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
Vickie-Wichita Falls, Tx
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart
trust in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Jody from Sarcoxie says…
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9 NIV
Felicia P, Carrollton, VA
Ephesians 3: 20-21,NIV
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Crystal Laiben, Cape Girardeau, MO
“God’s gift and His call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 NIV
Tammie Williams
Utica MO
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17 NKJ
Elaina Morrison, San Diego, CA
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9 NIV)
Jerri Hadley, Wimberley,TX, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your miracles of long ago.” NIV
Diane LeJeune, Fairview, TN
“O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.” Psalm 143:1-2 NIV
Stephanie, Imperial Beach, CA
If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:23 ESV
Rhonda Sperrey, Hermon, Maine
“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
Hebrews 9:28 ESV
Melissa Rausch, Blue Springs MO
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the LORD will do wonders among you tomorrow.” Joshua 3:5 HCSB
Alexis, Salem OR
Jer 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.
NASB
Vickie Davis, MS, NIV 1 john 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
John 14:21
Mandy Codding, Wadsworth OH – 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” NIV
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV)
And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
Donna Herndon
Ashland, Ky
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail
Lamentations 3:22
NIV
Michelle O., E. Longmeadow, MA
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, 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.”
2nd Corinthians 12:9. NIV
Carol B, Conyers, GA
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 NASB
Kris Morrissey, Omaha NE
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” Isaiah 61:4 (NIV)
Taylorsville, NC Psalm 86:11(NIV) Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Deborah, Hartsville, SC. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6 NASB
Caitlyn Marlin, Leavittsburg, OH
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Joy Huber Indian Trail, NC
“Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10
Jennifer Smith, Sydney, Australia. “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.” John 12:24 The MSG
Whitney Holder, Wilmington, NC. “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,” (Ephesians 3:14 NLT)
Karen Green, Valrico, FL
This Jesus is
the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
Acts 4:11 HCSB
Carrie Lagas, North Potomac, MD
Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” John 12:44 NIV
Barb* St Cloud MN/Fort Worth TX *Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Tammie Maier, Hillsboro KS
Such Knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:6(NIV)
Dena’ Davis, Hindman, KY
” My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
John 15:8
New American Standard
Jennifer Tinsley, Indianapolis, IN. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV
Mary Rhodes
Hermantown, MN
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
Eva, Knoxville, TN – (cont.) a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4b NIV
Nellie Neufeld, Woodstock Ontario Canada
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Lori Eagen. Windsor Ontario Canada. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me on this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Mal 3:10 NIV
Linda Patterson Wolcottville IN
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me
because he appointed me to preach good news to
to the poor. He sent me to bind up the broken
hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners.
NIV
Sandy E.; Kansas City, Missouri; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.” Romans 8:1 NIV
Marcelene, Tucson,AZ
“I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1. ESV
Katie Gunser – Levittown, PA
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51: 16-17. NIV
Lisa Walton, Port Saint Lucie,Fl
“Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work
in you will perform it until the day
of Jesus Christ: ” Philippians 1:6 KJV
Danielle Evansville IN
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Proverbs 23:12 NIV
Roberta. Coldspring,TX
Psalm 119:105. (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
julia rhoads, palm harbor, fl
Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)
“Martha, Martha” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed–or indeed only one.”
Cindy, Lancaster OH
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)
Acts 2:38 NIV
Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift Holy Spirit.
Claudia from Edmond, OK
” I will pray from his glorious unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16 NLT
Stacey DiGrazia, Elgin, Ill.
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”
2 Samuel 22:7 NIV
Sheila, Williston, ND
“Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” Psalms 125:1-2 (NASB)
Jennifer K
Asheboro, NC
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
Matthew 7:25 NIV