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
Charlotte, England
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving”
~ Colossians 4:2
Misti, Brookshire, Tx
Psalm 20:7 ESV: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Tammy/Siloam NC—–1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)
Emily McAnear, Corona CA
But you Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to The Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain.
Psalm 3:3-4, NIV
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
II Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
For we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Kay
Plainview, TX
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
Acts 2:17. NIV
Vicki, from Grapevine, TX ~
Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul. ~ Psalm 54:4 NASB
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 NIV
Winston-Salem,NC Susan
Megan JOY – Calgary Alberta, Canada – But He brought His people out like a flock;/He led them like sheep through the desert./He guided them safely so they were unafraid;/But the sea engulfed their enemies. – Psalm 78:52-53 (NIV)
Sherry
Indianapolis, IN
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Romans 12:3 NIV
Jeanette Dahm Tualatin, OR Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us; we have placed our hope in him that he will deliver us again. And you can join in helping with prayer for us.
II Corinthians 1:10-11
Lisa, West Columbia, TX
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Angie W. from Liberty, Missouri: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV84
Tina from Chesapeake, VA- “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:25(NIV84)
Stacey from Boulder, CO
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
Ecclesiastes 5:4
Connie – Fulton, KY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
II Cor. 4:16 NIV
Heather Wilkinson
Springfield, VA
Eph 2:4-6 (NIV)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
next time I will finish the sentence..(v7) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Christy, Summit, MS; “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 NIV
Marilyn Wirsz Odessa, FL
“Count it all joys, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”
James 1:2 ESV
“Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!”
Psalm 143:1 (ESV)
* forgot to say:
Vicki, Smithwick/Marble Falls, TX
Karlys, La Place, LA
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
Proverbs 3:19 ESV
Joanne, Callahan
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalms 145:8 (NIV)
Shelly Wilson, Fort Worth, TX
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. (Psalms 116:7 HCSB)
Margo, Burlington ON
Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Pslam 32:9 NIV
Jeanni, Westland
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26 KJV
Karen H., Stephenville, TX
Romans 12:10 (NASB)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Mary Ellen ~Trenton GA~ “One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.” Ecclesiasties 4:6 NIRV
Bobbie From Ft. Worth, Texas Say:
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the “need of the moment”, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (In other words measure your words before speaking.)
Ephesian 4:29 NASB
Elsie – Scottsbluff, NE
Psalm 86:3 NIV
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I call to You all day long.
Thanks Beth- needed a sister to remind me; love you for it!
Lynda from Ocala: Psalm 103:17 (NIV) – “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children-“
Cheryl, Le Chesnay France
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6 (NLT)
Chattanooga, TN “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 12:9-10 (NIV)
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” I Peter 3:12
Patti – Colorado
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 The NET Bible
Debbie from Amarillo
“Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.”
Psalm 119:165
Laura, Houston: “Fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. He is your praise, He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” Deut. 10:20-21 (NIV)
NIV
2 Samuel 22:33
It is GOD who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
Linda, Spring, Texas – Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
LisaT from Boonsboro, Md.
James 1:11 NIV – For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Pammie, Southern CA. “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
Kristen, Largo, FL NLT “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who trust in Him!” Ps. 34: (can’t recall the exact verse right now; I’m memorizing the whole chapter~ oops!)
Hilary from Langley, Canada, says:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV84)
Linda, Holts Summit, MO
Romans 12:12 NIV
Be Joyful in hope, Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer.
I’m using “the donkey” in my SS class this Sun. Love it!!
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 (CEV)
Ann. Centerville. For this reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 2 Pt. 1:5. NIV
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)