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
Rochet, Kennesaw, GA
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6
Diane Jackson, Wood River, IL
Acts 2:17 (NKJV):
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 119:24 (NIV)
Dawn, Lafayette LA
Romans 15:13 NIV 1984
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For wisdom is better than precious stones, & nothing desirable can compare with it. Pro. 8:11 (Holman)
Allyson
League City TX
Psalm 86:11 ESV
“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”
Tracee, Morristown, TN
But I trust you, Lord, and I claim you as my God. My life is in your hands.
Psalm 31:14-15a CEV
Ryan
Moore, Oklahoma
“We wait for the Lord; he is our deliverer and shield.”
Psalm 33:20
NET
Lauren Morton, Decatur, TX – He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 NIV84
Cathryne, Fayetteville NC
Make me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4 NASB
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to live and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 ESV
Amber, Huntington, IN – Let him out his mouth in the dust – there may yet be hope; Lamentations 3:29 ESV
Mickey, Blue Springs, MO
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
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. Is 41:10, NLT
Lindsey johnson
San antonio, tx
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 ESV)
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Debbie, Hattiesburg, MS
“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
Psalm 91:5-6 (NKJV)
Emily, Derby, KS
Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
Zechariah 9:12 NLT
Katherine, Atlanta, GA
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3 ESV
KariAnn – Houston
Psalm 95:5-6 (NRSV)
The sea is his for he made it, and his hand has molded the dry land. Come let us bow down and bend the knee and kneel before the Lord our maker.
Alissa, Spring, TX
“But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me…”
1 Corinthians 15:10a NLT
Mary Grace, Bolivar Missouri,
Blessed is the man who dose not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinner or sit in the seat of mockers
Psalm 1:1 NIV
Kathy French, Austin
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.”Psalm 25: 16-18 NIV
Tina
Waxahachie, Texas
Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Micah 7:7 (ESV)
“But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”
Carolyn
Wheaton, IL
Diana Yarborough, Gallatin, TN
I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:15-16 NIV
Rene Sandifer Overland Park, KS “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NET
Jennie F. Long Creek, Oregon. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7 NIV
Karina
Baton Rouge,La
“I will remain confident in this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13
NIV
Olivia, Lapwai, Idaho: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 NIV
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
I Corinthians 4:20
Joni, Clarinda
For from of old they have not heard nor pierced by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides thee, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4 NASB
Jana, Tampa, FL
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Colossians 3:8 NIV
Allison, Jersey Village
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Hannah, Baton Rouge, LA
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Anna in Mobile, AL
There is no fear in fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 NIV
Lynchburg, VA.
Matthew 21:22 (English Standard Version)
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Plano, TX
Psalm 121:1 NIV
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
Ellie Richardson – Newton, Iowa
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask praying, believing, ye shall receive.
Matthew 21:22 KJV
Skeet Shiver from Monroe, GA.
I Cor. 13:13 (NIV)
And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Jen, Katy, TX
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He s the faithful God; Keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep Him commands.” Deut. 7:9
Miriam from Granby, CT
Luke 12:32 (ESV)
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Deborah, Katy, TX
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
“We love because he first loved us.”
Allison, Katy, TX
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
“We love because he first loved us.”
Amanda, Katy, TX
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
“We love because he first loved us.”
Brenda Houston, TX
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Chist may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Joy in Bethlehem, GA
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Stephanie
Hamburg, Ar
Psalms 119:114 ESV
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; ” (Psalm 46:10 a NIV)
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.
Isaiah 41:10, NIV