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
Ruth Larkin, Shawnee, KS
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
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.
Lora Lovin Osburn, Morristown, TN “Draw me after you and let us run together!” Song of Solomon 1:4 NASB
Peter 3:4 (NIV)
Your beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Melissa, Oconomowoc, WI
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
Psalm 19:13 NIV
Debra Morel, Houston, Texas
“Let God be true and every human being a liar.” Romans 3:4a (NIV)
Michelle Weihing, Frisco, Texas
Hebrews 12:1 – Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
Susan McLaughlan, Fishers, IN
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35 ESV
Maddy Clemens, Los Angeles
By setting aside in His flesh the law with it’s commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:15 NIV
Melissa Turner, Senatobia, MS
They do not fear bad news;they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7 (NLT)
I love this verse! I have leaned upon that promise many times.
June Greenstreet
Bradford, Ontario
““You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10-11 ESV)
Misty Sherman, Longview, TX
“But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'” (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV)
Tanya, Elizabethtown, PA
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Aleah, Vacaville, CA Still working on 1 Peter!
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV)
Heidi~Lindale, Texas
Psalm 22:26 NIRV
Those who are poor will eat and be satisfied. Those who seek The Lord will Praise Him. May their hearts be filled with hope.
Search me Oh God and know my heart.
Try me and know my thoughts.
Psalm 139:1 NIV
Valarie, Pocatello
Search me Oh God and know my heart.
Try me and know my thoughts.
Psalm 139:1 NIV
Brenda Dulin, Denton, TX: “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5
Lucinda Wichita KS “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.” Ps. 37:8 NASB
I will run the course of Your commandments for You shall enlarge my heart. Psalm 119 :32 NKJV
Cindy
Magnolia, AR
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for though art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me.
Though prepare at a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou annoitest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in the
House of the order forever.
So late…so sorry!
Kathi Crowder from Yorktown, Virginia: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I life up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Cindy
Rising Sun In
God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord ’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. (2 Samuel 22:31 NLT)
Cassi Weems,Paris,TX
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NIV
Paula, San Antonio TX
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Nicole, Brentwood, CA
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me” (John 14:6-7 NIV)
Candice Mears, Annapolis, MD. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be its glory within.
Zechariah 2:55
NIV
Cassie Pattillo, Boiling Springs, SC “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (NIV)
Ps sorry for being so late
Ellen, Moneta VA
The LORD appeared to us in the past saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” -Jeremiah 31:3(NIV, 1984)
Cristy: Monroe, Ohio
Hear, O Isreal: The Lord your God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6: 4-5
Vivian, Person, NC
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” I John 1:8 NKJV
Barbara
Midland,Texas
Psalm 103:10-11 (ESV)
“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;”
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9 (NIV)
Carol, Waterloo, ON, Canada
“Those who fear the Lord are secure…” Proverbs 14:26a NLT
Debbie George, Marion, IN “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
Jane Gill of Shreveport, LA And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. Matthew 13:23 NAS
Karen Crawford, Jefferson City, MO
“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NIV
Shawna, Aurora, NE
“Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 NIV
Christina Ramsey
Brady Tx
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
ESV
Tracy, Westminster, MD. Galatians 6:9New International Version (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Tara Milligan, Stigler, OK. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Shannon, Buda TX
And you will be called priest of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Isaiah 61:6 NIV
Ephesians 1:18 NIV
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.
Susannah, Folsom CA
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy
instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor.
Anne, Simpsonville, SC “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources, He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit”. Ephesians 3:16 NLT
“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise”. Proverbs 17: 27-28 esv
Kristin, Benbrook, TX
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
– Matthew 5:6 (ESV)
Cathy
Portland, OR
I have taken Beth’s idea and continued with Corinthians, a section at a time. Beth is awesome, isn’t she!! Just pray that I get to meet and shake her hand in the coming year…On my list of importance! 🙂
5) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6) There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1 Cor 12:5-6 NIV
We have gifts which are given to us through the Holy Spirit, and are all given for the common good. We each have different varieties, but acting on them is where prayer comes in play with God.
Jenny Schultz, Valrico, FL:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Heidi B, Cheyenne WY:
“No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5, NRSV
Andrea Jones – Houston, TX
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NASB)