Hey, everybody! You are in the exact right place to submit your Verse 2!
This is such a fun first for SSMT! Remember in the SSMT informational post when I told that, while I’ll still be doing all the SSMT posts on the 1st of every month, the one on every 15th would be written by various sisters in our blog community? Welcome to the first one! It took me about 5 seconds to decide who we should ask to kick off our SSMT guest posts. My beloved friend, Jan Morton, has been an active member of this community from its inception. I fell in love with her by watching her interact with countless women in the comment line, ministering to them and encouraging them and mothering them and making them laugh. And through that connection, we became personal friends. Our SSMT guest bloggers throughout 2015 will be from various age groups but this one happens to be right at my age and in a very similar season in her personal life and serving life. Those of you who have been around a while know that Jan Morton became so dearly loved in this community that we early on named her the “Mayor of Siestaville.” So, without further hesitation, please grant me the honor of introducing you to one of the mightiest women in the faith that I know. Jan, we are so honored to have you host us today! Thank you for investing in us!
Happy 2015 Siestas! This is such a privilege for me to share with our SSMT. I adore this community! My name is Jan Morton. I’m a pastor’s wife from Georgia. [I am also “GJ” for Gran Jan/Georgia Jan.] I’ve been married to my husband Gary for 37 years. Only 20 years old when we got married¸ we were way too young but who knew? ☺ We have two grown married sons, two sweet daughters-in-love, and 5 delightful grandchildren ages 6, 4 ½ , 4 ½, 2 ½, and 17 months – Gran Jan’s JOY! I love gardening, singing in choir/praise team, reading, quilting, and serving in the women’s ministry of my church. I work in our local school system (26 years now) as the Administrative Assistant to our Superintendent. A new ministry I’m involved in at my church is called Taste & See, a mentoring, encouragement time for women. Cooking and conversation! We get in the kitchen and wonderful things happen. Isn’t the kitchen a great place to gather? It is at the Morton home!
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” ESV
The word says: For everything [it says everything], there is a season and a time for every matter/purpose/activity under heaven. Everything – the entirety of; a great deal, especially of something very important, EVERYTHING!
God has been drawing me to the theme of seasons, and that is what I want to share with you today. All of life relates to seasons. The beauty found in the four seasons of a calendar year to the seasons of our lives. I’m in the season of life known as the empty nest. Just me and my man like when we had “only just begun.” I’m loving this season, especially being a grandmother. Looking back as a 57 year old woman can do…I can truthfully say I’ve learned in every season of my life. I pray to grow old gracefully and stay relevant and young at heart.
What is your season of womanhood right now? Are you in SPRING – a young woman in school or just beginning a career or education or newly married? How about SUMMER – in the “zone” raising children or building a career or marriage? Maybe you’re in AUTUMN – children grown, and you may be looking toward retirement? Or perhaps you find yourself in WINTER – your senior years as a woman, perhaps a widow, reflecting on past seasons and all that God has brought you through.
WHEREVER YOU ARE, BE ALL THERE. This is what God is showing me because in the busyness of life I can easily lose focus. Don’t be longing for another season and miss what’s going on around you now. This deception is one of the biggest lies of the enemy of our souls; the distraction and discontentment with where we are today. Embrace your season: SEASON – SAVOR EVERY AVAILABLE SENT OPPORTUNITY NOW! Some are more enjoyable than others, sure they are! Just as changes in seasons bring mosquitoes in summer or storms in winter, there are extremes in our lives. Some of you empty nesters may suddenly find yourself caring for both your grandchildren and aging parents. Some of you young women may be longing for marriage. Some of you stay at home moms or single moms may have to go into the workforce for a season to pay the bills. If our entire lives were one continuous season we wouldn’t have the changes we desperately need to help us grow. As much as I love to garden, if every day were spring or summer, I wouldn’t have autumn to harvest, or winter to dream and plan.
This old gal has learned some things in 57 years of seasons:
• Our constant, never-changing, faithful Lord Jesus is with us in every SEASON, in everything.
• Sometimes seasons overlap – in fact, several might descend on you at once. Sometimes joy and sorrow meet in a season.
• You may think springtime has come, but unseasonal cold snaps may occur and you better be ready. Memorizing God’s Word is a lifeline.
• Ask God to give you a strong focus in your season today and receive it as the gift it is, embracing the wonder. God will provide your daily bread.
“Which is the happiest season of life?” was asked of an older woman. She replied: “When spring comes, and the flower buds are breaking through I think, ‘How beautiful is spring.’ And then when summer comes and covers the trees with heavy foliage and singing birds are among the branches, I think, ‘How beautiful is summer.’ When autumn arrives with golden fruit, and the leaves bear the gorgeous colors, I think, ‘How beautiful is autumn.’ And then comes winter, and there is neither foliage nor fruit, and I look up through the leafless branches as I never could until now, and see the stars shining in God’s home.
Embrace whatever season you are in now. RIGHT NOW. Don’t long for another season. I know the days may be long, but at my age, the years seem so short. So wherever you are, be all there. Because of Jesus, one day we will be “SEASONED TO PERFECTION” and live with Christ for eternity. Let’s get there one day at a time and savor our seasons as God wills. Because He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
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OK, ladies! It’s me, Beth, again. Submit your second verses! Remember to limit your comments to these 5 pieces of information:
Name, city, verse, reference (where it is found) and translation.
Here’s mine!
Beth Moore, Houston, Texas. “In Him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22 ESV
I love you guys!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
Cindy M.
Lusby, Maryland
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 NIV
Shelli S., Houston, Tx: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17, ESV).
Jennifer, Etowah, NC. 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
Deb Schlaud, North Branch,
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. NIV
Sarah Kukshtel, Warner Robins, GA
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
Ally Velderman, Memphis, TN:
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.
Ephesians 2:1-3 MSG
Wendy, Centennial, CO
Eph 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people.
Kelly, pa……”for God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love, and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7 (kjv)
Leanne, Billings, MT
“Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your Law.”
Psalm 119:18 NASB
Catie, Lorena, Texas
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
Wendy Junod, San Antonio, TX
Eph 5:8 NIV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Carol, Nashville, Tenn.
Isaiah 26:3 ESV: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Tina Thompson, Lexington Ky.
Truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.
Matt. 26:13 NASB
Are you willing to pour out your most valuable precious things and give them to the Lord?
Susan from Beverly, MA
Let us hold onto the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 Hcsb
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col 2:6-7 NIV
Sandra Hierholzer, Richmond, TX: Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV
God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Kayla Card, Gainesville, FL
“Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” Habakkuk 1:5 ESV
Pat, Brandon, Fl
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. ESV
Jane Smith, Cedartown, GA
“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Rachel Lamfers, Sioux Falls, SD; “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NIV)
“Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which you have broken rejoice.” Psalm 51:8 NASB
1 JOHN 2:2 NKJV And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
” you know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2 (NIV)
Jess Isler, Atlanta, GA
“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”
James 5:17 (MSG)
Kayla J. – Lenoir, NC
“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:3
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
“Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIrV)
“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am GOD and there is no other; I am GOD and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 NIV
Michelle, North Little Rock, AR
“See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.” Isaiah 12:2 (NLT)
Jennifer Chavez, Katy, TX
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23 NIV
Wilkinson, IN
Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently; steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer. – Romans 12:12 Phillips translation
Laura Hermann
Spring, TX
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. Romans 15:13 NIV
This speaks to my heart tonight.
Nancy, Houston, TX: Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart!
Lissa. -Flowery Branch GA.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1-2 ESV
Shawna Berry, Capitol Heights, MD “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:21-23 (NLT)
Mitzi, Kannapolis, NC
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Mary, Sweet Springs, WV
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
Katie, Wheatland, MO
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.Proverbs 12:4 NIV
Nikki Weikel, Jacksonville, NC
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
1Peter 3:8,9
1 Peter 5:7 ” Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Carolyn West Ringgold,GA “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9 KJV
April Romero, Arrington,TN
So 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
Marilyn, Dearborn, MO
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust
has eaten.
Joel 2:25a ESV
Betsy, Va. Beach, VA: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 (New Living Translation)
is there any way to search for the scripture that I have submitted?
Melody West Ringgold GA “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
Psalms37:7,fret not your self because of evil doers, be not envious of wrong doers for they soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Alexis Hurdle, Jonesboro, AR
“I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13, NIV
God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.Psalm 54:4 HCSB
Praise him for this assurance!