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!
When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:13b NIV
Jennifer Behnke, West Palm Beach, Florida. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Atlanta, Tx.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Mary Gray, Fieldale, VA. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–” John 1:12 NIV
Sandra, Burnaby BC Canada
I have decided to start memorizing the sermon on the mount.
” Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him, And he opened his mouth and taught them saying:” — Matthew 5:1-2
Cindy Muirhead, Houston, TX
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
James 3:17, NIV
Debbie Edwards. Greer, SC
Deuteronomy 6:6
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” ESV
“…If anyone would come(seek) after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV
John 14:27 [Full Chapter]
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Melanie Hawkins of Houston, TX
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
ESV
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race mark out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
Tajuana ~ Midland, Texas
Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He
who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain
you and I will rescue you.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
The Lord is my strength an my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song i praise Him.
Jennifer Matteson, DeKalb, Tx
Nahum 1:7. ESV
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
Ruth Larkin, Shawnee, Kansas
For the Lord God Himself said, I will not fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not, in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor relax my hold on you. Assuredly not! So we take comfort and ARE ENCOURAGED and confidently and boldly say: “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear or dread or be terrified.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP)
Deb Walter Orofino ID
Psalm 121 1-2 RSV
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth
Tami, Louisiana
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet, Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39 – NIV)
” No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45 NIV
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised holy spirit
Ez 36:27-and I will put my Spirit with in you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. ESV
Donna Walters, Hartsville, South Carolina —
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
Kathy H, Dalton GA
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 King James Version (KJV)
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Prov 15:4 (NIV)
1501 8th Ave
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 8:25-26 (NIV)
“He renews my strengths. He guides me along the right paths, brining honor to his name.” Psalms 23:3
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV
Rachel, Vancouver, Washington. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV
I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 NIV
Leanne Eldridge, Georgetown, TN, Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) “keep asking that the Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you may know him better.”
Christie Kelly, Neosho, MO
Isaiah 55:3 (NLT)
“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make and everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
Janet
Gladstone, OR
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Amy Antony, Portland, OR
Philippians 3:12 Voice
[12] I’m not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me-and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won’t let me go.
Danae Allen, Portland, Oregon
“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.” Proverbs 30:5 NLT
Pamela Nicholson, Cumming, GA
“The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm”
Exodus 14:14, NLT
Pamela Nicholson, Cumming, GA
23 “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:23-26 NIV
Carol, Wilsonville, Oregon “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJV
Krista, Canton, OH
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:4 ESV
Mandi Bulen Licking MO A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. Proverbs 18:7 NIV
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you Philippians 4:9(NIV)
Kayla Caldwell, Plainview, TX
Because He bends down to listen I will pray as long as I have breath.
Psalm 116:2. NASB
Cathy Bay, Webb City, MO. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Pamela Nicholson, Cumming, GA
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 NIV
Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
Or stand in the way of sinners
Or sit inn the seat of mockers.
Darlene from Turner , Maine
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)
Stephanie Conroe TX
Let the assembled peoples gather around you,while you sit enthroned over them on high. Psalms 7:7
Brenda Hohweiler, West Chester, OH – “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Brenda Hohweiler, West Chester, OH – “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30 NIV)
Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) “keep asking that the Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you may know him better.”
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (NIV)