Congratulations!! You did it!!
As we wrap a bow on our SSMT year and prepare for the upcoming Celebration, we want to send along our encouragement to you to continue in this great work. Some of you have already told us you are continuing to memorize on your own, or have even formed your own local teams. We couldn’t be happier to hear it!
Beth and LPM will plan to see you right back here next Jan 2017 to link arms together to hide God’s Word in our hearts. He is worthy!
Beth Belflower
Caddo Mills, Texas
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ESV
Becky Jo
Chesterfield MI
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
The last few verses have been my strong tower as I stared down medical tests that could have led to a breast cancer diagnosis. This Friday is one more test to just rule it out completely. I am standing strong in Him (and in Him alone, because alone I am quivering with fear) no matter what the future brings.
I am praying for you Becky Jo! What a powerful testimony you have even now as you await your results on Friday! Warmest blessings to you!
Candie – Waterloo, IA
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 (ESV)
Crystal Sparks, Andrews, NC – Eph 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” KJV
Delores O.
Lake Stevens, WA
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3 NLT
I posted my verse before I watched the video. I’m thankful for this year. Each verse this year spoke to me during my readings and I would highlight them to find them for a future SSMT post. When this month’s verse touched me, I admit to wanting to ignore it. But I’m trusting that God’s heart toward me is good so I will memorize and meditate on it and hold His hand so I can choose joy when those troubles come. God bless you Beth and all the siestas. Wish I could meet you in Houston but I don’t think this is my year yet.
Sweet Delores! I hope that you will change your mind about going to Houston this year, I would love to see you there! But whether or not you are able to come, what a joy it has been to get to know you through memorizing God’s Word! Warmest blessings to you, dear Siesta!
Michelle Baylerian, Greenville, WI
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. .Psalm103:5 ESV
I posted by verse before listening to the video . Memorizing this yr has been challenging!! The verse that spoke the most to me was Gal 5:1. I would repeat that as many times as I needed to remind myself that no matter how I feel about my body image…”For freedom Christ has set you free..” I was able to refocus on how God sees me! I’ve had a victory from a 40 yr fear of the scale this past month. Praise His Holy Name!!!!!
Sara Martin, Houston, TX: “For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 NIV
Kristen Fowler, Marble, NC
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. I Peter 3:16 NIV
Anne Stinnette, Koror, Palau. “But now in Christ you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blookd of Christ.” Eph. 2:13 NASB
Holly Barrett, Crossnore NC
“and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:18 NIV
Judy, Panama City, Fl
Isaiah 9:6 NASB
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God , Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Teresa, Walla Walla, Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT “That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him and never stop trusting Him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.” Hallelujah!
Stephanie Jo
Crane Oregon
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeremiah 31:25
Through all this years ups, downs, and constant change, scripture memory keeps bringing me back to my Rock!!
Kim, Amherst, Ohio
Matt. 6:34 NIV
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Joy, Georgetown, TX – 2Peter 1:11 “and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
After our middle son passed away almost three years ago, I have to say that this has been a year of great fun and rejoicing- my favorite memory verse this semester has been Psalm 30:11& 12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD MY GOD, I WILL PRAISE YOU FOREVER!!!
God has been so faithful to our family 2015 has been a year of great rejoicing in Him!!!!
Totally Blessed
Kathy, Baton Rouge, LA
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”
Ephesians 5:8 NLT
Allison Rains Benton, LA
“Come to me, all you who are weary & burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28~ NIV
Lisa, McKinney,TX. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
I’m praising The Lord for giving me such a peace thru this year of transition in my life. These 24 scriptures have had a different impact than I thought they would when I chose them, as you mentioned Beth! God never fails to amaze me and His sense of humor is sometimes surprising too. I am stronger and more confident with scripture filling my mind and heart
I can’t wait to see many of you in January at the SSMT celebration
Thanks for all you do Beth and the Living Proof Staff! You are a huge blessing to so many
Lynda S. from Brockville. ON, Canada
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”
Psalm 147:5 NIV
Kim Joyner; Poplar Bluff, MO. “I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Thy name forever”. Psalm 86:12 (NASB)
—–
I am giving God the glory today!! I have participated in all the previous SSMT years of posting and have attending the celebration in Houston two of the three times. This year is the FIRST time I have memorized all 24 verses. Memory work does not come easy for me but I asked God for help and also my husband worked with me on them every week..my little Yorkie could probably repeat them if she could talk. Only God!!!
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Christy, Conifer, Colorado
He must become greater; I must become less.
John 3:30 NIV1984
Oh Beth. Thank you so much for the invitation to share. This is my 5th year of Scripture memorization and your post brings tears to my eyes, tears of joy, tears of wonder. You are so right, this has brought a harvest. Thank you for the celebration!!! (LOVE the song!!!)
What has hiding God’s word in my heart brought me through? The slow loss to cancer of my beloved Dad, the sudden, unexpected loss of a close friend, raising 4 kids who are now aged 10-16 – I shudder to think how parenting them would have been different over the last 5 years without the power of God’s Word coursing through me – marital strife, family rifts. What has this NOT brought me through? I can’t thank you enough for doing this. Here is what I wrote in the final email of the year to my fellow Siestas who agreed to join me in this journey for 2015:
I didn’t believe it was possible 5 years ago that
1. I would be able to memorize 24 verses in a year’s time. I had always been bad at Scripture memorization. Sure, I could remember the few I knew that were set to music, but just the words? And the references?! Yeah, I’ll say I will do it with you, but I probably won’t be able to.
2. my family would allow me to travel to Houston without them for a weekend just for me. At the time my kids were 11, 9, 7 and 5. It still seems a miracle in my mind. And now I have a ticket to go for the third, blessed time. Praise God!
3. God could bless me so deeply, carry me through so much loss, bring me so many new friends and sisters in Christ, and show me His love and His nature so much more clearly through this practice.
And now, 5 years later, I have memorized a verse from every book in the Bible (yes, even Leviticus), and the Sermon on the Mount, and the entire book of Philippians. Completely under the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is hard for me to believe. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Truly, if we trust Him to work in us, we won’t be able to believe the work that He will do!
Denise Ciofani, Lexington, NC 27295. “And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11 NIV
As it was said in this video, God is sovereign and I knew with each and every verse that He was guiding me. When I was finishing up the Ephesians 3 passage, Philippians 2 was brought to my mind and I looked to see how many verses (from verse 5-11) the passage was and how many verses we had left in SSMT and it was an exact match!! Definitely not a coincidence. If I have learned nothing else from this experience, it is that God is with me each hour of each day in every circumstance and if I do not “feel” it, I can turn to these verses from His Word and “know” it!! Thank you so much for your extra effort during this year… you all are such a blessing!
Jan Morton
Hawkinsville, GA
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Back in January I wrote the following in the front of my spiral:
LISTEN LONG
PRAY PERSISTENTLY
TEMPER TONGUE
SPEAK SLOWLY
THINK THOROUGHLY
LOVE LAVISHLY
WOW! I have been to the “woodshed” this year. In case you don’t know what that means…it means God has gotten my attention this year from the inside out! I praise His name for loving me enough to discipline me. Mostly it has been regarding too much talking and not enough listening. Enough said. Pun intended. His tender mercies and faithful love for me are dearer than ever to me.
I love you Beth and the mighty and marvelous LPM staff.
Thank you for loving us back!
GJ
Dear GJ,
Thank you so much for sharing! I didn’t have room in the front of my spiral anymore, but I added your alliterative list to the end of mine! And I will add these to my prayer journal for 2016. Thank you for sharing your heart! Hope to see you in Houston!
Warmest blessings to you!
Mindy – McDonough, GA
Luke 2:11 (NKJV)
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Karoletha Stone
Longview, Texas
John 3:16
For God, so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV
Kari Ellis, Bloomington, MN: “But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated.” 1 Peter 3:14 NRSV
Thank you, Beth, for putting this challenge before me. I have often talked about wanting to memorize scripture more, but never followed through with it. Although none of my friends joined me in the SSMT challenge this year, the regular blog posts kept me accountable. God has been so faithful in placing verses on my heart to memorize. 2015 has been a uniquely challenging year for my husband and me as we are navigating brand new waters of church planting. Having all of this scripture constantly in my head has been a gift.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18 NIV
Lynn P., Fairview, OK — She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future.
~Proverbs 31:25 (GNB)
Emily McAnear, Houston TX
“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
John 1:11, NIV
How can I join???
Abbey Le Roy, Bluefield, West Virginia. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (ESV)
After watching the video I wanted to add that back in January when I decided to be part of the 2015 SSMT, I had no idea how difficult the year would be. My husband and I are struggling with infertility, and it has been an exceptionally challenging year for us. I am so grateful for God’s Word and for the way He used it as an anchor for my soul this year in particular. I had no idea what I was getting into with this group, but He did, and I’m eternally thankful for what He has done in my heart and how He’s sustained me through Scripture.
Oh Abbey, thank you for sharing your heartbreaking and beautiful testimony! I am praying for you and your husband and that God’s will be for your infertility struggle to end in a miracle of grace!!! Warmest blessings to you!!!
Also I just decided to change my verse.
Abbey Le Roy, Bluefield, West Virginia. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV)
Aubrey Eubank Pakmetto, GA
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the was God.
Michele
Waterloo,Ontario
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:39 NASB
My faith has increased this past year and my soul preserved, as a result of hiding God’s Word in my heart.
Deanna Ellis, Lexington, SC
“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” 2 Peter 1:12 (NIV)
Deb Hansard, E. Tennessee
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; Ecclesiastes 3:3 KJV
Lori Thompson
McKinney, tx
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:18 NIV)
Cara Gabrielse, Parker, CO, 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
Buffalo, NY
“…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:21 NIV
GOD’s word has not returned void. It SHALL accomplish what He purposes and I’m blessed to see Him work.
South Portland, Maine
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
Kim Freeman Psalm 84:5-7 NIV Fort Worth, Texas
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca they go from strength to strength.
*Weeping Valley
Kim S., Ridgeland, MS —
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Linda, Las Vegas, NV
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV
Katie Dallas. TX – “Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourself so you also won’t be tempted.” Galatians 6:2
Glennell Strawn
Buda, TX
I Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies
Cindy Cannon, Brighton, IL
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Cor 13:13 (NIV)
Doing the SSMT has really helped me to stay focused on God’s word, it has helped me to add the power of God’s word to my prayers. As we continue to see the world fall away from God, His word in my heart and my mind reminds me that He is in control, and He is coming again! See you in January!
MarlaMae, Kimmell, IN
Isaiah 43:19-20 (MSG)
Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is!
Got so excited I forgot to leave my testimony! Which is, short and sweet, I love studying God’s word in this manner, and, God willing, I will be making the drive to Houston to celebrate this treasured accomplishment with you all! Love and hugs and Merry Christmas, dear ones!
MB, Cypress, TX
Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.
Psalm 5:3 MSG
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
Brenda Gerber
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”