Greetings, sweet Siestas. It is with the largest lump in my throat imaginable that I introduce myself and share my heart with you, a most tender and humble heart as I type these words. I’m Melanie Toups, and my husband, Jerry, and I live in Bridge City, Texas. Our son and daughter-in-law, Jerrad and Cody Toups, live in Houston and are the parents of our darling grandbaby, Cally. Our daughter and her husband, Jacqueline and Josh Elliff, live in Arlington. Besides my salvation, my sweet Father has loved me most well in the lives of my children. Most well. Jerry and I worship at First Baptist Orange; I serve as principal of Kountze Elementary School and also teach at Lamar University’s junior college, LIT, in the evenings. Facilitating ladies’ Bible studies, primarily Beth’s studies, for the past 10 years is one of my greatest joys.
In 2009, I began memorizing Scripture through this very blog and have continued for six years. I’ll never be able to fully express the profound, life-changing impact this has over me every single day. I love His Word like no other love in my life. Last fall I began asking Him with much anticipation, “Father, what do You have for us in year seven?!”
Our Connection Group recently began “Time of Your Life” by Andy Stanley, and during the first session, I whispered to a friend that Psalm 90:12 would be my first memory verse in 2015:
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12 (NASB)
This verse challenges me greatly in how I redeem the time He gives me. Andy discusses the cumulative value of investing small amounts of time in things of worth over a long period of time. (My first thought was the immeasurable worth of Scripture memorization.) I’d been asking for His guidance in laying aside a current commitment to better serve Him, and this verse took my breath away. When I dug deeper into ‘wisdom’ (Hebrew ‘chokmah’) in my Bible’s lexical aids, I found it specifically refers to ‘prudence’ in this passage. Prudence – wise in handling matters; skill and good judgment in the use of resources. Yes. Psalm 90:12 is for me.
This verse also speaks to me in seasons of wait. While we believe Him to be faithful as we await answered prayers for loved ones, relationships, jobs, etc., let’s serve Him and intentionally seek daily glimpses of His glory in the wait. A favorite set of commentaries by Charles Spurgeon, “Treasury of David”, contains this statement regarding my verse, ‘When the heart seeketh, it findeth, as though it were brought unto her, like Abraham’s ram.’ Ahh. Breathtaking. This is for me.
I’m in such need of His loving-kindness. Each morning, my knees hit the bedroom carpet for my Manna time (‘quiet time’ – necessary, daily nourishment from Him) and then again knees on the floor behind my office desk, desperate to live under His authority to have His anointing over whatever the day holds. (Warning: you may look like a bobble-head doll popping up if someone opens your office door without knocking. Smile!) But what carries me throughout each day is His Word, verses memorized to fill my thoughts and speak aloud while walking the halls of my campus or the hallway of my home. And on stressful days when my thoughts seem to continually cycle ‘grumble/confess/repeat’, I beg Him to please ‘work in me to will and to ACT according to His good purpose’ (from Philippians 2:13, emphasis mine).
So, let’s do this! Your heart will soar at His faithfulness! He will use you to encourage coworkers and family with verses penned to notepads and text messages. Learn verses with friends (in 2014 I invited Facebook friends to join a group and was overwhelmed at the response); recite them during your morning commute. My work commute is 90 miles roundtrip, and my spiral is my copilot. Recently I spoke at a local ladies’ retreat and discussed Scripture memorization. Today I saw the pastor of one of the participating churches, and he was excited to share the difference Scripture memory is already making in his congregation. Applause for Him alone! He. is. most. worthy.
Thank you, precious Beth, for your incredible generosity in allowing me to honor Him through your ministry. I love Him more because of your obedience to His calling. I love you.
So excited to read YOUR verses, my friends!
P.S. In case you missed it, we have a new SSMT app!! Check it out here: SSMT App Launch
Connie
Greene, IA
for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13
ESV
Phoebe Cunningham, Tucson, AZ.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11 NIV
Erica K., Atmore AL
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
Kelly Elliott, Jackson, TN.
Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Elaine ~ Powder Springs, GA ~ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 34:6 (ESV)
Goshen, IN
Show me what you want me to do. You are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground. Psalm 143:10, ERV
Sheri Taylor Hurricane, WV
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 NIV
Pam in El Cajon, Ca.
“But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm”
Proverbs 1:33 NIV
Amanda Jones, Austin, Tx – Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalms 143:10
Nell Brinkley. Chattanooga,tn. Let not your hearts be troubled Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14;1 esv
Lisa, West Des Moines, IA “As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.” Jeremiah 26:14 (NIV)
Kristen DeBie, Paramount, CA
Psalm 130:5 NLT
I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
NIV
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4
I am just needin some encouragement and hope 🙂
I’m praying for you today, Karen.
Carolyn Tragesser, Orofino, Idaho
Oh Melanie! Philippians 2:13 is my #1 life scripture! When I searched for Him with all my heart at age 17, 50 years ago, He actually put that verse in my mind! I wasn’t familiar with it, so I looked it up. (I was fearful that it wasn’t really a message as that had never happened before.). He has thrilled me ever since! Thank you for your word today!
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Carolyn, He thrills me also! Blessing today, sweet lady. Thank you for your encouragement!
Michelle Rademacher – Aurora, IL
“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!”
(Psalm 80:19 ESV)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices GOD is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV
Malinda Guider, Chattanooga, TN-“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
Marsha from Carmel In
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, (Colossians 1:9 NIV)
Tammy, Dothan, Al “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Ps. 28:7
Doris, Madison, MS: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
Kim Robustellini, Yreka, CA 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
Kim it bless’s my socks off ( as Beth would say) that you are doing this along with me !!!
Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Joyce Highlands Ranch, CO
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26 NIV
“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
Morgan Myers from Chandler, OK
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)
Kim in Fishers, IN “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Tracy, Sidney, Ohio
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; Ephesians 4:23 NIV
MaLori Meligin, Fort Worth, TX: “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalms 143:10 KJV)
You are the God who performs miracles, you display your power among the peoples.
Psalm 77:14
Sissy Youngblood, Ruston Louisiana
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Buhler, Ks
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:18 NIV
Morgantown, IN
Isaiah 40:29 (NIV84)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29
Rhonda Rowe, Kingston, OK:
‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
Lindsey Diggs, Smyrna, TN
Deut. 29:29 (NKJV)
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Ok LORD our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
Psalm 8:1 NAS
Brandi Hunter, Memphis, TN.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us eternal weight in glory far beyond all comparison,
2 Corinthians 4:17 NASB
Brenda Gerber from Grafton, OH
Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Lisa K, Mpls, MN
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Susan, Allison Park, PA
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
– Psalm 40:1 (NLT)
Jan Morton
Hawkinsville, GA
Proverbs 8:10 NLT
Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
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)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 ESV
Judy Sommerville, Simpsonville, SC
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13&14 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
Iris Carlisle PA March 15, 2015
15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. Ephesians 3:15
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13 NIV
Hannah Hancock from Winter Haven, FL
“does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;”
-1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)
1 Peter 5:10 (AMP)
“And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD of all grace, Who has called you to His own eternal glory in Jesus Christ, will HIMSELF complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely and strengthen and settle you.”
Sara Martin, Houston, TX: And, when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25, NIV