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
Shelley, Shiloh, IL: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11 ESV
Jackie, Covington, IN: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
Dora, Houston, Tx: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”
–Psalm 13:6 (NIV)
Marcia – Portland, OR
Psalm 32:8 NIV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
” If only you, God, would slay the wicked. Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty.”
Psalm 139:19 NIV
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Ps 32:7esv
mariel
wake forest, nc
Melody, Cleburne, TX
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be burdened AGAIN, by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24 NASB
Kim, Osler Canada
Philippians 4:8 NIV Study Bible
Finally brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Amanda Cross, Van Buren, AR
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
Staci, holland mi
Psalm 91:6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Memorizing all I psalm 91, a verse at a time 🙂
Zephaniah 3:17″The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
17 Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. 18 We have a special role in His plan. He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love.
James 1:17-18 The Voice
Thanking Him for the creatures (4-legged furries) He uses to show His Goodness & love
Carole, Imperial, CA: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:26-27 NIV
Beth, Troy
“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
Patty B, Marysville, OH
Lamentations 2:19a (NIV) Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children
ephesians 2:8 for by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God… ouida baley frome royse city tex…. blessings to all
Sue – Troy,MI – “Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before The Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:9-10 (NIV)
Christy from Holland, MI
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13, NIV
Katy
Frisco, TX
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:9-13 [NIV]
Julie, Holland, Michigan
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 ESV
Bobbie Puckett Ft. Worth, Texas
Ehpesian 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the “need of the moment”, so that it will give grace to all those who hear.
Linda, Olympia, WA Titus 3:1,2 nkjv “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
NM; Micah 6:8 (NIV) He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Lisha, Wetumpka, AL
(Changed my selected verse after reading the post! This one truly spoke to me.)
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Psalm 32:7
New Living Translation (NLT)
Melissa, Columbus, OH
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Col. 4:5 ESV
Sarah Fort Worth, TX
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom should I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1 HCSB
Ann, Lexington, TN.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
Kim, Amherst, OH
1 Corth. 2:9 NIV
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
Rachel, Frankfort, IL
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy
1 Peter 1:8
Melissa, Katy, Texas, Psalm 25:14 NIV
The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant know to them.
Dee, Zeeland, MI from NIV84 2nd Corinthians 12:9 & 10
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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Carmen, Fergus Falls, MN
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
Beth, LaGrange, GA
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16
Brandi K
Cape Girardeau, MO
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7 NIV
Trina
Midland Tx
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Amy, Washington DC, “So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.” Romans 8:1 ICB
Romans:12:12
Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. (Good News Bible)
Jen, Houston
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Stephanie Scottsdale, AZ
“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
~ Exodus 14:14, NLT
Peggyann ~ Crestview
Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray.
Mark 1:35 NIV
Jill, Williamsburg ( new city )
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise they will not reach him.
Psalm 32:6 NIV
Amy – Custer SD
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:11-12 NIV
Sharon, St. Louis. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Melissa, Greensburg, KY — “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” – Psalm 33:9, NAS
Amy, Hood River, “Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1.13, The NET Bible
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (niv)
Karen, Reading PA
John 17:3 (NKJV)
And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
San Ramon, CA
“For you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” ~ Psalm 9:106 (NIV)
Bette, Bothell For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude Psalm 32:7 NLT