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
Elizabeth Meagher Mechanicsville, VA
“May our Lord Jesus Christ comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLT
Linda Ney from Gahanna, Ohio
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together
in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139 NIV
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 (NIV)
Forgot the Norfolk, VA part! Karen Stowe
Marie, Easley, SC
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.
Psalm 28:7
D’Anna Nowack
Kilgore, Texas
Ephesians 3:20
New International Version (NIV)
20 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,
Vicki, Peoria,IL
1John 4:12 (NIV)
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
roxanne
Hummelstown, Pa
…when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Mat6:6-7)
Cathy, Richomon, VA
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 NIV’84
Allison – Huntsville, TX – James 3:13-16 NIV
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Leslee Tavenner, Columbia, Sc
You know what I long for; you hear my every sigh. Psalm 38:9 NIV
Cara from Houston
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ellen White
Saint Augustine
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
NASB
Sara, Greenville, SC – In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. Psalms 34:6 NLT
Megan, Salisbury MD.
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. Philippians 3:18-19 NLT
Suzy Myers
Bay Springs, MS
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” ~2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
Poorna Diaz
Arlington, VA
Kira, Ray, MI
Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Stormy, Lynchburg, VA
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. Romans 4:20 NIV
Crystal Ogden
Tenaha, TX
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NASB
NKJ- Gal 5:22
The fruit of the Spirit is….Goodness.
Galations 4:6-7 (Phillips) It is because you really are his sons that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry “Father, dear Father”. You are not a servant any longer; through God you are a son; and, if you are a son, then you are certainly an heir.
Claire, Houston, Psalm 27:13 NIV, I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Kandi from Tallahassee, Florida
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8 NIV
Beth, North Royalton, OH
Proverbs 31:11&12 RSV
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:25 NLT
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Kelly, Auburn Al – For I am The Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Fran, Jackson, Tn
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV)
Emily S. ~ Weatherford, TX ~ “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” ~ Psalm 34:8 NIV
Erica, Kalona, Iowa
Philippians 4:6 NIV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Kristi, Lenoir City, TN
O Sovereign Lord, You are God! Your words are trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.
2 Samuel 7:29 NIV 1984
Jean Herrick Princeton Maine
He will keep you strong to the end,
so that you will be blameless
on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)
Michele Powell, Nampa ID
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Seek God’s will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Thanks for your Scripture and sharing! Blessed me much!
Looking forward to today’s Gideon. I am on EST and so excitedly awaiting your 8 am so to get to the next video! Thanks again! His GREATEST BLESSING: HIMSELF upon and in you and working through you all BC of JESUS!
Aimee, Houston, TX
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for the building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 NIV
Candy from St. Louis
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)
Cindy, Biloxi, MS
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
Audrey from Fayetteville, AR:
“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in The Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart.”
Psalm 32:10-11 NIV
Stephanie – Columbus, OH – John 1:3 By Him all things were made, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” KJV
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.” Isaiah 30:21
Heather W, Nederland, TX
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19 NIV)
Kristi, Greenville, TX
“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”
Isaiah 32:17, NJKV
Brenda Hayden, Auburn, Washington
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you, by his poverty might become rich.
Annie
Dallas, Texas
“but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:13b-14
NIV
Becky, Roswell, GA
“They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”
Psalm 84:7, NLT
“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Romans 5:2c-5 NIV
Pamela, Mechanicsville, VA.
Be still and know that I am GOD.
Psalm 46:10 NIV
James 3:17 (HCSB version) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.
Lilburn, GA
God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in. (Psalm 25:14 MSG)
Jennifer, Germantown WI
“The Lord Himself will fight for you, just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14