubborn, the psalmist is saying. Cooperate and go with God some place beautiful. Some place almost magical.
Revel in the two preceding verses in the same psalm (32), this time from the NIV:
6Â Therefore let all the faithful pray to You
while You may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7Â You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Surround sound. Oh, if our spiritual ears could only be opened for a few glorious minutes, what a musical score we’d hear all around us. To go with Jesus is to go the way of deliverance. The way of music. The way of symphonies. The way of ascent amid mighty rising waters. So, I’m going with Jackson in my memory work this round:
Beth, Houston. So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
So, what’s yours?
You are loved around here, Sister. We are honored to serve you.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Michele, Waco, TX
Proverbs 4:26
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”
My kids to go “Grammy Camp” every summer…but she won’t take more than 2 at a time!
Jan, Marion,Iowa:Psalm 121:3-5 He will not allow your foot to slip, Your Protector will not slumber.
(4)Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
(5)The Lord protects you; The Lord is a shelter right by your side. HCB
Susan, Durango Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1, NIV
Carolyn, Austin, TX
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV
Julia – Springfield, TN
So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
Debbie, Calgary AB. Canada
So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
(Too fun/wise — appropriate for me 🙂 to not memorize…)
Joanne from Bremerton, WA
Micah 6:8 ESV
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
AmandaJo- Trinidad, CO
“The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up.”
Psalm 94:19 MESSAGE
“Do not withold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:27 NIV
My exact verse just last month. Good one, huh!
Leslie, Kansas City, MO You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Stephanie Dallas
1 John 4:18
(NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
A servent of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 2 Timothy 2:24 NLT
I raise my eyes toward the hills, where will my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
Michelle Parma, OH
James 3:11
A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? NET
Kendra, College Station, TX
But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 HCSB
Lyn Steriti
Littleton NH
From the end of the earth, I call to You when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.
Psalm 61- 2-3 NASB
Ephisians 6:10 NLT “A final word: Be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power.”
Yvonne, King, NC For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3 NIV
Psalm 103:22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Kathryn, Oceanside, “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12 (NLT)
Jennifer, Otisville, MI. So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
Janell~Frisco~Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace.[a] By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God IS a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 HCSB
Beckie Potterfield, Florence, SC
Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
Joyce Davidson, Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada
“He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.”
Psalm 25:13 NIV84
Jean from Lebanon, Tennessee
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—
how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:32 NIV
Beth, Dyersburg, Tn
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance. Ps 32:7
Carol from Kansas City
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. (Psalms 103:10, 11 NASB)
Nell, Gallatin
Matthew 5:3-6 ESV 3″blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 4 “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” 5″blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” 6″ blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Cindy – Houston
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeremiah 31:25 NIV
Shannon Boyer, Missouri city, tx
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12 ESV
Nedrea from Hoover, Alabama
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NIV
Sarah, Colorado Springs, CO
Psalms 73:26 NIV:
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Jan Horne
Bossier City, LA
Psalm 32:8 NIV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Midland, TX
Galatians 6:6 (HCSB)
The one who is taught the message
must share his goods with the teacher.
Dawn – Pampa, TX
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
Psalm 91:1 NIV
Hannah from Winter Haven, FL
Psalm 119:41-44 (NKJV)
41-Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord-Your salvation according to Your word. 42-So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. 43-And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances. 44-So shall I keep Your law continually forever and ever.
Michelle Alosa
Concord, NH
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
Emily, Abu Dhabi
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 NIV (6/15, forgot to post — SORRY!)
“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV (7/1)
12 Let the one the Lord loves
rest secure in Him
for He shields him all day long
and the one the Lord loves
rests between His shoulders.
Deut 33:12
what a comforting thought….being carried on my Daddy’s back as He makes my way through the day….aaaahhhh……
Tami KC, MO
Isaiah 61:4 NIV
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Britt, Burlington, NC. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Unknown
Lauren, Dedham, MA: “Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” Psalm 25:12 (NIV)
Suzanne Bailey, Harrisville
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NIV
Melissa
Midlothian, VA
“Psalm 139:13-14
New International Version (NIV)
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
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Kesley Buckles from Rome, GA – “For You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 71:5 ESV
Emily from Birmingham, AL …
“I remain CONFIDENT of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalms 27:13
Whoops … Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
BOY DID I NEED THAT!
Alicia, Chicago. So don’t be like a horse or donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you. Psalm 32:9 NCV
THANK YOU!
Lisa Walden – Grand Prairie Tx
1 John 5:13-14 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us …
Soni from Gulfport, MS…Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to
keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Lara Harris Spring Hill, TN
Psalm 92:5 NIV
Lord you have done great things! How deep are your thoughts!