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)
Julie, Gresham, OR
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NLT)
Pam G., Centreville, VA
Psalm 73:26 NIV
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Tempa Babington, Palm Bay, Fl
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23 NIV
Luanne Neely, Marshall, TX
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17. NIV
Sherri Huff, Mechanicsville, VA The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalm 23:1 NIV
Cara Reyes
Dickinson Texas
ESV
Psalm 147:3
He health the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Ann Gardner, N. Canton, OH. Isaiah 49:16 (ESV) “behold, I have engraved you on the psalms of my hands; your walls are continually before me”
Diane E., Charleston IL
Zechariah 8:13 NIV “As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”
Brittany Diss Woodward,Oklahoma Philippians 4:4 rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. (KJV)
Margie from Camdenton: With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. II Samuel 22:26-27 ESV
Dacia Edmonson, Bullard, Texas
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Merilee New Sharon Iowa
I cling to your commands & follow them as close as I can. Pslams 119: 31a CLB
Psalms 121: 1-2. NIV. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Veronica ; Atlanta, Georgia
I chose psalms 143:10 Help me to do your will,for you are my God. lead me in good paths,for your spirit is good. (living bible)
Connie Johnson, Pittsboro, NC
“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
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has ever conceived- the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Kendra from Fort Wayne, IN – Romans 4:13 “for the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Kathy, Madison, CT
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3 NIV)
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” Proverbs 31:26 (NKJV)
Sarita Beyea, Londonderry, NH “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 NKJV
Jenny England, South Bend, IN
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7 ESV)
Deb Hartman, Newnan, GA
Being rooted and established in love, may have power , together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and wide and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18 NIV
Danielle, Weymouth, MA
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
Diane, Harker Heights, TX: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Calgary, AB, Canada
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in The Lord and in the strength of his might.
Dean Jones
Barbourville, Ky.
Psalm 91:2 NIV
You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Lexington, Ky
Psalm 138:3 NIV
When I called
You answered me
You made me bold and stouthearted.
Kathy Darnell
Princeton, TX.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With Him at my right hand I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8 NIV
Denise, Gardners, PA
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phillipians 4:5-6 (NIV)
“Make the most of every opportunity for in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
Ephesians 5:16-17
Jeanna Romans, Bel Air, MD
Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Fairborn, OH
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Susannah from Cypress, TX
Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Romans 5:1 “Therefore since we have been justified through faitb, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Catherine Lisle, Albuquerque, NM, “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” I Cor. 13:2 ESV
Gwyn Cummings, Rowlett, TX
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 26:20 NIV
Sonia Kibe, Morrilton, Arkansas
“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
Bethany in Pueblo, CO
“Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe your commandments.”
Psalm 119:66 (NKJV)
Jeremiah 33:3English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Kassi Rushing – Ridgeland, MS – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV)
Vickie, Spokane,WA.
I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NIV
Susan Jasper, Tennessee
Job 5:9 (NIV)
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Christine, Bozeman, Mt
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Ps 86:5
Dorothy Williams
Montgomery, AL
Joshua 1:9 NLT
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Candice Kindrick
Rogers, Arkansas
Psalm 16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (NIV)
Emily Bowden, augusta, GA
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” Psalm 13:5 esv
Devina, San Angelo, TX “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and my sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” James 1:2 NIV
Jessica Sanders, Broken Arrow, OK
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:45 NIV