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
Amanda Tracy, Durham, NC
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Joan G, Allentown, PA It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV
Kat – Albany, NY
“I sought the Lord and he answered me and he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 34: 3-4 NIV
Jen, Katy, TX
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5 ESV
Kristin, Carlsbad, CA “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
Ashley from Bean Station, TN: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 NET
Wendy
Vero Beach
“The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.”
Proverbs 16:21 (NIV)
Teresa, Chadron NE. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Christy, Lima
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Darla, Pittsburgh PA
2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Marla from Dixon, IL 1Corinthians 13:2 NIV
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
Emily, Topeka, Kansas
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
Jackson, TN
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)
Crystal Clark, Omaha, NE
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6 (niv)
Kasey from Newnan Ga. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
Jill, from Sterling Heights, MI
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV)
Laura
Decatur IL
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the LORD will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15 NKJV
Jeannine Hale
Eagan, MN
Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Deb, Becker, MN
There is none like God, O Jeshurum, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut 33:26-27
Deneen -Pittsburgh, PA
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV
Carol Peavy
Jena, LA
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress for His anointed one.
Psalm 28:7-8 NIV
Whitney from Cape Girardeau, MO
Phillippians 4:7
And the peace God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
NKJV
Amanda, Chandler AZ
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8, ESV
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21 NLT)
Sharon, from North Plainfield, NJ
When God reigns, the order of the day is redeeming justice, true peace, and joy made possible by the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 14:17b (The Voice)
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” NIV
Mary Margaret from Nashville, TN
“But far be it from me but to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 (ESV)
Amy, from North Plainfield, NJ
God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? ~ Numbers 23:19 (ESV)
Melanie from Georgetown says.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
Psalm 46:6 NIV
Jen (Prosper, TX)
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
1 John 5:21 (NLT)
Britney– Concord, NC
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalms 34:18 [ESV]
Kathy
Shattuck, OK
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13
Jane W., Charlotte
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” II Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
Sue
Big Rapids, MI
Ps. 91:4 NASB He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
Cheryl, Austin: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8(ESV)
Ann, SC
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:7 NIV
Ande S. Corryton Tn
Ah Lord God! Behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jeremiah 32:16
KJV
CHRISTIE, Graham, WA
” I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14 NASB
becky from alabama
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul…
Mindy Seekford. Gloster, LA
Deut 33:12
And of Benjamin he said; the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety
by Him. The Lord shall cover him all the day long
And he shall dwell between His shoulders.
Brenda from Byhalia, MS
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Cathi, Morristown TN
That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. (Galatians 5: 26 MSG)
Veronica- Atlanta georgia. Wait on the lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart. Psalms 27:14(memory card)
Lexington, Ky
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (James 5:8 NIV)
Erin, maysville
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
Hilary, Buffalo, NY (but moving this week to Winter Springs, FL)
Proverbs 3:17, NIV
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Becky, Vicksburg, MS
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
Carol, Belleville, ON, Canada:
“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea….”
Psalm 72:8b
“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. Psalm 61:2b NKJV
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way: walk in it.”