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:
8Â Â Â Â Â Â The LORD says, âI will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.
9Â Â Â Â Â Â So donât be like a horse or donkey, that doesnât understand. They must be led with bits and reins,
or they will not come near you.â
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 donât be like a horse or donkey, that doesnât 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
“Always take time to talk to God. Put your mind on what you are saying. And thank God for what He has done.” ~ Colossians 4:2 WE
Angie, Markham.
You desire and you do not have; you murder
and envy and you cannot obtain ; you quarrel
and fight. You do not have because you do not
ask. JAMES 4:2 NET
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for her strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. She will be like a bush in the wastelands; she will not see prosperity when it comes. She will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
Jeremiah 17:5-6, NIV
Crystal, San Antonio
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV)
Janet, Holmes Beach, FL
But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
Romans 8:12-14, NLT
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Janet, Holmes Beach, FL
But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9 NIV
Isaiah 40:29 (NET)
He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power he gives renewed energy.
E’Von,Houston , Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. â 31 The second is this:âLove your neighbor as yourself. â There is no commandment greater than these.â
Shelly Elston, Portland,OR
“May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you.”
Jude 1:2 (The NET Bible)
“She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come.”
Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Gail, Phoenix
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
Carol, Santa Maria, Ca, 1 Chronicles 29:11 NET, “O LORD, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the ruler of all.” Thank you Beth for providing the tools to make this verse such a delight to memorize.
Lisa, Greensburg, PA
“Thou dost arm me with strength for the battle and dost subdue my foes before me. Thou sets my foot on my enemy’s neck, and I bring to nothing those that hate me.”
Psalm 18:39-40 (NEB)
Debbie, Spartanburg SC
Search me, O God and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139: 23-24) NIV
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 NIV
Joelle Roibal, Abilene, TX
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
(Ephesians 1:17 NIV)
Laura Beth, Jackson
Isaiah 40:31, NLT
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Heidi ~ Oak Harbor WA.
I received mercy for this reason:
that in me . . .
Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience
as an example
to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.
I Tim 1:16 ESV
Kayla
Edmond, OK
but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (HCSB)
Kelli , Dover
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3 ESV
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously…
colassians 1:11 nasb
Alta, Sharpsville, In.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path.
Proverbs 2:7-8 NIV
Fort Worth, TX:
“The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.” Psalm 121:7
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
The Lord says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you. ” 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.
Psalms 32:8&9 NCV
Kim, from Duncan, SC:
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 NIV
Gena Gilbert, Rowlett, Texas
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord,
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37
Lisa Curtis
Jackson, MO
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what is required of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Selina, Barbourville, KY.
Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.And will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty.
II Corinthians 6:17&18 KJV
Matthew 15:26, NKVJ “But He answered and said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.
Jude 12 These people are blemishes at your love fest, eating with you without the slightest qualm-shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain blown along by the wind; autumn trees without fruit and uprooted twice dead (TNIV)
W.Richland
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7 NIV
Diane, Cypress, TX
The Lord says, âI will make you wise and show you where to go.
I will guide you and watch over you. NCV
Sherry Deer Park, Tx
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. NIV
Michele ~ Kenosha, WI
So don’t be like a horse or a donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you.
Psalm 32:9 NCV
Thanks Mama Beth! Indeed!
Mary Soisson, Barboursville, VA
I will say of YHWH, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:2, KJV
Kathy from Aiea, Hawaii:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV)
Eva, Knoxville – (cont.) When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil,nor does he tempt anyone. James 1:13 (NIV)
Jesus responded, âDidnât I tell you that you would see Godâs glory if you believe?â
John 11:40 (NLT)
Kimberly Orr
Zionsville, Indiana
So this is the one I am doing–
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers that sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 NIV
But after reading your post feel led to add because it begins with I will make you wise…oh Lord may it be true–The LORD says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you. So don’t be like a horse or a donkey, that doesn’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins,or they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:8-9
Christina, Lancaster, CA
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 ESV
WOOHOO! OVER HALF WAY!!!!
JJ, Orlando
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4, NIV
Jane, Houston
Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
“You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
And they shall be called The Holy People, The redeemed of the Lord; and shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Fotsaken
Isaiah 63:12 NIV
April, New Orleans, LA
“Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom.”
James 2:12, HCSB
Sandy, Lexington, KY
“You will keep in perfect peace him who’s mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 29:3-4 (NIV)
Carolyn, Rocksprings, TX
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.â Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 TNIV