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
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
Galatians 5:22
Laura Berg from Carlsbad, CA
1 Samuel 12:23-24. NIV
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is right and good. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
Shirley Jones from Lawrenceville, GA
Eph 3:18 NIV
May have power, together with all the LORD’S holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
Joelle Roibal Abilene, Tx
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
as you help us by your prayers.
(2 Corinthians 1:10b-11a NIV)
Sheri from Hummelstown, PA
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
Emily, Bothell WA
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Marie Davis from Byhalia, MS
Ps 119:103 ESV
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Beth Bell. Cartersville, Ga
My enemies retreated; they staggered and died when You appeared. Psalm 9:3 NLT
Diane – Roswell, GA – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV
Carolyn
Indianapolis, IN
Amos 3:7 HCSB
Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.
Angela; Monroe, GA
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB
(Isa 12:2 [HCSB])
Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust Him and not be afraid, for Yah, the LORD, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.”
Ruth, Providence
You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of times for your sake. Through Him you have confidence in God who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:18-21 RSV
Kathy, Leamington, Ontario, Canada
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf
of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
2 Chron.16:9
1 John 4:7-8 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Jenn Marana, AZ “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31b NIV
Tina of Auxvasse MO
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Shannon Clark from Fredericksburg, VA
May these words of my mouth and this mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14(NIV)
Taryn, Corinth, TX
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
Catherine S – Grants Pass OR
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:5-6 (NIV)
Erin Rhoades – Maryville, TN
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
-Psalm 90:12 NASB
Jeannie K., Hanahan, SC
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[a] spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Cyrena Lehman, Kettle Falls, WA
Deut. 30:16
“For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees, and laws; then you will live and have increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to posses.”
Michelle, Mosinee, WI
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10b
Cindy Mason Coeur d’alene, ID and Bakersfield, CA So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord does not delay His promise as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
John 10:28 (NIV)
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
Sandee Tseng, Santa Monica CA
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith .”
– Hebrews 12:1
“Yes!”
Sally Heilinger, Port Orchard, WA
If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 HCSB
Colossians 1:10 ESV
“so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, (Ephesians 1:18 NIV)
Kathy Folsom, CA
James 1:25New International Version (NIV)
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Lynne Molyneaux, Pittsburgh PA
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12 (NASB) Thank you Melanie – I needed this one!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
“But I trust in your unfailing love; I will rejoice because you have rescued me.”Ps 13:5 NLT
Yes
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away. 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 Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Cor 12:8-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
Catherine Stewart, Centreville, VA. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 (NIV)
Kitty Schlosser, Zamora, CA — So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12 (NASB)
Mary Ellen Black, Barboursville WV
But I say, love your enemies!Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
isiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you.
Missy Smead
Leola, AR
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.” Jeremiah 10:10 ASV
Lainee, Flagstaff Az
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 HCSB
Laura Hix Grand Saline TX [email protected]
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. (Psalms 91:4 NLT)
Darlene from Maine
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15 KJV)
Vicki, Tulsa, OK “When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.” Psalm 34:18
Carol, Keller, TX
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 NKJV