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
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 ESV
Sonya Ryder, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:11-13, ESV)
Allison Ashton, Houston, Texas
“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD, when they hear the words of they mouth.”
Psalm 138:4 (KJV)
Kearse, Denver CO
“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
Jackie Houser, Goldsboro NC: I’m working my way through Psalm 103. My new verse is: . . . who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:3 NIV
Sandra, Rock Hill, SC
I will give you every place where you set your foot.
Joshua 1:3 NIV
Terryl Arola, Pine City, MN
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 NIV
Anna, Cincinnati, OH
“He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.'”
Revelation 21:6-7 (NIV)
Allison Drennon, Little Rock, AR “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
Kristie Mallory Goshen, KY
“For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”
Mark 4:22 (ESV)
Brenda Russell, Hendersonville TN
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine. Isa 43:1b NKJV
Jen Z.
Greensburg, PA
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 ESV
Robin Byrd Columbia, SC
2Timothy 4:17
“Notwithstanding The Lord stood with me,
That through me the Gospel might be fully
Proclaimed, and that all Gentiles might hear
And I was delivered out of the mouth of the
Lion”. KJV
Marilyn Leslie Mentor on the Lake, OH
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Lisa Atkinson
Chappell Hill TX
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18(NIV)
Vickie, Spokane,WA
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
Erin Keel, Chesnee, SC
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Laurel Montealegre, White Pigeon, MI
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1 NIV
Caitlin, McKinney, TX
For you, o Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 119:8-9
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. (John 21:10-12 NIV)
“…and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…”, Ephesians 1:19, NKJV.
Karen Penn, Sturgis, Mi., “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him, as surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NIV
Liz Kelley, College Station, Tx
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His desk of ownership on us, and out His Soirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV)
Beth, London, Ontario
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.
Gretchen from Gahanna, OH: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” -Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
Michelle, Houston “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;” (1 Peter 5:2 NIV)
Sandra Larrañaga Bowe San Jon NM
Psalm 62:5 NIV
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone,
My hope comes from Him.
Dawn, Orland Park, IL “Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” Psalm 139:4 (NIV)
Keri Lee Robbins, Las Vegas, NV. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15: 5
ESV
Lauren Kennedy, Denham Springs, LA
Galatians 5:22 ESV — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
Linda Wright, Sugar Land, Texas – 1 Samuel 2:6 NIV “The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.”
Kaye from Hamburg,AR
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7) NIV
Crystal, West Hartford, CT
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11;6 (NIV)
Kidist, The Colony TX
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Melinda Sue Kimble, Nashville, TN
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12
Julia Posel, Munich, Germany. “Let all that I am praise Yahweh; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Yahweh gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. […] Yahweh is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Psalm 103:2-6,8 NLT (adapted to the original Name of the LORD)
Alicia Stewart (Loveland, CO)
“And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.” (1 Thess 3:12/MSG)
Amanda, Westfield, NC
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. -Ephesians 3:16-17(a), NIV
Rebecca from Birmingham, Alabama
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV)
Lani, Charlotte, NC, “rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7, NIV).
Janell ~ Frisco, TX ~ I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NIV
Pat Wagar, Jekyll Island, GA, 3-15-15
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (said Jesus) John 8:32 NLT
Melody Barbour, Florence, KY- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ESV
Karen Johnson, Bingham Lake, MN
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV
Linda Ney
Gahanna, Ohio
Psalm 148, Verse 5 (N.I.V.)
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.”
Yvonne Gearing – Kingman, AZ
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV
Karen
Flower Mound, TX
But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness’s and self-control.
GAL 5:22. NIV
Amanda Gozur, Albuquerque, NM
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 (NIV)
Suzie Devaughn Wenona, MD: from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Ephesians 3:15 NASB