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)
Lynda Martin – JacksonvilleAR
“The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.”
Psalm 50:1
Sarah Winslow Durant, OK
Isaiah 33:6 NIV
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
Tiffany Wooldridge, Bolivar, MO
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33 NKJV
Riche Irving, TX Psalm 91:5-6 (NIV)
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Brenda Gerber from Grafton, OH
II Samuel 22:34 (NIV)
“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.”
Jill Greer, Medina, TN
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Linda W. from Tomball, TX;
“In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Your ear to me, and save me!” Psalm 71:2
Amanda Jones, TX “The light shies in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 NIV
Louisville, KY – For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Ps 91:11-12 (NIV)
carla van hemmen, Ede, the Netherlands:
1Joh. 4: 13 Dat wij in Hem bliven en Hij in ons, weten we doordat Hij ons heeft laten delen in zijn Geest.
Nancy Terwilliger – Lebanon, Tn
(cont’d from June 1 )
Youths may faint and grow weary and young men stumble and fall, but those that trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 HCSB
Kimberly T., Montgomery, AL
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Melanie Miller, Armuchee, GA
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Marie from Post Falls, Idaho:
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
Becky,
Scottsdale, AZ–
There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves punishment,
and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
1 John 4:18 (NASB)
Fairfield,Ca
Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
Joanne Delanoy Leduc, AB Canada
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6 [NIV]
Ruth-Anne, Garvagh, N.Ireland
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT)
Miranda D, Fort Worth, TX
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now He will heal us. He has injured us; now He will bandage our wounds. In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of the rains in early spring.
Hosea 6:1-3 (NIV)
Rita Koch, Upland, IN
Romans 6:12 (HCSB)
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
Romanos 6:12 (RVC)
Por lo tanto, no permitan ustedes que el pecado reine en su cuerpo mortal, ni lo obedezcan en sus malos deseos.
Karen, Flower Mound, TX
John 4:14 NASB
Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
Linda Hammett from Wake Forest, N.C. says:
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness.”
(1 John 3:4 NIV)
Matt6:27 NIV
Who are you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Lisa H, Round Rock, TX
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16(NIV)
Amy from Noble, OK
Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Nancy, Denver
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think according to the power at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20 ESV
Ashley Edwards, Chelsea, Alabama
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:27 (NIV)
Robin, Knoxville
Eph 3:19
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Jolene Jenkins, Suwanee, GA
May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NASB
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13,14
Sarah, Kingwood, TX
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. (Psalms 103:1-2 NLT)
Pam Worcester, Glen Elder, Kansas
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)
Kathleen Partin. Saint Joseph. Michigan
James 1:3
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
NIV
Psalm 91:11
For he will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways.
Mary Ruth Franklin
Lanexa, VA
Psalm 103:17-18
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
Psalm 103:17-18 is from NASB
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
Crystal, West Hartford, CT
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25 (NIV)
Ephesians 4:29-30 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Dena K. from Columbus, OH:
“Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! (Isaiah 44:21 NKJV)
Kristie Mallory – Goshen, KY
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119: 105 (NASB)
Melisse, Slippery Rock, PA
Romans 5:5
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has give us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Karen Todd, Beech Island, SC
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever, and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3:21 NIV
Robin Greenwood, IN
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
PSALM 150:6
Janis, Auckland New Zealand
Proverbs 31 v 11 (Amplified)
The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her safely, so that he has no lack of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil.
I love the Lord, for he heard my cry my voice;he heard my cry for mercy.Because he turned his ear to me,I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1-2
Rachel, Mt. Carmel, PA – “As you do not know the path of the wind or how the body is formed in the mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” – Ecclesiastes 11:5, NIV
Laura, Clay Center, KS
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Vicki Walters, Merriam, KS
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Rom. 5:4 ESV
Allison Drennon, Little Rock, AR “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NASB