Hey Y’all!
Before I fool anyone, each of you should know that this is Lindsee posing as Beth for this particular SSMT post. She and her girls on a little girl’s getaway that is much deserved. So when she mentioned that she might not be able to work this post out, I told her not to even think of it and enjoy her time away!
Side note: She was telling me yesterday she’s not sure when her last actual vacation was because our siesta mama has spent the last two scheduled vacations either being Bibby for a week (her grandma name), or writing for a week! So! Needless to say, this girl’s getaway is earned and joyfully welcomed! We blessed them as they walked out the doors yesterday and promised them they didn’t need to worry about one detail here. She also assured me she’d hopefully have some fun pictures for you guys when she gets back!
SSMT is a big detail. So here I am. I realize that was a much more detailed description as to why I’m taking over SSMT this time than you probably cared to know, but now it’s in official wording and I’m leaving it.
Beth gave me the option to share my verse with you guys along with the one she’s memorizing this go around, so I decided to take her up on that. The more the merrier, right?
My verse is actually probably very familiar to y’all, but it hit me fresh a couple of weeks ago and knew it needed to be put into my memory for good. It’s one of those verses I know, and I could quote it, but not verbatim and I really wanted to be intentional with it this go around, especially since I really mixed up the version I’m memorizing it in this time which really makes it pop in my mind.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (Amplified)
This I know to be so true, I need Jesus. And I need Him to steady my heart, because He alone can do that. Want to hear some synonyms of steadfast? Steady, firm, stable, constant, staunch, and immovable. Each of these descriptions are things I want to be said and true of me. I think it’s so fitting that persevering and steadfast follow each other because it’s in my persevering that He makes my spirit steadfast, but I tend to get really distracted and unsteady pretty quick. Which I guess is why we’re told to persevere in the first place. Maybe it’s just me, but so many times I allow my circumstances to determine my steadfastness. When things are going good (translation: the way I want them too), persevering comes easy, as well as a firm and steady devotion to the Lord, but it’s when the going gets tough, that the tough get going. That’s when it’s time to wrestle that hard thing out with Him. For me, an example that comes to mind is singleness. Some days I love the freedom it brings, while other days I’m wrestling my way through this season. Very quickly I can go from steadfast to discouraged. Steadfast to lazy. Steadfast to frustrated. I want so badly to be faithful in each season of my life, and to truly live in an “undivided devotion” to the Lord that Paul talks about, but we can all admit it’s not always easy. If it were easy, the vast majority would be doing just that.
I don’t always want to do the work it takes to have a clean heart, and a persevering Spirit, but I know all too well that when I’m not yearning for it is the perfect time to ask for it. So I’m asking for a clean heart! That God would renew me from top to bottom.
You’re more than welcome to join me this go around.
Or for those of you curious what our Siesta Mama has chosen, you can join her. This time she is memorizing Colossians 1:16 in the ESV version:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
Amen. He sees everything. He knows everything. He created everything. If you stop and take that verse a part line by line and dwell on that, it’s really mind blowing.
ALL things were created BY Him. (Things we cannot even lay our human eyes on.)
THROUGH Him.
And FOR Him.
ALL things.
I have no doubt our Siesta Mama would have more to say about that, but I’m just going to leave you with wow. So, if that scripture stirs something up in you, tag on with her.
(And now I’m going to make this really slick transition to close out the post. Could this be any more awkward? I’m kind of gifted in that. You know, making things awkward.)
Well, ladies! Time to persevere to the end! We’re so close. If you got through summer, you can certainly make it through the fall. Oh, and because I’ve been getting some emails and phone calls, I’ll go ahead and let you know that we’re planning on having all things SSMT celebration and details up SOON. Like, hopefully as in the next SSMT post or two. We’re so pumped and we love y’all dearly.
Let’s hear your scriptures!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Marti, Libertyville, IL
“You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,” Psalm 65:5 (NIV)
Martha
Dickinson ND
Psalm 91:3-4 ESV
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly paestilence. He will cover you with his pin ions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Julie, Chesterland, OH
But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (ESV)
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steafast spirit within me.
liz
west linn or
Tammy from Platte City
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV
Cheryl, Le Chesnay France
Cheryl, Le Chesnay France
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.
Psalm 89:15 (NLT)
Tilley Hawkins from Franklin, TN
“Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)
Psalm 62:8 (NET)
Paula,SC
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
Megan, Goodlettsville, TN
“For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. ”
-Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
Kelly
Starr, SC
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19 NIV
“This God – His way is perfect, the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 18:30, ESV
Doris, Whiteville, NC
1 John 4:8-9 ESV
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him.
Kathy
Madison, CT
Romans 1: 30-32
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Leigh, Woodway, Texas
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
Diane – Roswell, GA
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” Psalm 90:17 ESV
Martha, Clearwater,FL
“But some will say,”You have faith;I have deeds”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do”
James 2: 18 NIV
Rebecca-Springfield, OH
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?~James 4;12 NIV
Nancy, Junction City, Ar.
“Cease your striving and recognize that I am God; I will be exalted over the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NET
Courtney, Chicora. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear! The lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1 NIV
Jennie F., Long Creek, Oregon. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful me, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
~Heb. 12:2-3~ NIV
Paola, Pinellas Park, Fl.
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Kelly, Jackson, MI
“You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas.”
Psalm 65:5 HCSB
Paola, Pinellas Park Fl
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Pam, Brighton CO (Wow, I am 2 days late posting)
Colossians 3:17 ESV
And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Kelly, Jackson, MI
“You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas.” Psalm 65:5
HCSB
Kathy Leamington Ontario Canada
“…they spoke the Word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
NIV
Donna
Franklin, TN
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)
Sarah Spencer, Marion, KS, 1 Peter 3:15-16, NIV
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Brenda from Southern Maryland
Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (NET Bible)
Nancy from Evansville, IN
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:1-3 NIV
Psalm 94:18
When I said, “My foot is slipping”, your love, O Lord, supported me. NIV
Lacey Katy Tx
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Julie, Sugar Land, TX
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Geri, Deer Park, TX
2 Cor. 4:4 ESV
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Geri, Deer Park, TX
2 Cor. 4:4 ESV
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Megan from Salisbury, MD
Those who live to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the spirit will harvest everlasting life from the spirit. Galatians 6:8 NLT
Karina
Baton Rouge, La.
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”
Psalm 56:3
NASB
Fran
Eden Prairie, MN
2 Timothy 1:7. NIV
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Melissa Droegemueller
San Antonio, Texas
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)
Diera- Austin, TX
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Julie Payne, Muskogee, OK. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV)
Paula, Houston, Tx
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
— Matthew 4:19 (NIV 1984)
I’m going with Psalm 51:10 also. I sure need to memorize that verse at this time. I love how alive and active God’s word is.
Steadfast. Lord help me.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (Amplified)
Kim, Valdosta, GA
“When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19 NKJV
Kathi, Jacksonville, Fl “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”-NIV Pslam 68:19
Annie, Alabama
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Psalm 139:13-15 (NIV)
Brittnie, Sugar Land, Texas
Isaiah:43:2 (NIV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Nancy, St. Petersburg FL
For I know the plans for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
You adulterous people don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4 NIV