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)
II Cor 4.17 KJV For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Geneseo, Illinois
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 24,25 NIV
Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew 5:16
Downtown Tonya Brown from Watauga, Tx:
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:3-4 (NLT)
Abingdon, VA
James 4:7,8 HCSB. “Therefore, submit to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Sharon, Lincoln Park, Mi.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 NIV
Fruita, CO
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16 NIV)
John 15:16 NIV
Lisa, West Des Moines, IA “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CEV)
Claudia from Edmond, OK
Psalms 19:14 NLT. ” May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psa 7:17 NIV
I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Psa 7:17 NIV
Karen Laughlin-Deweyville, TX
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
(Proverbs 16:3, NIV)
Carla Kaney, Adel, Iowa “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May you go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)
Joan, Portage, MI
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, & the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV
Cathy Stephens
Lebanon, OH
“but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.” Psalms 139:12 (NLT)
Amy Guth, Canton, MS
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Beverly Verhage from Huntsville AL. My final verse from Phil3 is verse 17. Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. Went from 7-17. What a rewarding exercise this has been. Thanks for the challenge SSMT.
Delba
Dorsey,MS
“They are like trees planted along a river bank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat, or worried by long months of drought. The leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” NLT
Franklin, TN
“The Lord you God is living among you, he is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness; with his love He will calm all your fears. He rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
Palm Harbor, FL
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord my rock and redeemer.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Heather R – Boulder, CO
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Heather, Tallahassee For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the law but under grace. Romans 6:14 NASB
The Whole Armor of God NLT
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Marlena Cantrell, Alabaster, AL
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16 ESV)
Barbara Bollman,
West Fargo, ND
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91.4 NLT
From Florida~
[Lady Wisdom says…] “whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm.” ~Proverbs 1:33 NIV
rebecca in Durham: the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it. John1:5 (NLT)
Dana Nance
Blue Ridge, Tx
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
Psalm 103:11 NIV (1984)
Beverly from Birmingham Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
La Grande, OR
Continuing Colossians 3:12-17, this is verse 16 (NKJ):
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God
Mathew 5:9 ESV
@Adrienne. Thanks for sharing. Be encouraged I had the awesome privilege in my lifetime to see many in my family come to Christ. The latest was before Christmas when my mom confirmed that Jesus Christ was her Lord. I am 51 and I have been praying for her salvation since I was 13. God is good. Praise the Lord.
Pat Jones, Springfield, MO
“But seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
Stephanie Marchbanks from Ennis, Texas
(Continuing to learn Isaiah 53)
Isaiah 53:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Vickie Henderson
Russellville,Ar
1Corinthians 3:7
So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything but only God who gives the growth.
HCSB
But only God
Judy~Simi Valley,CA
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thess 3:16 NIV
Rebecca, Akron OH
“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV
Edmond, OK
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Martha Buckner, Brentwood, TN
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 NASB)
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
Jennifer Lane, Grand Rapids, MI
Romans 15:13 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Stephanie Bankhead, Amarillo TX
(Continuing with memorizing Ephesians 3)
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (Ephesians 3:18 ESV)
Rhonda Jackson, Godfrey, Illinois
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6 – KJV
Keri Laurila, Pawtucket, RI..Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. NIV
Courtney, Lima, Ohio. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
Terri Sickles, Richmond, MO
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Psalm 27:8. ESV
Linda from Enumclaw
Psalm 91:2. ESV
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge & my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
Susan
Tyler, TX
June 15, 2015 at 8:15 a.m.
“Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15, 16 (NASB)
Brown City, Michigan Lam. 3:25 (NIV) I say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait on him.
“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).