Hello, Siestas! My name is Diane Vaccaro, and I live in Fresno, CA. I’m a pastor’s wife and a mom of 3. I’m honored to share my verse today in a more formal way than usual. Often in our family we talk about how reflecting on scripture is paramount for transforming our hearts. God’s living Word can do more than we could ever imagine if we only give it time to seep into our thoughts and heart for a moment or two… or ten. It’s in those moments of reflection that I’m open and available to consider how the verse applies to my own life and heart. A quick read often leaves me with a short memory of what I’ve read, and a missed opportunity for revelation of who God is and how he loves. Memorization isn’t the goal, but a tool to continue to mediate on the Word, wherever I am, and ponder it, repeating it in my mind and mouth so that it becomes part of me.
Here’s my verse:
Diane – Fresno, CA
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
What I love about this verse is that it brings together God’s attributes as a mighty warrior and as one who delights, even to the point of singing over me. Strength and tenderness. He is a God that can take on my enemies without neglecting the tender and vulnerable places of my heart. And I’ve got an enemy…I don’t know about human ones, but I’m confident that The Enemy is always on the hunt. It is part of being a believer. It’s part of my life in ministry.
As I reflect on this verse I wonder where I’m trying to be the warrior instead of letting God do the fighting. I wonder if I fight fights that aren’t mine, neglecting the ones God has put before me for victory if I’d only fight.
And I wonder if I’ve become so distracted that I miss the singing. Has God been singing over me a melody so sweet while I’ve been straining to hear the world’s approval? I really want to hear the song of God. The world’s song pales in comparison.
One day I was alone in my car and not listening to music (both are seldom). I was praying and pleading and at one point simply asked God, “Do you delight in me?” This verse was pulled from somewhere in my memory as if to say, “Yes, I delight in you. You bring me great joy. I’m singing over you.”
Mighty God, my prayer is that you would set my feet in the direction of my battles, that I would fight with courage and bravery, knowing that you will supply all I need. Show me when I try to fight battles meant for you. I want to duck when your sword comes crashing through, bowing to your will and power. Quiet my heart and soul that I would hear you – hear your direction and your joyful singing over me. I want your song to be the soundtrack of my days.
My prayer is that you, Siesta, will experience the Mighty Warrior and the songs of delight that he sings over you today.
Addy Cianciotto, Dickinson, TX “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 ESV
Deborah, Nashville, TN
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:35 ESV
In all things we are more than conqueror’s through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 NIV
Brooke, Mobile, AL- “And may you have power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is.” -Ephesians 3:18, NLT
Susan C, Houston, TX
Do not lack dilligence, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11
Toni Sidler, Argyle, TX
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:5-6, NASB
Lucy, Mobile, AL
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phillipians 4:6. NSRV
NIV 2 Thessalonians1:11. “With all this in mind, we certainly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”
Sallys Reed, Houston, TX. Psalm 73:26, NIV. My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ
” and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32 ESV
Mary Jane, Troy KS
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV
Traci Peil ~ Naugatuck, CT
“How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them.” Psalm 111:2 NLT
Cathy, Rhinebeck,NY
Rejoice always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Lindsey, Myrtle Beach, SC
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” Proverbs 3:5 MSG
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:28 NASB
Linda Gammon, Blue Springs, MO
Psalm 36:9 ESV
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
Ps. 121:1-2 (MSG)
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from the mountains? No my strength comes from God, who made heaven and earth, AND mountains. (emphasis mine)
Stacy, Greenfield, Indiana
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
Terri, from College Station, TX
John 8:32
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”
East Helena, MT
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Port Neches, TX
Psalm 5:1-3 (HCSB). “Listen to my words, LORD; consider my sighing. Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you. At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.”
Psalm 71:20-21 (KJV) “Thou, which has showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort me on every side.”
Beth – Cowpens, SC
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
Melissa, Fort Worth,
“LORD, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3 HCSB
Tillie, Spring Branch, TX
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9 (NKJV)
Sara O. -Missouri City, TX
I call to Ypu from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
Psalm 61:2-3, HCSB
Amy, Arlington, VA “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11 NLT
Donna Mina, Norman, OK
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NLT)
April 21, 2015 a little late
Psalm 31:4 ESV
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
I feel such a kinship with you, I know we would understand each other. My favorite is when you said your family is cray cray, both my girls laughed at that because mine are too! Thank you for this verse. I wish we could spend an hour together sharing, but I thank you for answering your ministry call for women’s ministry, you got me to come back after a very dark period in my life. I will come here everyday because I don’t want to forget God is personal to me, even though I find it hard to accept. Thank you!
Sylvia S. – Collinsville, IL
Romans 16:20 (NASB)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly
Nor stands in the path of sinners
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1
Kristen Gardner, NC
Trust in the Lord with all of 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
Beth Stoffregen, Laguna Hills, CA
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith —that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”
Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)
Gina Fernandez, Wilson, NC
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:16
krystal ward
teague, tx
the Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom i take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
psalm 18:2 NIV
17. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts throught faith-that you , being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:17 ESV
Psalms 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Karen – Greer, SC: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Kimberly, Montgomery, AL
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20 KJV
Lou, Jenison MI
Eph. 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (NASB)
Sharon Gaudet, Rochester, NH: “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the LORD who has compassion on you.–Isaiah 54:10(NASB)
Sissy, Waycross, Ga
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord.”
Psalm 134:2 NKJV
Psalm 119:105 ESV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Shari Valdez from Long Beach, California
My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of my lips. Psalms 89:34 NKJV
Sandy Daugherty, Danville, KY
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Whitesboro, TX
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers, 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
Call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50:15