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)
Wendy P., Milwaukee, WI “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus!” Philippians 2:5 NIV
Patti Egbert, Brush Prairie, WA
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV)
Psalm 145:11 (NIV)
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
Nancy Sticht, St. Augustine, FL
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is a my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 (NIV)
Christy Brey, Jackson, Mo, Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. (James 1:15 HCSB)
Micki Elaine, Atlanta, Tx.
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
Noel Carlton, Clarksburg MD
Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,And made me bold with strength in my soul. (NkJV)
MaLori, Ft. Worth TX, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 KJV)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some men understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter3:9 (NIV) Twyla McAmis, Cleveland Tennessee.
Alana McCullough, Lorton VA. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV
Michelle, Shinnston, West Virginia
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NET
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 ESV
Doretta Sellers from Ada, Oklahoma
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 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Lynne Brown – Jackson, Alabama
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart”.
Psalms 37:4 (NASB)
“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 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Twyla McAmis, Cleveland, Tennessee.
Diane
Nowata, OK
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
Allison, Austin
In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.
Matt 7:12 NET
Magie Wolfe Alamosa,Colorado
Be patient,then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield it’s valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
James 5:7 NIV
Karen Sanders, Burleson, Texas “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 NIV
Leslie Bishop, Cedar Grove, NC
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me.
He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NIV
Christy Brey, Jackson, MO, Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. (James 1:15 HCSB)
Denise Korsmo Amarillo,TX “All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah” Psalms 66:4 KJV
Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Sheila, Cypress
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
Anita Moore Fort Worth, TX
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 NIV
Caitlin Long
Demopolis, AL
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Heather – Fort Worth, TX
“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
Norman,Oklahoma
I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:14. (KJV)
Lauren from Steinbach, Manitoba:
“For whatever was previously written was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
– Romans 15:4 MEV
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Timothy 2:21)
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
Kristi~ Clovis, CA
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 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
marthamartha says:
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
martha loyd
hsouston
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying. “This is the way walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21. NKJV
J, Cypress
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance…”
Isaiah 35:4
Susan Brown. Mandeville, LA
1 Corinthians 13:1 “And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Jamie Stellingwerf – Paramount, Ca
“O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O LORD, from childhood.”
Psalm 71:5 NLT
Linda Hunter Lumberton, TX
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
Ingrid from Omemee, Ontario, Canada
All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work
2 Tim 3:16-17
Sue – Duncanville, TX
“God has given us everything we need for a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
Christy, Prescott, AR
“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 NET
Dawn
Silver Spring, MD
Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Robin Wickman, Merriman, NE – And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. (Colossians 3:10 AMP)
Claudia, Franklin, TN. “”I will bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes. Isaiah 61:3 NIV
Theresia Whitfield, Indianapolis, IN
“He has given me a new song to sing.” (Psalm 40:3)
In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Dione Harjo, Moore, OK. – O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off. Psalm 139:1-2 NKJV
Pamela DeStefano, Schwenksville, PA “Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15 (NKJV)