As Summer Ends ...

 

 

We wrapped up this summer with a week at Gulf Shores and to see God's amazing creation! To know He numbers every hair on our head and knows exactly the number of the pieces of sand just blows me away. "God's love is deeper than the deepest ocean, softer than a sigh, God's love is wider than the widest mountain, higher than the sky." It's the chorus of a song we sang at summer camp.

 

So as this summer season wraps up, I am listening closely and working diligently to engage in life with my family and disengage with distractions. I am checking out of "Siesta Sisters" because I am overwhelmed with keeping up. I am on a different Word journey with God and memorizing for Him (and me) that which applies to my now and not to the word of the screen.

 

Preparing for school, for our future with God at the helm, for what He says do and where He is leading. I'll keep you posted. Much love .... 

Scriptures #12, 13 and 14

 

So I am completely stinking at keeping up with this. I am a wee behind on posting, but here are my next three (two behind, one forward) ...

#12 (for June 15) - ... nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." 1 Samuel 14:6b (NIV)

#13 (for July 1) - "And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain." James 5:18 (NIV)

#14 (for July 15) - "so that your faith may not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."  1 Corinthians 2:5  (NIV)

 

The last one I actually personalized and posted. :)  "Debra's faith does not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."  Exactly!

Scripture #11

 

Okay, so summer has begun in our household and people are edgy for some reason. Go figure. I am up to my eyes in, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Myself included in this scenario. For Pete's sake. This will be a house of peace, so with that in mind, verse #11 is ...

 

"Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ." Eph. 4:32 NCV

 

BTW, I just noticed that the verse I learned for weeks 2 and 10 were the same verse, different versions. I am not changing this. I didn't realize I put the same verse, but God knew and clearly that needs to be an emphasis for me! :)  

Scripture #10

And this convicts me ...

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  - Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

Scripture #9

 

So this is two verses, but they go together. :)

9. "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come."  - Isaiah 46: 9-10 (NIV)

Scripture #7 and #8

I am behind posting this time. Sorry. So here is my verse for the beginning of the month (1-14) and the end of the month (15-31).

 

#7 -  "Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation." Joel 1:3 (NIV)

#8 - "so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean"  (NIV)

Living Water ...

 

I love this picture for a million and one reasons. The biggest one is it reminds me we are all sheep and those of us who have chosen to follow the Shepherd, we hear His voice and we follow only Him and we drink together from Living Water. LOVE THIS.

 

Very often I want other sheep to look like me or act like me, but that was not Jesus' plan. Ever. His plan is that we would live in unity. That we each play a unique and different role in the body. We are not carbon copies. He has a specific plan for all of us. And, we are to love one another. There is no if attached to that.

 

It's beautiful. And we are all beauty-full to Him. We are precious in His name. He has counted every hair on our heads. We mean more to Him than birds and we are not to worry about a thing. because He's got it. He even left us His Word to follow and speaks to us all individually. Be still and know. Listen. He has truly amazing things to say.

 

Oh, how He loves us.

Scripture #6

So, I am behind posting this verse because I have had a hard time picking it. Here goes ...

"Let God be true and every human being a liar." Romans 3:4a (NIV)

I know, strange verse to pick, but in this last week, we have lived this out. Crazy. God has told us things and well-meaning humans have said opposite. I've even had thoughts in my head that are contrary to God's word. Taking those captive versus just pushing them away. But, here's the deal, what God says IS true. Doesn't matter if His timing doesn't match mine. Doesn't matter if what I see with my eyes or what I experience in my body or what someone else says doesn't match. God doesn't lie. Whatsoever things are true. (Philippians 4:8) And so, as a reminder, I am memorizing this verse. Because God is true! 

Scripture #5

I'll be honest, I am not best at this memorizing, but meditating and pondering and asking God and studying, I am doing well with. Persevering! Here is number 5 ...

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. -Proverbs 4:26 (NIV)

Scripture #4 ...

... so it is amazing me today that God knows where we are and is leading us always. I picked out the last two verses and this one ahead of time, not even realizing I would need them. Here is week #4:

 

"God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? or has He spoken, and will He not make good?"    Numbers 23:19 (NASB)

"Talk to the hand ...

 

... because the face ain't listening!" I got in BIG trouble, in my 40's I might add, by my sweet Momma for the disrespect this phrase conjured up. And just by the way, I did NOT say it to her. Anywho, this picture made me think of two things:

1. the disrespectful attitude the above face comes with, and ...

2. it is exactly my sentiment toward the multiple voices, opinions, attitudes, lies from the pit of hell (which can look like those ostriches in reality) ... that go on in my mental dialogue and that can actually come straight from truly well-meaning people I know or encounter.

Truth is, I heard a couple very good words that cover this thought ...

"What is the authoritative standard in my life? I've got to decide if my experience is going to be authoritative and I'll adjust my theology to justify that or if I'm going to allow the standard that God set through Jesus to be the standard and continue to contend for breakthrough ..."   -Alan Smith 

"Am I happy, content, fine just to meet with Moses rather than going up the mountain and meet with Jesus Himself?"    -Francis Chan 

 

Doesn't matter what I see, doesn't matter if I do or don't understand. Just matters that I know Him and walk with Him and see Him. Seek His face, not the latest greatest speaker, book, human quote, conference ... lovingly referred to by Francis Chan as Moses. God IS everything. That's a fact. He made every last thing with His Word and it's all held together by His Word and somewhere along the way, I put Him in a box called my earthly experience and taped Him in. Doesn't mean He can't and doesn't use whatever He wants to get His point, Word, direction, whatever across. But does what I am clinging to match His word or is it merely my flesh responding to flesh? I am going back to vigilantly focusing on being surprised, overwhelmed, bowled over, consumed by His goodness every single day. Trusting Him and what He says. No box. And, very definitely, no more ostriches.

 

 

Scripture #3 ... Siesta Scripture Memory!

It's that time again ... and, here is my 3rd scripture to memorize. Can I tell you how much I need to keep this in the forefront of my mind? Gracious!

"She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind." Proverbs 31:26 (NCV)

These two ...

... minus the bear (whose name is Camelda, if you are wondering) are totally LIVING IT UP in heaven! Holy cow! I can almost picture it some and I wouldn't wish them back here for any reason at all, in spite of missing them.

 

I'm reading a book by Francis Chan and his wife called, "You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity." Good gravy! It's a perspective changer/reminder. So much truth in it. Did I say good gravy! I read this part yesterday ...

"If you'd rather watch your kids grow up than see the face of your Savior today, you don't grasp the beauty of God. If you worry about what would happen to your children if you were gone, you don't understand the providence of God. Pray for a deeper understanding of His worth and sovereignty. Pray earnestly until you are infatuated with seeing His face."

Tears. I immediately recalled a conversation with my sweet Momma the November before she knew she was sick. It went something like this, "Honey, if it comes down to a choice between staying here with you and going to be with Jesus, no offense, but I'm choosing Jesus." I guess that could be shocking to some. But, she got it. What an amazing legacy! And, now she's hanging at Jesus' feet and whatever other awesome, amazing things there are to do in heaven. For eternity. I wonder if she's had a chat with Peter yet and told him she has a daughter who is a bit mouthy and impulsive like him? :) Or if she has met Deborah and talked with her about my name?

 

Like I said, jealous! This world is not our home. So, I'll enjoy it while I'm here .... but I will willfully choose and constantly remind myself to keep my eyes on Him.

Scripture 2 :)

So, I am a wee behind getting this posted (thank you migraine), but here is my next verse:

"I tell you this: on the day of judgment people will be called to account for every careless word they ever said." Matthew 12:36  (Voice)

Siesta Scripture Memory Team ... Go Sisters!

I am joining a few sisters here, and lots of sisters around the US, in memorizing the Word, specifically 24 verses, in 2015. It could be more than that, but I am definitely going to know 24 by heart. And, not the ones I already know by heart, in case you are wondering.  It's all about accountability. So here is my first verse ...

 

"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."  Phil 4:8 ESV

 * BTW, this awesome idea comes from Beth Moore. If you want to participate, it's not too late. Get on her blog (http://blog.lproof.org/) and join in! His Word is alive and active!

 

Hello 2015!!!

So excited to see what God has in store for this year ... thinking differently.

 

^" Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

 

- Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP