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).
____________
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!
Claudia, Edmond, OK. “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’ “. Psalms 27:8, NLT
Jenny Schmidt, San Jose, CA
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8 NIV)
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
Julie Senefeld, Fishers, Indiana
“Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.”
Galatians 6:8 NLT
Laura Holified, Pineville, Louisiana.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31 ESV
Kelly, Gardner,ks
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV
Sue W. Belton, TX:
Let us then, with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. HEBREWS 4:13 ESV
Kelli Combs, Ringgold, Georgia “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV
Rom 15:13 NIV 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. Sue Tulsa, OK
Valarie Arington, Cincinnati, OH “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30 (NIV)
1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” NIV
Crawfordsville, IN
Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Stephanie Z., Broken Arrow,OK
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT
Jennifer, Independence, MO (3)Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart;
Proverbs 3:3 NKJV
Susan Proctor. Temple, TX. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 ESV.
Jennifer Edwards Wetumpka
And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
krystal ward
teague, tx
let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
hebrews 10:23 NIV
Ke’Ren Grimaldo-Lubbock, TX
Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. (Ephesians 6:11-12 GNTD)
Another Lubbock Siesta! Praying for you!
San Clemente,CA
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
Patti Dillman, Auburndale, FL
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength Mark 12:30 NIV
Sue Price, Houston, Texas
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
I Peter 5:10 NISB
Lynell from Kirbyville, Tx.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
Can you imagine what our hearts would be like without Christ. ?
I know the heart is wicked but yet something about the heart of those who love Jesus… it’s definitely a shining light. So thankful God puts a light into our darkness and always gives us a glimpse.
Laura El Paso,TX
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Heather G. Berthoud, CO. “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.”
Philippians 4:6-7
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 your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
NASB
Kathy VanAmburg, Norwalk IA, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 HCSB)
Pat S., Lago Vista, TX
“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.”
Isaiah 26:8-9
Ooh i really like this.
Dawn Kearney NE “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Nancy Stokes, jayess, MS
ESV
Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Angela McCracken, San Diego, CA. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25 NIV
Betty
North Ft Myers
John 1:16 NIV
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
This is my verse for this time, too. Your translation sounds very different than mine (HCSB). That whole idea of “grace after grace” (in the NASB “grace upon grace”) intrigues me. Reveal Your Word to us, Lord!
Trudy Burnett, Middletown, OH
If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. James 1:5 NLT
Schel, Bayou Vista, TX, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” Psalm 62:5 ESV
Michelle Alosa
Concord, NH
John 14:6 NIV
“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
April Middletown, OH “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you” Psalm 118:28
Lynn – Divide, CO.
Eph 1:5-6, ESV
In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.
Janet – Denison, Texas
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)
Mindy Seekford, Stonewall, La
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matt 5:16 NLT
Diane, Flagstff, AZ ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6b NIV
Barbs, Harare, Zimbabwe. “I will sing of the love of the Lord forever. With my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known, through all generations. I will declare that Your love stands firm for ever, that You established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:1-2 NIV
I like this one a lot!
Jennifer – Lubbock, TX I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for The Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for The Lord. Psalm 27:13-14. NLT
Hi Jennifer! Lubbock Siesta here! Praying for you!
Rebekah Davis, Loveland, CO – Romans 8:6 ~ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ESV)
Lucy Helmer
Lanagan, MO; As for You, o’ Lord, You will not restrain your mercy from me; Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will ever preserve me. Psalm 40:11 ESV
Dione H. Moore, OK
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Fay. Springfield, MO
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Danielle M. Plano, Tx
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
Barbara W- Baltimore MD.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2 ESV
Christine, Maryville tn.
Romans12:11. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit,serve the Lord. NRSV
Vicki, Cobden, IL
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39