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
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ John 14:6-7 NIV
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Pam J. , Corydon, IN
“The unfailing love of The Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. ”
Lamentations 3:22
NLT
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
I’m so ashamed that I need this verse so much…thanks!
Becky Bigbie. Highland Village. Tx. “But you Timothy are a man of God, so run from all these evil things. Pursue a righteous and Godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11. NLV
Wynell
Athens, GA
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;I shall not be moved.
Psalm 62:5-6(NKJV)
Charmaine, Miami – “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJV
Pam Hendersonville, NC
Jeremiah 29:13-“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” KJV
Tracy, Kountze, Texas
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2 NASB
Caroline, Rio, WI
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ”
Galations 2:20 NIV
Nancy, Redkey,IN
Trust in him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge!
-Psalm 62:8 (NIV)-
Amanda, Knoxville TN: “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance and in your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:16 NASB
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13 NIV
Sara Middleburg
Psalm 32:7 KJV
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt pass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Ellen Forrester, Spring, TX
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 (ESV)
Karen from Unionville, PA
Psalm 139:23 (NAS)
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
Gerri, Des Moines , WA
John 14:27 NIV
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled And do not be afraid.
Take delight in The Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4
They shall bear thee up in their hands,lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Psalms 91:12 KJV
Debbie – Keller, TX
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (HCSB)
Trinna, Covington, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Deb, Pelzer, SC
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV): “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Jessica- Waukesha, WI
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26 (NIV)
You are my friend if you do what I command. John 15:14 NIV
Yvonne
Fresno, CA
Psalm 18:39-40 NIV
You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries low at my feet. You made my enemies turn back in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
Paula from Conway,SC
“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Marsha Lufkin
Isaiah 6:8
and I heard the voice from the Lord “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” then I said, “Here am I! Send me”
Muriel, Ontario Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
Marlise – Ponte Vedra Beach Fl
“You are me hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverence.”
Psalms 32:7 (NIV)
Stephanie Shelbyville, In.And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Tx
Galatians 5:1 (NASB)
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Timothy 1:14 (NIV)
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Pat Stokes
Portland, Texas
I am still 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. Psalms 27:13-14
Missie, Marble Falls TX:
“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” Psalm 145:5 ESV
WAYNE, PA
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by his hand.
Ps 37:23-24 NLT
Jeri, Draper UT
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalms 32:8 NIV
Cheryl P, Pensacola, FL:
2 Timothy 4:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Philippians4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
Anne from Glen Allen Va
When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.
Psalm 138:3 NIV
Patti, Phoenix AZ
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” [NLT]
Virginia, Elgin TX
If you make the Most High your dwelling, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your home. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:9-11 NIV
Dee Dee, Fernandina Beach, Fla
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1John 2:15 NIV
Kristin V from Greenwood, IN: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Maureen, Utah
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ASV
Angie Smith
Waxhaw, NC
Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12 ESV)
Hilary, Columbus, GA
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NIV
(Going through the “Living Beyond Yourself” study again, and this was my verse to study!)
Cindy, Uvalde, Texas
Delight yourself also in the Lord . . .
Psalm 37:4 NKJ
Connie, Chariton, NKJV James 2:9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Valerie
Clinton, Me
“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.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Liz
Norman, OK
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NLT
Marianne from Carrollton-
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV)