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)
Kathi Griffin from Macon, GA:
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5: 21-24 NIV
Jill Lynch, Mission Viejo, CA
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace so that you may trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
Sheri Matsumoto, Riverside, CA
“For ‘whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.'”
1 Peter 3:10-11
ESV
Pam Luschei in El Cajon, California: “And now just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Col. 2: 6,7 NLT
Vicki, Surprise AZ
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Debbie, Tennessee
Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 KJV
Fuzzytop, thank you so much for the encouragement. God bless you.
Marsha from Carmel In “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags”. (Proverbs 23:21 KJV)
1 John 3:1English Standard Version (ESV)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Martie Carter, Belton, Texas
“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Colleen Duebber. Cincinnati, Ohio.
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
Elaine Brady, Jefferson, GA
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. Ps 37:8
Lynne Priestley, Belfast, Northern Ireland
So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Romans 14:13 NLT
Cassia from Spring, TX
Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV
Janeth from Neoga, IL, …”and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:15,16. (NIV)
Kiva, Irvine, CA
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV
Jules Lane
Foothills of the Rocky Mtns, CO
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” ~ Psalm 103:11 (KJV)
Salley Sutmiller, Tulsa, OK
Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3 ESV)
Beth Lewis, Story City, Iowa
“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8, NKJ
Billie Jauss, (Naples, FL) Pittsburgh, PA, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
Barbara Ordner
Houston, TX
Pray with ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17 niv
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:20 niv
Kelley, Houston TX
This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Ps 18:30(ESV)
Cheryl Paganelli, Medford,New Jersey: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
Nancy Bradshaw -Melbourne, Florida
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Brentwood, TN
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Karen Frost Southside ,AL. A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13: 34 NIV
Kelly Elliott, Jackson, TN.
Proverbs 11:2 (NIV):
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.”
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God
Dawn Moore Conway, AR
Luke 21:15 The Message
I’ll give you the words and the wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.
Dana McKinney, Starkville, MS “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” NIV
Martha Stephenson
Olive Brancg, MS
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters
Psalm 23:1-2
Rhonda Rowe, kingston, OK
‘We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ‘(1 John 5:19 NIV)
Meredith B.
Collierville Tn
“Do not be deceived, God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever, sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 NIV
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
[My Scripture verses for the month of June]
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV’84)
Cheryl in Fairhope – “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),
Misty Weare, Alliance,NE
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8,ESV
Becca Williams – Irvine, Ca
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,…(Ephesians 2:6 NIV)
Cindy – Lancaster OH
Psalm 4:3 (ESV)
“But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.”
Prescott, Az
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)
Kim Safina
Los Osos, California
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6
Happy Anniversary to Amanda & Curtis “13” 🙂
Donna Marina, Ca
In your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms16:11 ESV
Valerie Maddox – Humble, Texas
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 ESV)
June 15th, Littleton, CO
Psalm 139:11, 12
“If I say “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Was Norfolk VA now Buffalo NY
Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your hear; consider what great things he has done for you. NIV
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God” (Romans 4:18, 20 NIV)
Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything. – Proverbs 13:3 MSG
Faith from Coeur d’Alene, ID
php.3.8.nkjv
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Pam – Tempe, AZ. ” Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart”
Psalm 37:4. (NASB)
Chris
Canton, NC
Proverbs 11:6 ERV
Doing right sets honest people free, but people who can’t be trusted are trapped by their greed.
MaryJo ~ Plainfield, IN
Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Deuteronomy 1:17b (NIV)