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
Kristel from Russellville, AR
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NLT
My sweet friend! I was telling my Bible study group about you last night, how the Lord put us together in 2012 during the SSMT Celebration. I hope to see you in 2016!
Patience Nason, Citrus Heights, CA
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.” Acts 2:22 NLT
Dorothy Yang, San Diego, CA. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12 NIV
Charlene Morgan–Lincoln City, Oregon
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NIV
Naomi Rozak, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV
Brenna Rosetti Wiggins, MS
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)
Leslie. Oakland. MD
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10. NIV
Leah Kuor, Salem, OR
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 (NASB)
Chris Bradbury, Greeley, CO
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever Psalm 73:26 NIV
Psalm 119:80 ~ May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
Alicia Fleming – Monroe, LA
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgement.
2 Timothy 1:7 HSCB
Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God believe also in me.john 14:1 NIV
Frederika E Myles, Spring Hill, TN, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
Dawn, Pottsville, AR, “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives it’s name.” Ephesians 3:15, NIV
Rachael Heard San Antonio, TX “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.” – Psalms 37:23-24 NASB
Becca, Monterey CA
“from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” ~ Ephesians 3:15 ESV
Misty Sanders- North Charleston, SC
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face
and to be in His presence continually! 1Chronicles 16:11 AMP
Jessica Battle Ground, WA
Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24
Trudy Burnett, Middletown OH
May the Lord bless you and protect you. Numbers 6:24 NLT
Phyllis, Irvine,CA, “but since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8(NIV)
Debbie Brown. McDonough, GA
He must become greater, I must become less. John 3:30 NIV
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:9 ESV
Carrie, Eure, NC
Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Taryn Schairer, Blacksburg,VA
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Sarah, Christina and Esther May; Wenatchee, WA
“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
Roseanne, Tacoma WA
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the
world, our faith. Who is he who overcomes the
world, but he who believes that Jesus is the son
of God?
1John 5:4-5
NKJV
Chrissy Hilliard, Gardner, Kansas
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
(Romans 8:37 ESV)
Ruth Moore Winston Salem, NC
Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)
17 “The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
Bobbi, Lake City, FL.
For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:7 (NLT)
Janine – Ojai, CA “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
April Lopez, BonneyLake,Wa
The Lord gives strength to those that are tired. Isaiah 40:29 ICB
Emmilianna Ferreria, BonneyLake,Wa
Be full of joy in the Lord always, I will say again, be full of joy. Philippians 4:4 NCV
Aava Ferreria, BonneyLake,Wa
The Lord gives strength to those that are tired. Isaiah 40:29 ICB
Lindsay Arellano, Los Alamos, NM
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners..
Luke 4:18a NIV
Ephesians 3:14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, “
Rachel
Little Rock, AR
“And one called to another and said,”Holy, holy, holy is The Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.”
Isaiah 6:3 ESV
karen, Cheney, WA
“Send forth Your light and Your truth, let then guide me;
let them bring me to Your holy mountain, the place where You dwell.” Psalm 43:3 (NIV)
Sandra Ruder, Hillsboro, KS
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
John 15:1 (NIV)
Lou Ann Smith, McAllen, TX
From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, Eph. 3:15 ESV
Hilary in Orlando FL
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. (1 John 4:6 NLT)
Shirley Hilbert, Spring Hill, TN
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV
Kent, Washington
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV
Julie Strock, Lakewood,CO
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
Pamm from 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)
Karen Gilstrap, Deer Park, WA
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord” Psalm 130:5-6a
NRSV
Lisa Landis
Castro Valley, CA
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147:8 NIV
Kelly Copelan Starr,SC
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Ps.25:4-5 NIV
Madelaine Priest, Conway, AR
I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
-Psalms 130:5 NLT
Susie Bordner. Kirkland,Wa
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does The Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love merce and to walk humbly with your God”
Micah 6:8
“Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow,my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies,you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long,and we will praise your name forever.”–Psalm 44:5-8 NIV
Jenni Banicki, Elk Grove, CA, “I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:23 (NAB)
Colleen van Nieuwkerk, Grande Prairie, AB, CANADA
Psalm 16:6, ESV, The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.