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)
Aleah Marsden, Vacaville, CA
Man, summer break throws me for a loop! Here’s to sticking with it this summer & almost having all of chapter one done!
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22-23 ESV)
Megan Loscher
Quincy, IL
-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17b-19 ESV
Paige Woodard Mitchell, Minden, LA
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
Amanda T., Genoa City, WI
“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
Kelly Parker, Shreveport, La
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4. ESV
Jackie Brantley Rockledge FL
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT)
Christy, Karen, Cheryl A Cord of Three Strands
Jay, OK
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matt 16:24-26 NIV
Cheryl Dulaney
Lafayette, LA
James 1:4 NIrV
The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish it’s work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need.
Melanie Anderson, Groesbeck, TX
Just have to say…we were on a 12-day vacation, so I am VERY late in posting. Actually, I am delinquent in my memory work, but I chose a long 3-verse passage last time, so I’ve just kept working on it:
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NIV(1984)
barbara- Atlanta, ga
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but, will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV
Sharon, Radford, VA
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jamie Cook, Fort Worth, TX
“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
Marilyn,Dearborn, MO.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13 ESV
Kathy B. Albany, GA
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
NASB
James 5:2 ESV
Your riches have rotten and your garments are moth-eaten
Leah Whitley
Fort Worth, TX
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4 KJV)
Monica Kuebler of Centreville, VA
“In you Lord, my God, I put my trust.” Psalm 25:1 NIV
Debbie, Reno, Nevada
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NASB
Ann, Cataula, GA
Psalm 12:4
When darkness overtakes the godly,
Light will come bursting in.
They are generous, compassionate
And righteous.
Linda Gammon, Blue Springs, MO
Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Penny Burke, Cincinnati, OH: Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20:28 NIV
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)
Christy McCreight Wylie -If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
Ephesians 1:18-20 NIV
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Romans 10:14,15 (NIV) How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Olivia, Chichester, UK. “Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” Psalm 86:17, NIV
Psalm 112:7 (ESV)
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm,
trusting in the Lord.
Cindy/Midland
Jodi, Sweetwater, TN – Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Tiffany Boles
Wheeling, WV
Psalm 5:3New Life Version (NLV)
3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my prayers before You and will look up.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
Momence, IL
Carol – Pasadena, CA
“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)
Jeremiah 32:17English Standard Version (ESV)
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
Karla, Fort Bridger, WY
John 13:35 NIV
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Debbie, Sherwood, OR: “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice And be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Phyllis-Slidell, La
“Don’t be afraid, ” the prophet said. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16
Sherry Fisher, Murray, KY
“We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.” 1 John 3:12 NLT
Lisa Jones, St. Louis, Mo.
“Everything is possible for him who believes”
Mark 9:23
Heidi Cahill, DeLand, FL:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9-10 NIV
Linda, Johnstown, Pa.
Psalm 103:17 (NIV)
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children.”
Houston, TX – We must obey God rather than men! Acts 5:29 NIV
Jacquie Engbrecht, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
“And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)
Melanie Beaudin, Winchester, Va
1 Samuel 2:1 NIV
Then Hannah prayed and said:“My heart rejoices in the Lord;in the Lord my horn is lifted high.My mouth boasts over my enemies,for I delight in your deliverance.
Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins ( forgives and disregards the offenses of others) 1 Peter 4:8 amp
Marilyn, Piedmont, OK
Romans 10:13New (NIV)
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[a]
Valerie Chamberlain. Austin, Texas. “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
Nicole Blake, Severance, CO
1 Corinthians 22:6 “There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service.”
Priscilla, Brentwood, CA Romans 8:15(NIV)
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
Romans 15:13New Living Translation (NLT)
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Susanna, Greenville, TX
But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before, the God if Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12 NIV