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
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV
Lindsay, Albuquerque, NM “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Kelsie, Albuquerque, NM “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Alysa, Albuquerque, NM “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3 NIV
Julie, Charleston, WV
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
k.joy from Lancaster, PA
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NLT
Kathy French, Austin,
“Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14 NIV
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. Micah 6:8 NIV
Kirby from Parsons, KS
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV
Tanya, Whitewater, KS
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.”
1 Corinthians 13:11, Amplified
Sara, Plymouth, IN
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
Hosea 14:4 (NIV)
Jennifer in Winston-Salem, NC
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:9-10
Lisa S, Plano TX
Romans 12:12 ESV
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Mei, Easley SC:
As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Romans 4:17 NIV
Melisa
Waco, Texas
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Dawn, Beavercreek, OH
Psalm 34:13 (NLT)
(continued from Week #15)
… Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!
Carol Kirby, Amarillo, TX
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 (NIV)
St. Catharines, Ontario, CANADA
Colossians 3:23 NLV
Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.
Emilie Eaton, IN
Romans 6:23 NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Beth, Roswell, GA
“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up…”
Hebrews 12:1
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? (Mark 8:36 CEVDCUS06)
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29
Rachel R., Lafayette IND: “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26, NLT
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38 NIV
Sarah S., McKinney, TX Ephesians 3:17 NIV
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,”
Preserve me O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
Psalms 16:1 KJ
Sheri, Milwaukee, WI
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:10 NIV
Kami, Dallas, TX: ” ‘Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?,’ says the LORD.” Is. 66:9 NIV
Lexington, KY
Return faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God. Jeremiah 3:22 NIV
Johnine from Murfreeesboro, TN
As the Father has loved me, so have I love you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9
Natalie from Frisco, TX
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Rhonda, Anderson, In
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Lord, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8 HCSB
April Jackson
Pittsburgh, PA
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 (Amplified)
Holly from Alpharetta, GA
Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
Psalm 103: 15 NLT
Jennifer from Gaithersburg, MD
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NIV)
Jennifer from Wilmington, DE
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
– James 1:1 (NIV/84)
Susan, Atlanta
Because I hear of Your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
Philemon 1:5 ESV
Janice, Tulsa.
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15 KJV
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer to the bones.
Proverbs: 14:30
Susan
Kansas City
Paula
Atlanta, Tx
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:16 NKJV
Tiffany
Muskogee,Ok
You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4 NLT)
Kaiva from Chicago,
Don’t envy sinners but always continue to fear the Lord.
You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Proverbs 23: 17-18
Psalm 86:2 NKJV
Preserve my life for I am holy, You are my God; Save your servant who trusts in You!
Lisa, Wichita, ks
Amplified, Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, o God, and renew a right, persevering and steadfast spirit within me.
Sara, Plymouth, IN
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)
BECKY PEURIFOY – LONGVIEW TX – 1 THESS 5:17 NIV “PRAY CONTINUALLY”
Whitney from Russellville, TN
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, James 1:2. TNIV
For this child I prayed, and the lord has granted the desires of my heart
I Samuel 1:27
Nesha, Mechanicsville, VA
‘Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth. Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.’
Psalm 86:11. NLT
Bev, Austin.
“I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Galatians 4:19 ESV
Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. NIV
stephanie, houston
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16 NIV