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)
Fort Worth, TX
Titus 2:11-12 ESV
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26 NIV)
Lora Lovin Osburn
Morristown, TN
“For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9 (NKJV)
Sheba Munroe
St Pete, FL
1 John 3:1a NIV
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Rebecca, Murfreesboro, TN,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ” Galatians 2:20 NIV
Maria, Louisville, Ky
2 Corinthians 4:16, NKJV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ
” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:29 NIV
Sheryl Hanson, Neenah, WI: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Brenda, Greenville SC
may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Eph. 3:18 NIV
May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, Eph 3:18 NASB
Carrie, St. Paul, MN
Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 NRSV
Jennifer Haglund; Story City, IA
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Gwen Parish, Earth TX
Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
Katie Burke, Tampa, FL
Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
1Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Jackie C….Southaven, MS
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14 NIV
Stacy Mc….Southaven, MS
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14 NIV
Cheryl, Harleysville, PA
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10 NKJV
Debbie Levin
Cannon Falls MN
“But all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your Name may be filled with joy. For You bless the godly, O Lord. You surround them with Your shield of love.” Psalm 5: 11-12 NLT
Misty Sherman, Longview, TX
“They do nothing wrong; they follow His ways.” Psalm 119:3 HCSB
Rebecca Moore, Lake Mary, Fl
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 AMP
Sarah ~ Appleton, WI
Still working on this one….
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3 NKJV
Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come. Proverbs 31:25
College station, Tx. Esv
Jennifer Edwards Alabama
Hebrew 10:36 NIV
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Amanda J. – Corsicana, TX – “So do not fewar, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
We destroy all arguments and every lofty apinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Jessy Perzel, Lakeville, MN “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7 NIV
Kimber Perrotta
East Hampton, CT
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? Yet you have forgotten the Lord your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. Will you remain on constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone!” – Isaiah 51:12-14 NLT
Columbus, OH
“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?”
Romans 8:23-24, NASB
Melissa Evans, Lexington, KY
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”. Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Jen G, West Palm Beach, FL
” Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
Psalms 119:114 KJV
Candis Oswalt South Bend IN
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Psalm 42:3 KJV
Debbie, Marion, IN “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11 NIV.
Just a note… The billboards from LPL Live Ft. Wayne still have your beautiful picture along I-69…
It just makes me smile and for some reason it’s makes a woman want to break out in song w/ “I am a woman of God…” Amen and thank you! 🙂
Tonya Nelson – Apex, NC
…to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 (NASB)
Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the open spaces, He answered. God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God’s my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people.
Psalm 118:5-6, The Message
Sue from Broken Arrow, OK
1 Corinthians 13:9 ” for we know in part, and we prophecy in part.”
NAS
Luda Kosenko
Baltimore, MD
For though we live in the world,
we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.
II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
Stacey, Denham Springs, LA
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.Exodus 14:14, ESV
Leighann Holloway, Longview, Texas
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chron 16:34 ESV
Proverbs 3:5 ESV: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Stacie K
Springfield, VA
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Woodstock, Ontario
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
Gwyneth Tidwell of Haslet TX
To the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said,”If you hold on to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8: 31-32 (NIV84)
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.”
–Psalm 73:25 (NIV)
Erin D., Conway, AR
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord:
be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
— Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
Pamm W. from Albuquerque, NM
“Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods.”
2 Kings 17:38 (NIV)
Becca, Monterey CA.
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ~ Ephesians 3:21 ESV
Brianna from Jonesboro, AR
By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
2 Timothy 1:14 HCSB
Heather McKinstry~Greendale, WI
Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears. NIV
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. Job 19:25 KJV