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
Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His well through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (NIV)
Marilyn, Kansas
Frances – Pasadena, TX Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 NLT
Kristinia D. Metairie, LA
Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our suffering, you will also share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:7
Southlake, TX. “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; My God turns darkness into light”. Psalm 18:28 NIV
Psslm 57:2 (ESV)
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”
Loveland, CO
Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days you would not believe if you were told. (NLT)
Kay, Deer Park TX
Psalm 139:9-10 ESV
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
I love this passage. I put it on the wall of our cottage.
Nancy, Canada
Deborah C
Atlanta, GA
“If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.
II Cor. 4:7 (The Message)
Selena – Cordele, GA
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs. 16:9, HCSB
Wendy, Lakewood, NY
When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. 2 Corinthians 10:18 NLT
Leah Cullen – Ramona, CA
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. – Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
Memory – Wenatchee, WA
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 2:17, NIV
Kristina Sedberry, garland tx – wisdom resposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. Proverbs 14:33 NIV
Cara Gabrielse, Parker, CO: Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36;5 NIV
Debbie
Millen, GA
Psalm 84:6 HCSB
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of springwater; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
Audra-Jackson, TN
“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”
Song of Solomon 2:10 NKJV
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
2 Chronicles 32:7(KJV)
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
Linda, Longview,Tx
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Melanie Miller, Nampa, Idaho
Psalm 86:6 NIV
Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
Patricia Gandy
Florence, MS
Psalm 32:1 (NIV)
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Emily Murphy – Petal, MS
“Surely I have calmed and quited my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2
Beth Schreiner, Alvaton, KY
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-4, HCSB
Mechelle, Broken Arrow, Ok
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3:13 (NLT)
Kelsey Lusk. Fort St John BC. Canada’s. “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready in your lips.” Proverbs 22:17-18. ESV
Karen, New Prague, MN
“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 61:2 NIV
Margaret
Bellaire, Texas
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Paula Rockwood, Brunswick, ME
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:6 ESV
Kelly Merrill
Menomonie, Wisconsin
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:2 ESV
Barbara Carson, Pearland, TX:
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
Psals 62:7
My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my
refuge, and rock where no emery can reach me.
Judy Coles, Orangeville, ON
I Thess 1:5. ESV
Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Soirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Susan B. – Chapin SC
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
1 John 5:4 ESV
Miriam, Nottingham, UK
The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
Proverbs 19:23 (ESV)
But encourage one another daily as long as it is called today so that none of you become hardened by sins deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 NIV
Jennifer Jackson, Tulsa OK
Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 NKJV)
From Tishomingo, OK
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Rebecca Tipton
Cleveland, Ohio
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 ESV
Bettie from Cary, NC
Colossians 1: 19-20 NIV
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Daneen, Olathe, KS:
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6 NKJV)
Angela from Aurora, Nebraska – “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you great only your brothers, what are you doing more than the others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48 NIV84
Sam, Colorado Springs, CO
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5, NIV
Gale Wilkinson, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Denise Vick, Ruby, SC:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27 NIV
Sonia Gonzales
Oceanside, CA
Luke 6:27 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
Because HE says so! ❤️
Molly Longo, Lititz, PA
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
1 Peter 2:23 NIV
Kelly in Arkansas
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV
Debra Hamson – Dahlgren, IL
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV
Susan, Atlanta, GA
Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus – the great Shepherd of the sheep – with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 HCSB
Dianne, Fitzwilliam, NH
John 15:8-11 (ESV)
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Katherine-Weatherford,TX
When I said, “my foot is slipping”, your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19