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 from San Angelo
For the Lord is good
and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through
all generations.
Psalm 100:5 NIV
Barb, Prescott Valley, AZ, Psalm 63:3 NIV, 2011
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
Andrea, Spring Branch, Texas:
John 15:16 ESV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
I am the lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
Is 48:17b NIV
Marla, Bolivar, MO
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on the most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of your Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21 NAS
Michelle K., Warner Robins, GA
But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare ALL the things You have done. Ps. 73:28 NET
Natalie from Perry, Ga. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by the bit and bridle or they will not come to you” Psalm 32:8-9 NIV
What can I say? This really spoke to me. I actually have a donkey and trust me, I do not want to be like him. I need some guidance from God alone for my career.
Melanie, San Antonio, TX
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Cindy, Rochester, MN “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV84)
Angie, Aberdeen, SD: Exodus 33:14 (ESV) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Patti Salem, Oregon
Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look-the Judge is standing at the door!
James5:9 NLT
Dwan
Kings Mountain, NC
Make every effort to live in pease wil everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14, NIV
Christy
Fayetteville,AR
“You have kept Your promise because You are righteous.”
Nehemiah 9:8b
NIV
Rene’ , Edmond, OK
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Col. 3:5 NLT
Angie Edwards
Severance, CO
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (NIV)
Jennifer, Cincinnati:
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1 NIV84
Chelsey S. from Amarillo, TX
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Nancy Beda,Boardman,Ohio
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, “Destroy him!” Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)
Maureen, St. Clair Shores, “Your blessing clothes your people!” (Psalm 3:8b Msg)
Concetta, White Oak, James 3:10 (NIV) “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
Sheila, Beckley, WV And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 NET
“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 (New Century Bible)
Reeder Auburn, AL
Is. 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “this is the way, walk in it”, whenever you turn to the right or left.
Debbie Kerr, White Lake, MI
2 Peter 3:14 NLT~ “And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”
Cindy, Madrid, Spain
“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
Lisa, Simsboro,LA
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 NIV
Pam Houston Buena Park, CA (presently RV camping in Provo, Utah)
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 NASB
Isaiah 41:10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
Tanya, New Castle, IN
“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:9 (NIV)
Debbie, Rochester, MN
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:10 NLT
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
Debi, Alva, Fl. – 1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact as you are doing. NIV
Kelly Snodgrass
Rogersville, TN
Isaiah 59.19a KJV
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun;
Jill Winter Haven, FL
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:13 NKJV
Rachel, JacksonTN
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” Romans 9:21 NIV
Lisa Stimpson, Munford, Tn.,
He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves
Him disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24. NKJV
Riverton UT
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17 NIV)
Cassidy, Houston, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
Starr, Panama City, FL
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. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Jaclyn from Naperville, IL “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV
Traci from Evansdale, IA
“The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Exodus 15:2 NIV
Roni – Demopolis, AL “The Lord Lives! Praise to My Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted! NLT
Tori, Moore “He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.” Ps. 121:3 HCSB
Caryn from Grand Prairie, TX
“From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. ”
Psaln 3:8
Mandy, Watkinsville, GA
Psalm 31:24 NKJV
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Ashley from Allen, TX
Psalm 86:11 (NLT)
“Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.”
Amy from Florissant: “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.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8(NIV)
Mariposa Sivage, Albuquerque New Mexico
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
Kerry, Nederland, TX
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NLT