Siesta Summer Study Introduction
Beth posted the introductory video this morning, so here it is!
Siesta Summer Bible Study (Introduction) from LPV on Vimeo.
As she explains more fully in the video, here are the three things she wants us to share this week:
1. An icebreaker just so we can have the opportunity to be ridiculous: What breed of dog do you most resemble in demeanor and why? If you don’t know your dog breeds, describe your demeanor to your group and let them help you.
2. This one will help us get to know one another’s priority needs right now. Get out a pen and paper and craft a one-sentence text message with a limit of 160 characters that starts with (and includes) these words: Please pray for me. I…
3. Read Psalm 19 out of The Message. (See below) Lock in on the section that describes what the Word of God (called by other names such as “revelation”) does for us. Note each benefit of studying Scripture and have group members who have discovered one of those benefits give short and specific testimonies as an encouragement to the rest.
Psalm 19
A David Psalm
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
1. The breed of dog I am most like is a Weimaraner. First of all, I am very German and fit right in when I headed to Berlin some years back! But from a personality perspective: When I’m on a mission of any sort, I am highly energetic, giving it everything I have and becoming almost obsessively focused. But when I finally relax, I really relax. (Though I was told recently that I relax far more actively than most people!) I take my time getting to know and trust people, but I am fiercely loyal to those whom I love.
2. Please pray for me. I have just become Co-Director of Women’s Ministry at our church & need guidance & encouragement as I discern God’s will for this new call.
3. “The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.”
This particular section struck me as I read the passage. I have wrestled with the idea of becoming involved with Women’s Ministry, as it is not at all what I have been asking Him for or ever thought I would be doing. But God has shown me over and over again through His Word that WM is exactly what I am supposed to be doing at this time in my life. And as I have finally submitted and started to follow this “life-map,” joy has entered my life in completely unanticipated ways. We have even decided to call our ministry “Journeying to Joy” since that is very much what it’s all about!
I think that I most resemble a “Bench” English Springer Spaniel. I can be very, no extremely, serious about what I am doing. (home or ministry) I try to always present myself put together. That is in my work and dress. But I also have this crazy, fun, and hyper side that likes to be silly. I really like to have fun and not be so serious. It usually comes easy for me to rest and relax.
Please pray for me as I begin a new ministry in my church. I need to let God be control of all the plans and bring the ladies He wants to attend. (NOT WORRY ABOUT IT)
Wow, there was so much. But what struck me the most was the phrase, “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together”. May He direct me to the hidden treasure!! <
I’d probably be a Heinz 57 variety. I’m a “little bit of everything.” I am employed full-time in addition to being a wife, mother and grandmother. I am a nurturer who often feels overloaded and stressed. I am trying hard to get my priorities straight and allow a little time for myself without feeling guilty.
Please pray for me because I have a lot of responsibilities this summer but long to make time for this study because it sounds like it was written just for me.
“The signposts of God are clear and point the right road.” Two years ago my son and daughter-in-law were arrested for manufacturing methamphetamines. The day after their arrest my husband and I were given custody of their two year old son who is a special needs child. Although I am at the point in my life where I thought I was nearing retirement and the joys associated with rest, I am busier than ever. My son has been through rehab and is drug-free. He now lives with us as well. His wife is in prison. I know without a doubt that this is God’s plan for my life right now yet I have days when I go to bed too weary to do another thing. Although I try to maintain a right attitude, I often feel resentful and angry. I know I have a clear word from the Lord concerning my life and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I am on the right road. My son is involved in church, his wife has accepted Christ and the baby is thriving. I just have days when the load is heavy and I have to remind myself that “the decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.” I just wanted to be upfront with y’all in my first post. I know exactly what Jennifer means when she says “it doesn’t have to be well with your circumstances to be well with your soul.” I am blessed.
Since God has given a us a Border Collie/pound puppy, I have really gotten to see how much Iam like her: Very high strung, but extremely affectionate. Self reliant and needy. Neurotic with a bit of OCD. Very focused, intense. Demonstrative. Herder of (feel resposible for) all the “sheep”. Very stubborn, strong-willed, but can master obedience quickly. Very protective of her “herd”. Loves to run and play outside, feel the wind on her face. A “little” crabby when sleepy. Loves her “herd”. Super friendly with everyone, wants to greet everyone with hugs and kisses (I don’t really do this, but somehwere down deep I am sure I want to :0), is a little over-excited sometimes (a little too much for some people), and sheds alot…
Please pray for me, I am in a weird spot in life and am trying to trust God that He has me exactly where He wants me and what that entails. We know no one where we are,need a church family, and am homesick.
I guess what stuck out to me was how God’s word was likened to strawaberries in spring. It isn’t just beautiful, sitting there. It reeks of sweeteness and tastes so good. Can’t imagine life without it. Seriously. “God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?” I don’t even want to think about what life would be like without.
I have recently gotten a new puppy called a Zuchon…his hair is a little curly like mine, and he is black and white, where my hair is a little black and grey (I deserve each one even though I keep them covered up), he is a little hyper but when it is time to sleep nothing can stop him… he loves us all and he loves a good time, he wants to please everyone.
Please pray for me I want make my walk with Jesus strong and strive to be more like Him.
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. This is the scripture that stuck out to me, without God I would be a mess. I praise Him and thank him for the wonderful life He has given me, because without Him who knows the life I would have to lead, He forgives me and loves me with a pure and powerful love, and has blessed my life greatly…although I have struggles as everyone does, He pulls my life together.
1- what kind of breed I am… I feel kinda of like a scared puppy always walking around on egg shells around my boss. I feel like I am always going to get in trouble. Also feel kinda like a German Shepherd, always guarding my heart and emotions and not letting the real me show so I always feel like I have to be somebody else.
2- pray for me… that I would seek God’s face everyday and that He would open up another job for me in a Christian environment, that He would give me strength everyday to handle life and taking care of an elderly parent, plus working a full-time job. Sometimes it is more than I want on my plate and certainly more than I can handle at times. At times I want to stick my head in a bucket of sand.
3- PSALM 19:14 THIS IS MY FAVORITE
MAY the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer
I am not sure what type of breed I am, I am a very good listener,neat freak,very protective of family,the only time I am very talkative is when it is about the Lord otherwise I am quiet. I do not have aproblem learning new things.
Please pray for me I want to continue to walk in my destiny.
The Life maps of God are right,showing the way to joy,this passage really was speaking to me. Since I have graduated from the Purpose En Route to Destiny class I now know my purpose and destiny that God had laid out for me before I was born. So now I am on the right path and it is defintly giving me so much joy in my life.
1) What dog? I think I would pick Dalmatian because that is what we have at our house in nepal. She’s always smiling and laughing and that would pretty much describe me. I have learned to laugh and smile and to live a “dancing kind of life”.. our dalmation is always dancing around happy!
2) Please pray for me as I finish up my last weeks here having painful goodbyes but ready for glorious homecomings! (in case your forgot I am finishing up a two year term of having served God in nepal and returning to america)
3) What stuck out to me is when it said That’s how God’s word vaults across the skies. I have been serving God in nepal in a country very in bondage to the darkness of Hindism.. yet in this country you can look and SEE the glory of our one and only God as the Himilayan mountains stretch across the sky. In the times when I could see mt. Everest from my kitchen window Psalms 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help come from became soo real and true to me! Our God is truly an awesome creator.
Did y’all hear Jenn?! She is in Nepal! That is so NOT Oklahoma! How cool is that? I think it is so interesting to watch this group materialize. Aren’t we a diverse little bunch of siestas? This is gonna be fun…….
Pam.. hehehe.. loved your comment. Nepal is defionatly not oklahoma. Someone asked me the other day how nepal was different from america. I told them just to imagine everything about america, then imagine the complete opposite and there you have it nepal! It is so fun to be apart of such a diverse group serving and loving the same Jesus. And pam.. I will pray specially for you as you mentioned being in a weird spot and feeling homesick. Although I have not struggled with that for a while because God has made nepal home for me.. I defionatly know what that homesick not quite home feeling is.. so I know how to pray for you siesta!
1.) If I had to chose a dog, I would have to be a lab. I like to be attentive to my master and like to stay on task. I am a bit OCD and like things perfect and planned (See my prayer request below) I love to be trained and educated and like to be praised for my performance. Ughhh, sounds so boring. I love creativity and a finished product.
2.) Please pray for me I…. am trying to get pregnant. I married a man with 2 small children 9 years ago. Having my own children was put on the back burner as I struggled with major issues with my step children. I have now realized 9 years later, I am 34 and now that I am ready to have a child – it isn’t happening a quickly as I expected (OCD remember, see 1.) Please don’t misunderstand, my “kids” are very special to me, the issues were with their “other” families not themselves.
3.) My favorite part of that scripture is “The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.” Wow! So many times over the last 6 years I tried to take control and manuver my life to how I thought it would be perfect. So many times, it ended in failure and I succumbed to the fact God is in control. I wanted a quick solution and and end to the hurt and pain we were going through. Looking back, the path we were on was a totally different map than God was laying out. Isn’t that the usual way we look at things? “A quick fix.” “Do it know, Lord. ” That is the major reason I am seeking Him so I can have the “never waiver
attitude of a strong and faithful Christian woman.
I’m not really familiar with a lot of different breeds of dogs. I really liked Michelle’s description of her Border Collie/pound puppy and some of those same things apply to me. I can be independent, but if I’m in a group of people would like to see a familiar face. I say slightly OCD but my friends would say very OCD. I’m a secretary and I say it comes with the job. I can be very opinionated, not always a good thing, and have to be better and watching myself before I say something or let my face give it away. I too can get crabby when sleepy and a ‘little’ over-excited sometimes.
Please pray for me I…to grow closer to God and give my frustrations and worries to him and not to keep them to myself.
This whole psalm is great. I’m going to go home and mark it in my Bible. But a couple of things stuck out to me.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
I believe God gives you signs and he will do anything to make sure you hear/see/whatever you need to do to get those signs. This is just a great scripture to remember that.
God’s Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
I need to make it an absolute priority to get into the Bible every single day. I’ve read the bible before and I stopped when I got really sick and I never started up again. Now’s a good time to start because I’ve forgotten some of the treasure that’s hidden in there.
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work.
This is exactly what I do when I try to give God my worries and frustrations and then take them back. I’m thinking I can take over his work!
Carol – I’ve been in a job like that and it tough. I’ll be praying for you and hope you find a new job soon!
Pam – Where in Oklahoma are you? You’re right, this is goign to be fun!
Hey, Krysta. Mandy and I are both in Boswell which is a dusty spot in the road in southeastern Oklahoma. I just have to say y’all would love Mandy if you could meet her in person. She is so creative. She makes the neatest crafty stuff like purses, etc. and her house is to die for. She is a wonderful cook and hospitality is definitely one of her spiritual gifts. I had to giggle when I read her post. “Boring” is the last adjective I would use to describe her. She will be your best friend by the time we finish this class!
I don’t really know about different breeds of dogs either. I’m kind of thinking any dog at all would describe me. I love to give and get lots of affection (I’m an absolute mush monster with the grandkids) I like a little pat on the back or head hehe…GOOD GIRL. I’m definately a people pleaser. I’m getting a little better, but still ridiculous about it. I hate it when someone is mad at me, or even if I just don’t have their approval all the time.
Please pray for me that I will be able to surrender totally to the promptings of The Holy Spirit as my family and friends ask their questions about Jesus. more of Him …less of me!
God’s Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
It always amazes me how God speaks to us through His Word. How I can read a verse at one time and hear God say something and then read the same passage another time and hear more and think “Wow, how did I miss that?”…and on and on. He shows us what we need to know, when we need to know it. or sometimes I’ll even think “Oh that’s not what I need to read right now. I know what that passage says and it isn’t going to help” and WHAM, God hits me upside the head with something that is exactly what I or someone I know needs to hear. Absolutely Amazing!
I’m praying for you all and I’m looking so forward to getting to know you all better! I think this is going to be a blast! I love you girls already!
Ladies,
Thank you so much for everything you’ve shared. I will be praying for all of you. Would it be helpful for me to consolidate everyone’s prayer requests and send them to everyone via e-mail?
I figured I’d put up a copy of the collage I did so we can all see each other. I didn’t get
everyone’s pictures but do have most of them, so I’ll get that up sometime tomorrow.
Below I include my thoughts on what everyone’s posted so far. For what it’s worth:
Debbie–Your prayer with regard to Women’s Ministry means a lot to me, since it is the same thing my ministry partner and I constantly have to remind ourselves as well. It is so hard sometimes to remember that the ministry is His, not ours.
Pam–I so appreciate your honesty and willingness to just put it all out there. One thing you will not find here is judgment. I’ve taken a quick peek at your blog, and your grandson is adorable but definitely looks like he keeps you on your toes!
Michele–My family and I moved to Grand Rapids from Tallahassee, FL, a little over three years ago, right in the middle of winter, and didn’t know a soul here. Because of various family crises, it’s taken us a long, long time to get settled in and to meet people. So I completely understand where you’re coming from!
Sherry–Your attitude is most definitely in the right place, and I think we’d all agree that we’d be a mess without Him.
Carol–I certainly can’t blame you for feeling overwhelmed with everything you have going on in your life! I think we can all attest to feeling that way at various times for various reasons, so please know that we’re all happy to listen (or read, as the case may be) when you need us to do so.
Stephanie–Based on your description, I’m going to have to put you in the German Shepherd category with Carol! I’ve taken just a quick peek at your blog also and have enjoyed some of the hymns you’ve shared lately. Can you tell us more about what the Purpose En Route to Destiny class is? Or point us to something on your blog?
Jenn–I have to admit I’ve had a blast watching people’s faces when I tell them someone is doing this from Nepal! I’m anxious to read more about your work on your blog. And, for the record, I’ve not forgotten about the book, but I’ve been dealing with some technical issues on this end. I’ll get it to you as soon as I can!
Mandy–I have watched step-family struggles from the inside and from the outside, and I know what a challenge it can be. And fertility issues are a whole separate kind of difficulty. Since Pam called you out on the use of the word “boring,” what other word can you give us to describe yourself?
Krysta–It sounds like you’re not alone in the OCD category here! That’s probably true of most women, actually. Making the Word a priority is such a struggle sometimes, isn’t it? And then it makes us struggle more because we’re not in it! I, for one, am a little hard-headed and have to be reminded constantly that it must be a priority in my life.
Sharon–You sound like some sort of hound to me! Never enough affection for them and they always want the entire crowd to be happy and piled up on each other. And I laughed at your saying that God hits you upside the head with things because he’s been doing the very same to me lately! I’m starting to get the hint, thankfully.
This is such an amazingly diverse group of women, and I’m so excited that He brought us all together! Do you realize we represent every decade from 20’s to 60’s? And we are all over the country and world and have quite different backgrounds. I can’t wait to see where He leads us this summer.
I just wanted you all to know that I will lift you up in prayer. I had never really thought about my own thoughts being destructive until now. I am excited to see where this goes. I have already posted Psalm 19:14 in a few areas in my house. “I’m committing my way to God and relying on HIs Words, not mine.”
Grace to you <
Sarah, I think it would be wonderful to consolidate everyone’s prayer requests…very helpful!
I’m not sure how I feel about being a hound though hehe. All I can think about is the Elvis song “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time.” Which btw I do quite a bit of too. And howlin’…oh nuts…I guess I am a hound after all.
And speakin’ of crying…did anyone else come unglued when they inserted their name into the blanks in psalm 139 on day two’s study and then prayed it out loud?
I’ve inserted I or me or someone else’s name into scripture before, but never my own name.
It just really brought the point home. That God knows and sees us all individually. I don’t know why I can believe it so much for everyone else but have a hard time of it when it’s for me. I still can’t say it all the way through without becoming undone!
Thank you Lord!
Sharon, hounds are awesome, trust me. And I’ve had quite an assortment of dogs over the years! Our dog who died just last month was a hound, and she’s in our fave dogs of all time category. Truly.
And no, you’re not the only one who lost it on Day 2. I’ve never done that with my name either, and it was quite profound.
I just got back into town. Here is my “homework”:
1. I am the “rescue dog”- you know, the one that has been over- looked, abandoned or mistreated, but taken in by an owner with compassion and a big heart. I’m the one made new by some amazing love and ownership. You know who my “owner” is! Yes, that would be Jesus!!
2. Please pray for me. I love teaching and I love my students, but I have been a teacher in the public school classroom for 34 years now and feel it is time to move on after next year; I am not too sure about this decision financially.
3.”The revelation of God is whole and pulls our live together.” When I started looking to God’s Word to get my life right, every answer to every question was there for me! The “sign-posts”, “life-maps”, and “directions” bring joy, and every day I can “clean the slate and start the day fresh”! Why wouldn’t I want the Word of God to impact my life? It does IT ALL for me!