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.
Becca Gordon, Glasgow UK.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1.9, NIVUK
Virginia from Elgin, Tx
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matt. 2:30 NIV
Kay Soderstrom, Midland, Tx.
“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you.” James 2:13 NLT
Hebrew 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of HOPE without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb 10:23
Ps. 78:4 “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.”
YAKIMA WA I commit NUMBERS 6:24-26 24 āThe LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.ā
“but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.”
James 1:10
May 15, 2017
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Mary Ann from Texas
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—to show us His grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
Frances, Orange, TX
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
Joanne, Orange, TX
For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.
Psalm 71:10 NIV
Isaiah 55:10 “for as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,”
Nanci from Albuquerque
Verse #10: 1 Peter 2:10. “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” HCSB.
Tori in Elmer, Louisiana
A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 HCSB
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Eph 3:20 (NIV)
Verse 10 “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.” Psalm 147:10 nkjv
Brooklyn, New York: “When I called, you answered me;you made me bold and stout-hearted. Psalm 138:3 NIV
Col. 1:17 (NIV)
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together
hold together.”
Roman’s 12:11.
Not slothful in business;fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Becca Gordon, Glasgow UK
‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godās will for you in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVUK
Pittsburgh, PA
“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicker or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers!” Psalm 1:1 HCSB
Esther in Frisco TX :
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
Virginia from Elgin, Tx
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved-you and your household.
Acts 16:31 (NIV)
Delaware, Oklahoma
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11 NIV
Tori in Elmer, Louisiana
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heartās desires. Psalm 37:4 HCSB
Frances, Orange,TX
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done
1 Chronicles 16:8 NLT
Joanne, Orange, TX
They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.”
Psalm 71:11 NIV
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Says your God.
Isaiah 40:1 NKJV
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in that thing for which I sent it.”
Mary Ann from Texas
“And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality though the Good News. ” 2 Timothy 1:10 NLT
YAKIMA WA, I COMMIT: PSALM 119:1-3 NIV84
1 “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways.”
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16 NIV
Mark 11:24 (NIV)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,In those who hope in his mercy.” Psalm 147:11 nkjv
Brooklyn, New York: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8 NIV
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
James 3:1 ESV
Becca Gordon, Glasgow UK
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’
Philippians 4:6 NIVUK
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NASB
I commit!
Jody from Houston, 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 ESV.
Isaiah 55:12. “For you shall go out with Joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shell clap their hands.”
YAKIMA WA, I COMMIT: PSALM 119:4-5 NIV 1984 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees!
Karen from Bronson, Texas
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 ESV
Zephaniah 3:9 (NIV)
“Then will I purify the lips of the people, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
Joanne Orange, TX
Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.
Psalm 71:12 NIV
Brooklyn, New York: “But the king replied to Arauna, “No, I insist on paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing”. II Samuel 24:24 NIV
Mary Ann, Magnolia, TX
“And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”
2 Timothy 1:10 NLT
Verse 12, ” Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!Praise your God,O Zion!” Psalm 147:12.
Verse 12, ” Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!Praise your God,O Zion!” Psalm 147:12. Nkjv
Tori in Elmer, Louisiana
āDo not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1b HCSB
I commit! Cindy, Beaumont TX. 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18 ESV.