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)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8 NIV
Great verse! I worked on it too! Sing it almost every day now! Hang in there- totally worth it
Carlsbad, CA
In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Anita Siecker, Purcellville, VA
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV84
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient; but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Hannah Huneycutt
Mt. Pleasant, NC
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
Psalm 91:5 (NIV)
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God (Romans 2:29)
Martha, Cocoa, FL
1John 5:14-15 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.
Karen, Dripping Springs, TX:
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 NIV
Christy, Summit, MS; “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord.“You are my servant.You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,and understand that I alone am God.There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be. ” Isaiah 43:10 NLT
Lindsey F., Myrtle Beach, SC
“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19 ESV
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Titus 2:11 NIV
Lindsey Barnett
Sevierville, TN
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Titus 2:11 NIV
Sandra Ruder, Hillsboro, KS
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
John 15:7 NIV
Elmwood, Tennessee
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
Jamie Wagner, Billings, MT
“Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 86:1-4, NIV)
Traci McNally, Evansdale, Iowa
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15 NIV
christina moore, Plano, Texas~
“The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely people are grass.
The grass withers,
the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:7-8, ESV).
Melany Ethridge, Van Alstyne, TX
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Job 23:12 (NIV)
Coshocton,Ohio[NKJV] 1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:God was manifested in the flesh,Justified in the Spirit,Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles Believed on in the world,Received up in glory.
I lift you high in praise, my God, oh my king! And I’ll bless your name into eternity. Psalm 145:1 MSG
Lynda S., Brockville, ON, Canada
The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” (Numbers 11:23 NIV)
Diane from Cypress, Tx
Psalms 68:1 (NIV)
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens”
Susan Sarver, St. George, UT
“I am sure of this , that He who started a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 1:6 HCSB
Mary Jayne Fincher, Qulin MO
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over…by the way their wives live.”
I Peter 3: 18
HCSB
Paula Hale, Brownwood, Tx
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both. (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NLT)
Judy Williams, Round Hill, Virginia
“For no word from God will ever fail.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Spring Lake, N.C.
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}
Jenny Fridge, Richmond, TX
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires
2 Timothy 4:3 NASB
kathy leesville,la You will not have to fight this battle.
Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. Go out to faced them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV
Denise Wilkin
The Woodlands, TX
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love for you have seen my troubles, and care about the anguish of my soul. Psalms 31:7 NLT
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NKJV
Dawn W. Lucy/ Attalla, AL
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me,my lord, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10:19 NLT
Julie Medway Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out…..God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:2 The Message
Cara Roberts, Villa Grove, Illinois. “Do not conform 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 12:2 NIV
Cara Gabrielse, Parker CO: One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,[a] great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Luke 5:1-2
Kathy Emeigh from Bethlehem Pennsylvania
Psalm 118:1 to 4 (BLT)
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests repeat:
His faithful love endures forever.
Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
His faithful love endures forever!
Robin Byrd, Columbia, SC
Ephesians 3:19. NIV
..”and to know this Love that surpasses
knowledge..that you may be filled to the
Measure of all the fullness of God”
San Bernardino CA.
Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.Galatians 6:7 kjv.
Sharla Robertson, Granbury, TX
“They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:4 ESV
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV
Elizabeth Hughes, Berrien springs, MI, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 ESV).
Sarah, Montrose, CO
Psalm 86:15 (ESV)
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Lynne VP Des Moines, Iowa
….I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 3:8 NLT
Amanda Dales, Rockhampton, Queensland
May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 NLT
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville, TX
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 NIV
Tina Lockhart Gulfport, Ms
But you, beloved, bilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21 ESV
Susan Stevens, Huntsville, AR
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Melinda Kimble, Nashville, TN
and, also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:19 (ESV)
Kim Bunting, Colfax, LA
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4 NASB