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
Ps 103:11 & 12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Kym, Highlands Ranch, CO. “They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezekiel 16:50
Jamie – Michigan
“For where your treasure is,there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:21 NIV
Carol, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
John 15:9-10 NIV
Shannon, Buda TX
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities..
Psalm 103:10 (NIV)
Sandy – Dodge City, KS
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
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV
Cindy Mount Gilead, Ohio
Isaiah 49:15b-16 NIV
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever beford me.
Karen from Powell, Ohio
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 NIV
Kathi from Jacksonville, Fl “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”-1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb. 10:23 (NIV)
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)
Susie, Carmel, IN
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians 3:16-17 (NLT)
Ana from Tampa, FL
Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, agains the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Kathy Leamington Ontario Canada
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV
Amy Krummen Minneapolis, MN
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
Lori Lehrmann ~ Port Arthur, TX
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. ~Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)
Cheryl, Redlands, CA
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Cami, Nashville, TN
Apply your heart to instruction & your ears to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12 NIV
Cara, Oswego. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”
Jeremiah 17:7
Michelle, Alberta, Canada
“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”
– Mark 6:42-43
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 6:19-20 KJV
Cheri
Louisville, KY
Shannon Costanzo, Kissimmme, Florida
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
Joyce
Sparta, NJ
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”. Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
Debbie, Simi Valley, CA. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Wanda
Osborn, Missouri
Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
Now hope does not disappoint, because
the love of God has been poured out in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was
given to us.
West Monroe, LA:
Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life or one’s friends.
John 15:13 NIV
Amy- ga
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4 ESV)
Diane, Wedgefield, SC – But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3, NIV 1984
Jennifer, Kodak, TN
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
Alicia
from League City, TX
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 NIV
Romans 15:13. NKJV
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20, 21 NIV)
Amy, Seattle, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4;13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord.
Hosea 2:19, 20
Gail Tyler,TX
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6 NKJV
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 NASV
Jane Williams, Van Buren, AR
“And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12 (NAS)
Lyli, Fort Lauderdale:
“Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12, ESV).
Gabby, Lake View,New York
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deut 31:8 NIV
Lynette, Nashville, TN
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NIV
Turn to me & have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love Your name.
Ps 119:132
Danyelle, Dayton, OH
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
D’Anne, Loganville, GA And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deuteronomy 10:12 NIV)
Lisa, Andalusia, Alabama
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3 ESV
Heika-Texas
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1NIV
(A good one to remember for my parenting) 🙂
Fairview, TN There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV
Margo, Laramie, WY
Psalm 19: 12-13
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive me my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins, that they might not rule over me. Then I will be considered blameless, acquitted of great transgression.
Dawn, West Monroe, LA
For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. Philippians 4:11