Hello Siestas!
I’m Adrienne, aka “Fuzzytop”, writing to you from Jasper, Tennessee, a very small town about 25 miles west of Chattanooga. I’m a transplant to the South, having moved here from the Phoenix area in 2005. My family consists of husband, Tom, Rachel (HS Senior), and James (HS Freshman). Along with the humans, our family includes six dogs and eight cats, and of those, only two were acquired deliberately; we have soft hearts for abandoned dogs and cats. We also have six cows, a donkey, and assorted chickens and live on 40 acres in a rural area, which is a huge change from the Phoenix suburbs.
So…..a little bit about myself. I grew up overseas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We lived there until I was nine, and then immigrated to the United States, landing in Mesa, Arizona. Culture shock!!! After High School I attended Arizona State University, receiving a BS in Bioengineering and later, a MS in Quality Engineering and Applied Statistics. For many years I worked as an engineer and a project manager at Intel Corporation in AZ. Here in TN, I work in Quality Assurance for an engineering firm in Chattanooga. Work-wise, I seriously love data analysis and statistics. Away from work I enjoy reading, drawing, beading, gardening, and spending time with my family. I also love Bible Studies, and have done every Siesta Summer Bible study with two dear friends, Linda and Sarah, whom I met through this blog.
As a child, I had very little exposure to Jesus and the gospel. In Kuala Lumpur, I attended a Catholic school, and I recall my class practicing for communion using slips of newspaper in place of the wafers. The nuns were very concerned that we not “mess up” our First Holy Communion, so it was a stressful event. I had no idea what it all meant. My parents were not Christians, so as a child we never went to church or read the Bible, but somehow I knew in my heart that God was real. During difficult times in my early years, I remember praying to God, and trusting that those prayers were heard.
During High School, I began attending church and youth group with some close friends, and began identifying myself as “a Christian”, but I know now I had never truly given my heart and my life to Jesus and fully trusted in Him for salvation. My Christianity was nothing but a label. I became disillusioned when I found out those High School friends were no different from the non-Christian “bad” kids I knew. I dropped out of Youth Group and then church for many years.
During college I met my husband. He had been saved during his senior year of High School, and we spent many hours talking about God, and Jesus. After we married, we started attending church. One fateful Sunday I went alone, and during the invitation, I felt an overwhelming conviction that the invitation was for me. Honestly, I was stunned, having thought for many years that I was saved! I didn’t respond to the invitation that day, but all the next week it was on my mind, and I prayed to really know what to do. The following Sunday during the invitation I was again convicted in my heart that I needed to respond and this time, I went forward, prayed for Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and truly accepted him as Savior. Even today, almost 30 years later, I can remember the overwhelming flood of relief and joy.
Of my four siblings, parents, step-parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews, only a few are saved. I count many lost people among my extended family, and I believe it is an imperative that I pray for them. In Romans 10:1 Paul wrote, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved,” (emphasis mine). As C.H. Spurgeon once stated in a sermon:
Until the gate of hell is shut upon a man, we must not cease to pray for him. And if we see him hugging the very doorposts of damnation, we must go to the mercy seat and beseech the arm of grace to pluck him from his dangerous position. While there is life there is hope, and although the soul is almost smothered with despair, we must not despair for it, but rather arouse ourselves to awaken the Almighty arm.
There are days when I am frustrated with seemingly unanswered prayers regarding the salvation of people I love. So the Scripture I’m choosing this time is 2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV), which reminds me that these things are under His control and His timing, and that God desires salvation for every soul. If you have lost loved ones, like me, perhaps this verse will comfort you also.
I am so grateful for this blog, and SSMT. The friends I have met through this blog, the original Siesta Fiesta, and the SSMTC events are so precious to me.
Love in Christ,
Adrienne (Fuzzytop)
Tishomingo, OK
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.
John 14:1 (NIV)
Carolyn Webb, The Crossing Church, Grand Prairie, Texas. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
Kathy
Woodstock, GA
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Sue-Elise, Burkesville, KY – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
Ann Medford, Sunset TX, Psalm 86:11
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
Joy French- Georgetown, TX -“that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” Psalm 30:12
Sheryl Potts, Monroe, Louisiana
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Cor. 13:11 ESV
Linda Spahr in Lusby, MD
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Kristi Schnipke, Dayton, Ohio Psalm 36:5-6 ESV “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord.”
Debbie B., Marietta! GA
Jeremiah 1:7-8
The Lord replied, ” Don’t say, ‘I am too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, The Lord, have spoken!”
Brooke Rosetti, Wiggins, MS
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)
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Heather Hart | Seymour, TX
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourself.” Philippians 2:3 ESV
Kristinia D. Metairie, LA
1 Tim 6:15 which He will bring about a proper time-He who is blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Kimberly
Montezuma Indiana
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 New International Version (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Cor. 1: 3-4 (NIV)
Jen Wellman
Mechanicsburg, PA
(Spring, TX-until last week:))
Psalm 65:11
“You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”
(ESV)
Cathy Enoch
Oviedo, FL
Proverbs 17:28 ESV Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Betty Clark, Ann Arbor, MI Luke 1:78-79 “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” NLT
Tricia Dubbe, missionary wife in Germany
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. AMEN.” Ephesians 3:21 ESV
MaryK, Omaha, NE: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)
Brenda Zabriskie
Lindon, Utah
Psalm 39:7
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My HOPE is in YOU.
Tessa Oestman, Alliance, Nebraska.
“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.'” Jeremiah 33:6, NIV
carol Bruntlett
Albuquerque NM
Psalm 91:2 NIV
I will say iof the Lord He is my refuge and is my fortress my God in whom I trust
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6: 24-26 NIV
Sheila Johnson, Beckley, WV
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
Psalm 56:3 NIV
Milan, MI
Hebrews 11:3 NKJV
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Kelsey Chance, Shawnee, KS
For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. (James 3:7 NET)
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM For God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)
Christy, Cape Girardeau, MO. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Helen Roseberry, Riverside, CA “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Pet 3:9 NIV
Marilyn Kansas
June 15, 2015
Philippians 2:2 NIV.. . . make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Deana Gordy
Cartersville, GA
You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 GNT
Ephesians 5:18 Be filled with the Spirt
Kathy
Albuquerque, NM
1 Corinthians 9:22 HCSB
To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.
Lori, Louisville, Ky
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace and be thankful
Col 3:15
Heather Johnson, Minneapolis, MN
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 NIV
Christine Doughty- Kingsburg, CA
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
April Hughes, Escondido, ca.ESV If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. Psalm 94:17
Christy Kirby, Plano, TX
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:33-34 (NIV)
Debbie Shankle, Johnson City, TN Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Psalms 71: 3 KJV
Darlyn Knapp – Singer,LA – “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
(Proverbs 16:3, NIV)
Paula, OKC, OK: All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:7-8 NIV
Every word of God is flawless, He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5. NASB
Alison Wagler, Vancouver, Canada. psa.94.19.nasb When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15 GNT
Kim S., Ridgeland, MS —
Philippians 4:8King James Version (KJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Deborah Flora, Sawyer, KS
Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:7 NIV
Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11 NLT
Laronda from Arlington,tx
For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV