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
1 June 2013
Lynn from Leonardtown
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. “(Matthew 6:33, 34 NIV)
Psalm 29:11 NIV
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
NIV I Cor. !0:5
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Caitlin, McKinney, TX
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” Proverbs 14:8, NIV
Tracy F.
Lake St. Louis, MO
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
NIV
July 1st 2013. NIV John 8:12 “I am the light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Yet Jesus himself withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:16 NIV
Judy Heindl – Cottageville WV Ps 117:1&2 KJV
1.”O praise the LORD,all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”
2.”For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Karen C. – Carmel, IN “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.” Psalm 37:21-22 NIV
DeAnna- Greenville SC
1 Peter2:-9-10 NIV
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Ginger from Phoenix, AZ
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
-Psalm 139:23, NIV1984
OK – this has nothing to do with scripture memory, but the following sentence from your blog
although at times your husband could be in considerable harm’s way if he spouts another word
made me think of a Christian commedian’s comments I heard recently at my daughter’s College orientation. He said something like… When two people get married and the woman recites the vows of “in sickness or in health, in plenty or in want”… the man should recite somthing like a Miranda… “I have the right to remain silent, anything I say can or will be held against me…”
Don’t need to publish – I just thought Beth might get a laugh.
Lynn, Pittsburgh, PA “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied be contentment…”
1 Tim. 6:6 NAS
Linda W. from Tomball, TX
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Hebrews 11:3 (NIV) ‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.’
Cyndi from Centreville, VA
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NRSV)
Olivia, Madison, MS
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ESV
Jan, Athens, Ga: Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
“The Lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Melanie Miller, Nampa, ID
Psalm 25:12 NLT
Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
Are you kidding? I would be a donkey to pass this one up!
WE can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9 Message
Sue. Groveport, OH
Psalm 34:4-5. NIV
I sought the LORD and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
Beth, Fountain Inn, Ephesians 1:4 ESV
…even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love…
Laura, League City, TX:
“This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Leah from Bloomington, IN “and set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 amp
St. Louis, MO – The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (Isaiah 61:1 NIV)
Amanda Porter.
Lubbock, Texas.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3, 4 NIV)
Brandy, San Angelo, TX
“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives us the right answer.” Proverbs 16:1, NLT
Stephanie
Abilene, TX
So also you will have sorrow now but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:22, ESV
Lindsey from Dubach, LA…”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 the Lord and put their trust in him.” -Psalm 40:2-3 (NIV)
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.” 1 Timothy 1:15 NIV
Kristin, Clearwater, FL
Ps. 131 ESV
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with it’s mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Mark 8:36 (NIV)
Lissa from granbury, tx
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 esv
Rosalie Cincinnati
“(And of Benjamin he said,) The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12 KJV
“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Titus 2:11-12 ESV
Jayne- Frisco, TX
“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
Kelly P. , Concord, NC
1 Corinthian 13:11-12 NIV
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Kaye from Hamburg,AR
“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 NASB
Elaine, New Orleans, LA
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5 NLT
Debbie – Prattville, AL
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and
looking forward to what lies ahead.
Philippians 3:13
NLT
Jonna, , Malibu, CA
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord ’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. (Psalm 32:8-10 NIV)
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. Judges 6:12 (NIV)
Freida, Chatham,LA “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;” Psalm 103:13
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
Kim Baker, Louisville, KY
John 10:28, ESV
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Sorry,I posted my verse from last time.
Kim Baker, Louisville, KY
1 Cor. 9:27 ESV
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Melissa Droegemueller
San Antonio, TX
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 ESV
Keely from Hermann, Mo : 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NIV “If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Julie, Texarkana-“it is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord. (Lamentations 3:26 HCSB)
Gretchen, Gahanna, Ohio– Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV