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)
Laura, Englewood. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that an tremble with fear. James 2:19 NER
Bobbi, Houston, TX
Psalm 17:8 (NIV)
Keep me as the apple of your eye;hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Sarah Rumfield, Tomball,TX 77375
As for God , his ways is perfect: The Lord,s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:30 NIV
Tanya from Raleigh, NC
“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.”Psalm 39:6a, (NLT)
Vicki, Wilmington, NC
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19 NKJV
Psalms 30:2 NLT
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help and you restored my health .
Daphne,AL
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40 NIV
Holly, Apex, NC
“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:2 (NIV)
Natalie, Houston, TX
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Leah Kirksey, Camden, Arkansas
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. ” Exodus 14:13
Logansport, IN By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: any one who does not practice righteous is not of God nor the one who does not love his brother. 1 Jh 3:10 NASB
Letha. Cullman, AL. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:24 ESV
Caroline Hucks
Conway, SC
“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted.”(Eccl 3:1)NKJV
Melanie in Missouri
Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but 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. Melanie in Missouri
Alicia Casady, Columbia, MO
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose are thoughts are fixed on you”
Isaiah 26:3, NIV
Tyra Sias – Atlanta, GA
However, as it is written: “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love Him…
1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Kaye from Hamburg,AR
” For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ” Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Troy, Ohio
Psalm 23:5 NIV
You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint
my head with oil; my cup overflows
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.
Hebrews 12:28 NASB Erika, Monson MA
Carol
Oak Park, CA
Ephesians 6:11 NKJV
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Valerie, Columbus, GA
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. Psalm 54:6 ESV
Plilippians 4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving
present your request to God.
And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus.
Ronda from Marion, IN
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6:14 NIV
Karen F., Brandon, FL
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12: 9, NIV
Angie G
Albertville, AL
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:13 NASB
Janet,Torrington,WY
“My Spirit remains among you, just as
I promised when you came out of Egypt.
So do not be afraid.” Haggai 2:5 NLT
Sarah, Brookhaven, MS
Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:18 ESV
Mildred from Montserrat.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. Deuteronomy 13:4 (KJV)
Kathy Sanford, Lake Jackson, Texas
The Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:47
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish
“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
Bartlett, TN
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. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Leigha, White Oak, TX
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11-12 NIV)
Rebecca, Chattanooga, TN
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Hebrews 1:3 ESV
Janae – Riverside PA -“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” Romans 15:5
Leigha, White Oak, TX 1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV
Do everything in love.
Brenda Crosby, TX
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
…and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Ramona Gellick
Medina, Ohio
Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)
I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Nicole – Wideman, AR
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and be glad. Psalm 34:2 NKJV
Lisa
Savage, MN
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust you will discover that we have not failed the test. 2Corinthians 13:5-6 NIV
Gail Irwin, Thousand Oaks, CA
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
Kristi, Milton, FL
“…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15, NIV
Carolyn Valente, Chicago, Illinois, Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7 NIV
Sara, Hillsboro, KS
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 NIV
Oops! New verse:
Col. 3:2 (MSG)
Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Sumrall, MS
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
Cecelia Stewart, Tustin, CA
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 (NIV)
Dana Goodwin Ashland, KY
“The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever- do not abandon the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 NIV
Misty Schoephoerster. Isaish 60:1-3. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
Dori Wooldridge Indiana
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”