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)
San Antonio Tx And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first, then if they turn out to be above reproach let them serve as ( deacons ) 1 Timothy 3:10
Karen, Lynnwood, Wa
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:21-02 (NIV)
Sunny, Las Vegas, NV
Romans 8:17 (ESV) …and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Ginny White of Orofino, ID
The mind of the sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Bethany Stephens, Garland TX
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.
Ps 143:8 NIV
Mary Gray, Fieldale, VA “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Justine Crawford
Las Vegas, NV
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
Jessica, Encinitas, CA “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Erin from Kennewick, WA
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NIV)
Anne Eppright, Round Rock, Texas: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1Corinthians 10:16-17 ESV
Jamie Raborn from Ooltewah, TN
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Carol in Salem, OR
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Romans 5:4-5 NLT
Cathy Bailey, Laguna Beach, Ca
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Brittney Zimprich Ellensburg, WA
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14
Kelly Sonderby San Clemente, CA
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:9 NIV
Katie Nicholls, Tucson AZ
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. Isaiah 61:7 ESV
Kabrina Ethington, Chandler, AZ .. But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV)
Nicole Eckblad, Auburn, WA
“For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been make. So they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20 ESV
Patty from Redmond, WA
Psalm 103:1 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Kandis Nucla, Colorado
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NIV
Kelly Cut-n-Shoot, Tx
Prov 15:4 NIV
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Susan Stefens, Emmaus, PA
Still working on Isaiah 40…verses 5-8
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
As the Spirit of The Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him
2 Corinthians 3:18b TLB
Peggy Crews
Starke, FL
Nancy Gordon
Lafayette IN
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Maggie Mackriell, St Albans, UK
I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians 3:16 (GNB)
Jill, Clearwater FL,
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26 NIV
Leilani Esmond, Smyrna,GA
I Peter 3:1 NLT
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over.
Jacqui Maudslay, Chester, UK
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Jennifer
Almont, MI
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
Beth, Toronto: “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
Psalm 18:32 (NIV)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 NIV
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 ESV
Jeanine, Augusta, GA
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)
Michelle, Warner Robins, GA
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJV
Meredith from Nashville, tn. “The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me; you steadfast love O Lord, endures forever. Do not foresake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 (esv)
Rebecca M., Clifton, NJ. “…for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7 ESV
Kristi, Telford, PA
“To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Eph. 3:21 HCSB
Kristin from Dunmor, KY
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Jeremiah 31:25 ESV
Benton AR
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. (Psalms 62:1-2 NLT)
Kristen, Paramount, CA
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping. (Romans 4:18 NLT)
Brenda Wilken
Eureka, MO
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 NIV
Maria from Tallmadge, Ohio
To you O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.
Psalm 25: 1-2a
Marcy, Eagle Bridge, NY
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 NIV
Lee Ann Kelley, Fairhope, AL
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 NIV
Martha, Georgetown, TX, “and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NLT
Kim Cook. – Valley, Al
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NIV
Lisa Markley, Cary, NC: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Kathy Daniel, Bolivar, MO
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess. 5:16-18 NIV