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
Mitzi from Midland, TX
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV)
Abbie, Omaha, NE.
Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy.” (ESV)
Wendi
Kathleen, GA
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phil 4:8 NLT
Jenna, KC MO
Kristin, Searcy. The Lord says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NCV)
lynn, Louisville, KY
because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
Philemon 1:5 (NASB)
Pam, Springfield, MO
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Psalm 4:4 NKJV
Meditate within your heart on your bed & be still.
Psalm 1:2
And in his law he meditates day & night.
Psalm 119:97
On how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Hannah, Chesterland, OH
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.”
Isaiah 48:15-16
Stephanie – Tampa, FL
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12 NIV
Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
Psalm 3:7. ESV
Stephanie V., Tulsa, Ok.
*cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22, nkjv)
Andrea, Pottstown
Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39 NLT
Katie Melton from Loganville, GA
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.”
Proverbs 19:23 ESV
Kristen, Marble, NC
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Alesha, Charlotte, NC
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations. Daniel 4:3. NLT
“The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'” -Psalm 32:8 [NLT]
Marsha Fort Smith
I wait for The Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Isaiah 6:3 NAB
Natalie; Leesburg, GA ” I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”(Psalm 130:5 NIV)
Walker, LA
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25 NIV)
Katie Euken
Muscatine, IA
“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV
Kim, Cincinnati
For the word of God alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Danielle, Evansville, IN
“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.” Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Deuteronomy 6:6 ESV
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
AdeleAlys from Matthews, NC:
“On you I have relied since my birth, since my mother’s womb you have been my portion, the constant theme of my praise…My mouth is full of your praises, filled with your splendour all day long.”
Psalm 71:6,8 (New Jerusalem Bible)
Cherie – Pocatello, ID – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NRSV)
Tori DeClue; Bolivar, MO
“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.”
Psalm 63:3
NIV
For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
Carolyn, Moved to Ringgold, GA
Psalm 30:11-12 NIV
YOU turned my wailing into Dancing
YOU removed my Sackcloth
and clothed me with JOY
that my heart may SING YOUR PRAISES
and not be silent,
Lord my God, I will praise you Forever
Don’t be so stubborn, huh? Here’s my verse, chosen several days ago:
Sandy, Bryan, Ohio
Exodus 33:3 “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (NIV)
Anne; Marion, Indiana
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Tammy Van, TX Phil 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (NIV)
Cindy, Nashville, TN ” You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 NIV
Ephesians 1:4, NIV
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
Tammy
Ingleside,TX
Tabitha Schenkel
Liberty, NC
Psalm 103:3 NLT
“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”
Houston, Tx.
NIV Psalm 119:3
They do no wrong but
follow his way.
Liz, Nashua, NH
1 Cor 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” NIV
Tabitha Schenkel
Liberty, NC
Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”
Wendy, Fort Walton Beach, FL
James 1:2 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.
Ellen, Moneta VA
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be His treasured possession. -Deuteronomy 14:2 (NIV 1984)
Carolyn from Nashville, TN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Andrea; Cartersville,GA: “I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” Psalm 143:6 ESV
Theresa from Tenaha, Tx
Seek God’s will in all you do, and he will show
You which path to take. Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Susan, Murfreesboro, TN
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2 NIV
Suzanne, Birmingham: “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples”
1 Chronicles 16:8 NRSV
Jill, Export PA
“Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5: 1-2
Carolyn, St. Catharine’s, ON
I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 (NLT)
Tracey Moyers from Loganville, GA
“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”
1 Peter 2:16 NIV
Patti, Clemmons, NC
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV