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
Psalm 62:5-8New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. Interlude
Mitzi Garrett ~ Bulverde Texas
“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
Lisa Curtis, Jackson, Missouri
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have a chance to eat, He said to them, come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. Mark 6:31 HSCB
Michele Gibbons, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52 NASB
Molly-Overland Park, KS
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you” Isaiah 54:10 ESV
Suzanne Carlson – Ridgefield, WA
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV
Betsy Morris, Va. Beach, VA
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD you God, for He is gracious and compassionate.” Joel 2:13 (NIV)
Kristen Lucas, San Diego, CA: 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” -NLT
Mary, Frisco TX. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”
Mathew 7:7 ESV
Lora Faircloth, Fayetteville, NC
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
Diane Ellison Littleton, CO
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:4-5
Sharon Crow, Winchester, VA
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
Aubrey Eubank- Palmetto, GA
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24 ESV
Ariana McKee. Boise, Idaho.
Finally, all of you, Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love One another be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 NIV
Cindy Strong, DIberville, MS
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
Beth, Toronto: “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old – ” (Lamentations 5:21 ESV)
Dottie Morrow, Mansfield, TX
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Salley Sutmiller, Tulsa, OK
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)
Shannon Houston, TX
Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
“The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 NIV84
Nancy, Chattanooga, TN
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks
in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus.”
Danielle, Wolcottville, IN
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” -Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Kerrah, New Orleans- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Brandi Mincey, Hope Mills, NC
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31 (NLT)
David said this about Him…I see the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope! Acts 2:25-26 (NIV)
Jackie Siple Rockledge FL
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NIV)
Priscilla -Indialantic, FL
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
Joy – Georgetown, TX – “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.'” Psalm 30:6NIV
Amanda, Santa Clara, CA
And now, just as you have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him.
Colossians 2:6 (NLT)
Rachel J. from Cincinnati, OH
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; (Psalm 121:3 NIV)
Gail-Tyler, TX
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.
Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
Psalm 122:6,9 NKJV
Beth Bellow, Houston, NIV
Psalm 139:15-16
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Stacey Mills, Warner Robins, GA
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 NIV
judy Berey, Mandeville, La Matthew 11:28 NKJV “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
Sharon Thomas
WheatRidge, Colorado
from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Ephesians 3:15. NIV
J.J. Ehr, Longmont. CO
Colossians 3:17 NIV
And whatever you do, whether in word, or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Linda H., Buckeye, AZ
“O, Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.”
Psalm 139:1 NLT
Leah, Kansas City, MO
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 (TNIV)
Amy McMillan- Macon, Ga.
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others, really love them. Romans 12:7-9 NLT
Pat Jones, Springfield, MO
“from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,” Ephesians 3:15 ESV
Wendy, Harrodsburg, Kentucky
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Donna, Athens, GA:
“For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17, RSV-CE
Jamie C. Irvine, Ky.
People, trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection. Selah (Psalms 62:8 NCV)
Heidi Nielsen Stow, MA “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But wordily sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
Katy, TX, Proverbs 18:21, NLT
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Ellen, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Moge Hij vanuit zijn rijke luister uw innerlijke wezen kracht en sterkte schenken door Zijn Geest
Efeziers 3:16, NBV
Melanie Beaudin, Winchester, Va
“For now we only see a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully even as I am fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV
Gennie, Granbury, TX
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand oh God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3: 1-2 NASB
Lisa from Robinson Twp., PA
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
[7] For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.