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
Norfolk, VA
I am the LORD your God who brought you up out of Egypt, open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
Psalm 81:10
NIV
Ali S.
Midwest City, OK
Psalm 91:6 (NIV)
Nor the Pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Becky Parrish, Lynchburg, VA
Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Isaiah 49:16 HCSB
Katie Davila, Tomball, TX:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
Gail Dorn from San Antonio, TX
Michelle, Houston “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16 NIV
Collierville, TN
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
Matthew 11:28 NIV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ” Psalm 139:23-24
Jaclyn, Houston, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like (wo)men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV
Alicia, OKC
The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22 ESV
Judy from Lake Charles, LA
“but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for He knows their day is coming.”
Psalm 37:13
Jennifer, Cullman, AL
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:6-7 NIV
Karen, Lynnwood, Wa
Psalm 62:5-6 NIV
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.
Jaton, Longview: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving The Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11&12 (NIV)
Ali C., Pleasanton, CA-For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalms 62:5 (ESV)
Nancy
Lakewood, CO
“You’re my place of quiet retreat. I wait for Your word to renew me.” Ps 119:114 The Message
Gail Dorn from San Antonio, TX
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. (NLT)
Rosalye, Vicksburg
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from The Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Cor.3:8
NIV
Kristi, White Pigeon, Michigan – “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV ’84
Fareen
Las Vegas, NV
“From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentle wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.”
James 3:10-14 NASB
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Jamie Teagle, Atlanta, GA
Hosea 10:12 (NIV)
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
Tammy from Fort Myers, FL “For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it.” Proverbs 8:11 HCSB
Carla LaFayette, Al.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9. NIV
April Lopez, Bonneylake, Wa
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4 niv
Emmilianna Ferreria, Bonneylake, Wa
1st. John 4:18 icb. Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear.
Karen, Clarksville, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 NIV
Janet, West Linn, OR
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matt 5:7 NIV
Sarah, Bracknell, UK
“Behold, we count those blessed who endured.You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”
James 5:11 NAS
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7 NIV)
Julie/Deer Park/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
Danielle from Cedar Park, TX
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Hebrews 10:12,14 (NIV)
J.J., Longmont, CO.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I had to post two — they are so related and so what I need:
Toni, Greer, SC “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3 NIV and
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
And this is what he has promised us,
eternal life.
1 John 2:25 NRSV
Tesa
Perry, GA
For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation.
Psalm 149:4
Ellen K., Stoughton, MA
Numbers 6:24-25 NLT
May the LORD bless and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace.
Revelation 1:7 NLT
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven and everyone will see Him – even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for Him. Yes! Amen!
Glennell from Buda, Tx.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NAS)
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Hannah, Miramar Beach. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalm 32:11 NLT
Georganne, Piedmont, Ok. Psalm 94:19 Living
Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.
Cindy H. Gilbertsville, KY
Proverbs 16:9 ESV
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Lori, Friendswood, TX
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
Psalm 19: 8 (NIV)
Lichelle, Austin, John 14:14 NLT
The Lord will fight for you. Just stay calm.
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:5 NIV
Adrienne
Jasper, TN
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Rom 12:16 NIV
Kim Rushville, Ohio
Romans 4:20-21 NIV
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what he had promised.”
Jill
Plano,TX
Isaiah 26 Amplified
4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Jan
Bemus Point, NY
Psalm 90:17 (VOICE)
And then let the beauty and grace of the Lord our God rest upon us and bring success to all we do;
yes, bring success to all we do!
Diana Indianapolis 2 Chron.16:9a NIV
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV84)
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Tanis, Terrace
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 HCSB