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
Julie Andrews
Chagrin Falls, OH
Joshua 24:15 NIV
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your ancestors across the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in the land you are now living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Jen Andrews
Chagrin Falls, OH
But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
2 Corinthians 12:9
Amy Smiley Williams, AZ
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
Ephesians 1:3-4 NIV
“, Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” NIV Mathew 23:25
Unto thee O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psalm 25:1. KJV
Mandy, Raymond, MS
“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,”
1 Thess 1:8
Crystal Parrott – Everett, Ontario, Canada
“Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:4 NIV
Melissa J – Houston, TX
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeremiah 31:25
O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me
Psalm 25:2 NKJ
Nesha Vest – Mechanicsville, VA
“the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” Psalm 121:6 NIV
Amy
Buda, Texas
“So teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
Michelle,
Shreveport, LA
Don’t you know that you youselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
1 Conrinthians 3:16 (NIV)
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
II Corinthians 12:9
Susan Jezek, St. Petersburg, Florida
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.”
Philemon 1:4 NIV
Holly from Alpharetta, GA
Psalm 40: 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Johnine from Anna, Texas
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Psalm 91:6 NKJ
Matthew 6:33 NIV
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous, and all these things shall be be added to you.
Sara, Greenfield, IN
The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14
Alyssa Molina, Sealy TX. Psalm 94:19 (NKJV) “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
Julie Barnes, Arkansas
You do not have in mind the things of God,but the things
Of men.
Mark 8:33 NIV
Mei, Easley SC
Colossians 1:29 NIV
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Ephesians 6:14 NIV
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,