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)
Barb Wisconsin. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:12. ESV
Cris, Virginia Beach , VA Job 6:24 NET Teach me, and I for my part will be silent, explain to me how I have been mistaken.
Soni from Gulfport Romans 1:12 NCV (6/15/15)
“I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you”
Michele Gibbons, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Deuteronomy 28:47-52(NASB)
“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things;therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
“The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as the eagle swoops down, a nation whose language you shall not understand, a nation of fierce countenance who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young. Moreover, it shall eat the offspring of your herd and the produce of your ground until you are destroyed, who also leaves you no grain, new wine, or oil, nor the increase of your herd or the young of your flock until they have caused you to perish. It shall besiege you in all your towns until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout your land, and it shall besiege you in all your towns throughout your land which the Lord your God has given you.”
Krista -Winchester, Va
He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord. Ps. 112:7 HCSB
Sue from Kalamazoo, MI
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14 (NIV)
Kay from Deer Park TX
Psalm 139: 18 ESV (17th added for context)
17
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
Fredericksburg, VA
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
James 1:26 (NIV)
Sarah, Lincoln, NE, “…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
Jean, Abilene, TX
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Psalms 84:8 NIV
Dear children, let us not not love with words or tongue but with actions in truth.
1 John 3:18 NIV
Midlothian Tx
Tammy Smith
Grayson La.
2 Peter 3:9
” The lord is not slow in keeping his promise , as some understand slowness . He is patient with you wanting anyone to perish , but everyone to come to repentance . NIV
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
Ephesians 2:12 NLT
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
Ashley Reed, Cedar Park, TX – “But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus — my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need — since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another. For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.” -Philippians 2: 2-30 (HCSB)
Stephanie Jo
Crane Or
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love.
Allison Rains. Benton, LA
“But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands…”
~Psalm 31:14-15~ NIV
Barbara McCafferty Elizabeth City, NC
I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Hello, my name is Lori and I live in Medford Oregon.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NIV)
Leah Kuor, Salem, OR
“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ,”
2 Cor 3:2-3a ~ NASB
Joy from Iowa~ And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said,” Don’t commit adultery” also said ,” Do not murder”. So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law- even if you don’t commit adultery.So whenever you speak, or whatever you do- remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that sets you free. For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful- then, God’s mercy toward you will win over His judgement against you. -James 2:10-13 (NLT)
Dawn Atwood, Colleyville, TX
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng. Psalm 68:11, NIV
Kim Davis
Bristol, Tenn.
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Phil 3:13 NIV)
” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 NIV
Those who hope 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 be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Alissa; Lexington, SC:
“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh.
Is anything too difficult for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 (HCSB)
Billie, Franklin, TN
Accept instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart.
Job 22:22 NIV
Toni Schumacher Amarillo Texas
Cash all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalms 55:22 NIV
Romans 8:6
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
Ronda from Tennessee,
“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
Gina, Olathe, KS – Psalm 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Dawn, Mt. Olive, NC
Luke 1:45 (NIV)
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill His promises to her!”
SE Michigan
Luke 11:9 KJV
“And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Elisabeth
South Africa/Modesto, CA
“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:12 NIV
Kelly from Reno, NV
1 Chronicles 16:34 – NIV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
James 1:5 ESV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Psalm 32:7 (NLT)
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Gerry
Costa Mesa Ca.
“And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
Kristy McIntyre, Eugene, Oregon
Hebrews 11:1 HCSB ” Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”
Suzy from Cedar Falls, IA
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV)
Ellen, Moneta VA
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. -Hebrews 10:39 (NIV, 1984).
Joan Bush (Coppell, TX): The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
Mary Beth – Hudsonville, MI
to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:21 NIV
Donna, Athens, GA:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.–John 1:6 (RSV-CE)
“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
Joan Wetzel, New Orleans, Louisiana, Matthew 10:39, (NASB)
Ruth, Belleville, IL
“Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:24 NASB
Amy; Milton, WA
“But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God, the free life; out of the corner of his eye and sticks it out is no distracted scattered brain, but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.”
James 1:25, MSG
Carolyn Medlin Oceanside Ca
Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15 NIV
Anne Stinnette, Koror, Palau: “which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.” Eph. 1:23
Janet P., Paola, KS
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV
Philippians 1:6 NIV
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.