Hey, Everybody! Drumroll please! Welcome to the 2017 Siesta Scripture Memory Team! The entry of your Verse 1 selection acts as your registration. Please read this brief post before you leave your comment so you’ll know exactly how to do it. We are not legalisticĀ about much around here but I am a drill sergeant about the precise way we accept comments for SSMT verse entries. OneĀ perusal through the first several hundred comments and you’ll understand why. It’s such a powerful sight you will almost want to cry. Or shout. Or throw your head back and howl your loudest hallelujah. It just all depends on how you process a fresh glimpse of divine revelation. You’ll have before you a feast spread out lavishly on a huge banqueting table. Ā Keeping the comments to the bare minimum makes Scripture itself stand out on the page. If we add a lot of other verbiage to the comment, the verse is more likely to get lost in it.
Not only will your soul be fed by the entries of others, you’ll discover verses you didn’t even know existed and get ideas for future selections. Any time you can’t decide what verse to memorize, jump on the comments and see what resonates with you. Any time you feel bone-dry or downcast or distracted or discouraged or just plain directionless, open up the comments on any SSMT post and behold the words of the Lord. It’s so powerful I could slap my desk thinking about it.
OK, this is how the information should appear in your comment:
Name (first is fine), city: verse, reference, Bible translation.
(Don’t forget your translation! People love knowing exactly which translation your selection came from.)
So you’ll have a paradigm for how itĀ looks, here is my entry for Verse 1 and you’ll see at the end of the post where I made a slight little addition to add some soul-deep conviction if you wish:
Beth Moore from Houston Texas: “Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker.” Philemon 1 ESV
You get to choose your own verse according to what you need most right now, what resonates with you in your present circumstances or what God just simply seems to land you on. This year I feel like He’s leading me to use my 24 entries to memorize the one-chapter book of Philemon. It contains 25 verses but the last one is easy so I’ll throw it in with my 24th verse as my final entry. I’ve done stacks of spirals full of unrelated Scriptures for my memory work in previous years. Other times I’ve done several different chunks or one solid chapter. There is no wrong way to do it. It just all depends on what the Holy Spirit seems to be energizing us to do. If something about chipping away at one chapter through the course of the year rings your bell, you are so welcome to join me or you can look through the Scriptures and choose a different chapter of similar length. I so loved memorizing Psalm 25 several years ago. I recited it as recently as yesterday. It has 22 verses ready to go if you’d like to consider it. You’d only need to tag on 2 separate verses after you memorized the psalm to fulfill your 24-verse goal. Jude is another one-chapter book I memorized. It contains 25 verses but I will warn you in advance, take that one on only if you like a challenge. It is pretty wordy.
Let’s just add two little wordsĀ this time toĀ the front of theĀ entry of our first verse: I commit! And go right ahead and add that exclamation mark at the end of it for the sake of some very appropriate enthusiasm. What you’re about to do bears FRUIT. God’s Word does not return empty. He sends it forth with accomplishing power and divine purpose. That’s worth anticipating with excitement. (In fact, Isaiah 55:11 is a fabulous Scripture to memorize if you’re still searching for a great launch verse.) I think we ought to add those two little words becauseĀ I keep reading how allergic we’re growing culturally to making commitments of almost any kind. I’m sure you’ve read the same thing. But here’s the deal. We will never be mighty servants of Jesus Christ, alive and awake in the Holy Spirit, bringing glory to God the Father all while standing againstĀ evil rulers, powers and principalitiesĀ without commitment.
Ain’t happenin’.
Nothing was tentative to those early New Testament believers about following Jesus. They didn’t fulfill their callings by being scared of commitment. They gave Him their lives. They bore His name. They testified to the death. Let’s do this thing, Sisters. Let’s do it deliberately. We’re not destined to be weak-willed women. We’re called to be stunningly strong willed about God’s will. So, here’s my official entry for verse 1 of the Siesta Scripture Memory Team challenge of 2017!
I commit! Beth Moore from Houston Texas: “Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker.” Philemon 1 ESV
Your turn, sisters! Try to make each of your entries within 24-48 hours after the posts go up around the 1st and the 15th of each month. Also remember not to worry if you don’t see your comment posted for a day or so. Wait a while before you post the same verse a second time. We moderate all comments to filter through spam and trash and general nastiness so the process can take a little time. Here we go! I’m beside myself with joy. Thank you for the privilege to store up the very words of God with you. They are life and breath to us. Iron in our blood. Steel in our bones. So much love to you.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming.
Colossians 3:5-6 NIV
Sallie from Hillsborough, NC
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wontonly treacherous.
Psalm 25:3 ESV
Darcy from Rosenberg, Tx
He who guards his mouth and his tounge keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23 NIV
Mary Ann from Magnolia, TX
“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:5 NLT
Mary Ann posting early due to being offline for two weeks.
“I remember your genuine faith for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:5 NLT
Laura, Englewood, Co.
Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. James 5:1 NET
SC, galveston texas.. John 17::1,2 .. KJ
Father,the hour is come.. glorify your son. So that the Son may glorify you.
for you gave Him authority over all flesh.
so He may give eternal life. to all YOU
have given Him. amen
Brooklyn New York: “Moses answered the people,”Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” Exodus 14:13 NIV
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.” NKJV
Karen Russell, Yakima WA I commit! ISAIAH 40:28 NIV “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
Lee from IN ESV Eph 1:22 “and he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church”
From Queen City Texas
Matthew 7:7 NIV
Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you.
Above all else guard your heart for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Davina from Novato, CA: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.ā Psalm 16:11 NIV
3-15-2017 KVJ (fear of God )
Prov. 1-7 ” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but the fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
“Show me your ways, O, Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 23:4-5 NIV
Tori in Elmer Louisiana
I chose you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart before you were born.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 HCSB
Bethany Sutherlin
Stillwater, OK
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
Johnson City
Hebrews 12:2
New International Version (NIV)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Pat Arthur from Chesterfield, Va
You use to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
Colossians 3:7 NIV
Julie from Haltom City, Texas
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
1John 1:7 “but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Rebecca Gordon, Glasgow UK.
‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength… ‘ Isaiah 30: 15, NIVUK
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” Philippians 2:13
Beverly – Jackson, TN
“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You.”
– Psalm 63:1 HCSB
Verse 6. …”The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:6 nkjv
The Lord GOD is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hindsā feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my[a]high places [of challenge and responsibility]. Habakkuk 3:19 AMP
Roman’s 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth on teaching;
Roman’s 12:8 Or he that exorteth, on exortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Roman’s 12:8 Or he that exorteth, on exortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Nkjv
for in this way the entrance to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:11, NASB.
I commit! Lynne, Sedona, AZ:
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. Luke2:11 NIV
Laddonia, MO Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NIV
Karen Mceathron, Oconomowoc Wi
To be made new in the attitude of your mind
Ephesians 4:23 NIV
Karen Mceathron,Oconomowoc Wis
Put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and Holiness
Ephesians 4:24 NIV
And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy to the proportion of his faith. Romans 12:6 NAS
Sallie from Hillsborough, NC
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.”
Psalm 25:4 ESV
March 26
Erin from Denver, CO
Romans 8:10
“Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” HCSB
Verse #7 “Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,”
Psalm 147:7 NKJV
Dara Puryear from Boonville, NC
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)
Hebrews 10: 24-25 Fellowship – Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one and another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 Fellowship NASB version
March 31st:
Psalm37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Mona from Albuquerque says,
above all Things guard your heartā¤ For everything you do flows
from it. NIV proverbs 4:23
Gayle, Salinas, CA
For this very reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness knowledge and to knowledge self control and to selfcontrol perseverance and to perseverance godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV
Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ” NKJV
Angie from Bixby:
“The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your right arm.”
Ps. 121:5 (NAS)
Col. 4:2 (NIV)
“Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Becca Gordon, Glasgow UK.
‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.’ Hebrews 10:23 NIVUK
Brooklyn, New York: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20 NIV
Leadme by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5 NLT
Anna S from Auburn, AL Prov 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” NIV