THE LORD LISTENED AND HEARD...Malachi 3:16

It was a JOY to participate in 2009 as part of the Scripture Memory Team. One of my verses was Malachi 3:16, and it fit our celebration this past weekend in Houston so well! As we talked with each other and shared our verses, the LORD listened and He wrote a scroll of remembrance concerning the Siestas! Isn't that the most wonderful glorious news?

"Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard, and a scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name!"

Deborah, Georgia Jan, Beth, Emmy, Wendy

The Georgia Four Wendy, Emmy, Deborah and me were so excited to be in Houston, TX for the LPM SMT Celebration! We had agreed to pray God's Word together through the promise of Psalm 90:17 "May the favor of our Lord God rest upon us, and establish the work of our hands."  Indeed He did!

Amanda, our wonderful Blog Queen, had let us know earlier that there would be about 500 of us, and as you all know, that is really a "small group" for a Bethie event!  I loved the intimacy and focus of the Siestas that attended.  The like-mindedness of all of us memorizing scripture for one year together was palatable in that place. It was sweet to see Beth get to be up close and love on the siestas - something she doesn't get to do in an arena setting.  It was like a family reunion!

I love to make lists, and this list is alliterative.  It covers so many of the wonderful blessings from this past weekend. Nothing.Disappointed.  Nothing!

• Beautiful Beth
• Amazing Amanda
• More Master's Degrees Melissa
• Wonderful Worship by Terrific Travis
• Lovely LPM Staff
• Hospitable Houston
• Georgia Girls
• Sweet Siestas
• Warm Weather
• Verified Verses
• Fantastic Food

But the list doesn't share details and pictures, so I would love to oblige with that now...

We had a great flight to Houston from the ATL and I knew we were off to a great start as Emmy was ALREADY watching a DVD of Beth on our way there to see Beth.  Gotta love that!  I took this picture from my seat right behind her on the plane!

The Georgia girls started the morning early with some pampering at the spa within the Omni Hotel. Facials, sauna, whirlpool, the works!  It had been a very long time since I enjoyed that type of pampering.  Thank you sweet Deborah for blessing me with that gift!

Friday afternoon I was so happy to see our wonderful worship leader, Travis in the lobby at the Omni. I love his musical gifts, but I love his heart of worship more.  Always gracious, he kindly took time for pictures and conversation with many of us.  Thank you Travis Cottrell for being used mightily to bless this Baptist "music minister's wife!"

Here are some random pictures of the weekend.  Words cannot describe the fun and joy-filled time we all had together. So much preparation went into memorizing all that scripture, and much preparation obviously took place months before our arrival. The LPM staff are as sweet and helpful as can be.

Here is my friend Lora from By the Lamplight, I loved meeting her! Lora writes beautiful poetry as God speaks to her heart. Maybe she will share the words to her new poem (quite different from her usual writing). It is called "Purse on the Chain," sung to the tune of "Pants on the Ground" after she saw a purse at the Houston Galleria for almost $2,000.

Here is my friend from Florida, Karen Barrows. She and I met last October in Orlando, FL at the Deeper Still event. We said our memory verses to each other on Saturday afternoon. It was a very special time.

This is the littliest Siesta. Her name is Dailey Rae, and she memorized her scripture too.  She took these notes while Beth was teaching.  Isn't this the sweetest picture ever? Little girls like her are our future.  Let's live our lives so that we will be the Titus women that these young ones need.

Here is another friend, Lindsee Eddy.  She led a big group of us to eat at Pappasitos and it was so very good. There was some sort of green sauce on the table that I claimed as my very own.

Beth taught us from Psalm 119, Life with God from A to Z, and it was marvelous!  "I'm a resident alien, seeking direction, in deep want of wonder, in peril and need, troubled by humanity, especially my own, knowing that to follow is the only free road for a straying sheep, longing to be found."

I love you Beth - thank you for all you do for all of us Siestas and for being my bff. Your life has been used mightly of God in mine.  Thank you for loving on me so that I can love on others. You are a delight!

Georgia Jan

Houston - Scripture Memory Team Celebration

I am in Houston even as I type this!  Can't believe the Scripture Memory Team Celebration is finally here!  I promise to take lots of good notes and wonderful pictures to share with everyone.

The travel so far has been sweet with no issues or problems.  Thank you Heavenly Father for your favor on our trip.  I am enjoying the fellowship and look forward to all God has in store for us this weekend.

What began a year ago as a covenant to memorize 24 verses in 12 months has been one of the greatest joys in my heart and life.

Yes, His Word is Life. 

Blessings,
Georgia Jan

One Day, No More Earthquakes

I copied this tweet from my son's Facebook status:

RT @nathanafinn: One day the True King will return and restore all that Adam lost. Then there will be no more earthquakes.

Hallelujah for that DAY. 

• No more earthquakes. 
• No more disease. 
• No more poverty.
• No more death.

You can go directly to the Compassion site to give safely and securely to bring aid to the earthquake victims in Haiti.

I sponsor a little boy in Colombia and he is safe and sound tonight. I received a letter from Iduar just last week telling me about how much he loves to play soccer and asking me if I like to sing!  I stood in my kitchen as I read his letter and thought to myself... "he held this paper, Iduar touched this very same piece of paper that I am holding right now." 

The power of touch - so many hurting Haitians right now.  I can pray and ask the Healer, my Heavenly Father to touch lives right now.  Grant it Lord. Use those that are there to touch many lives out of the overflow of You touching them.

One Day, No More Earthquakes.

Bible Reading Plans for 2010

Good Morning and Happy New Year Friends!

If you going to read through the Bible in a year, this Bible Gateway Reading Plans site is a great place to do so!   I've always loved this website, and this is just an added bonus to the many other features there! Each of the reading plans takes you through the Bible in a year.

•Old/New Testament (one year, starts January 1): each day features a reading from both the Old and the New Testaments, so you read through both Testaments together.

•Chronological (one year, starts January 1): reads through the Bible in the order that its events occurred historically. For example, Job lived sometime after the beginning of creation (Genesis 1) but before Abraham was born (Genesis 12). As a result, the Book of Job is integrated into the Book of Genesis.

•Beginning (one year, starts January 1): starts at the very beginning of the Bible and reads straight through to the end.

•Historical (one year, starts January 1): reads through the books of the Bible in the order in which they were written historically, according to the estimated dates of their writing.

You can have them emailed to you if you want, or you can read on-line.  I actually purchased a Chronological One-Year Bible that I am using. 

Commit to read, pray, study and live the WORD of GOD! You know it is life-changing for it is alive!

Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Blessings to you and your families and friends in 2010!