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 legalistic about much around here but I am a drill sergeant about the precise way we accept comments for SSMT verse entries. One 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.  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 it 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 words this time to the front of the 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 because 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 against evil rulers, powers and principalities 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.
I commit! Diane from Santa Clarita: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; Ineillmpour out my Spiritnon your offspring, and my blessings on your descendants Isaiah 44:3 NIV
I commit! Gretchen from Prosper, TX: “The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the LORD is for me; He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.” Psalm 118:6-7 NLT
I commit! Alicia from Shoreview, Minnesota: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 NKJV.
I commit! Wendy Fenton from Centennial, CO
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
PS 25:1 NIV
I commit! Amy in Liberty Township, Ohio. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV
Michèle from Springfield, VA: I commit! Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)- “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
I commit! Glennell Strawn from Buda, Texas
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 (ESV)
Tina B., Greenville, KY. I commit! “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NIV
I commit! Allison, Hickory, NC
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phillipians 4:8 (NIV)
I COMMIT!!
Kelly Snodgrass– Rogersville, TN
Luke 1:45 NET
And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.
I commit!!! Amy from Doylestown Ohio. He must become greater. I must become less. John 3:30 NIV
I commit! Cindy C. from San Diego, CA:
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
Correction: O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
I commit! Kim Dennis from Montgomery, Alabama
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. PSALM 143:3 NIV
Kim, Memphis
In you, Lord, my God, I put my trust.
Psalm 25:1 NIV
I commit! Jodi from San Antonio, Texas
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5-6 NIV
I commit! Karen Sanders,Burleson: Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 1 Thessalonians 5:1 NIV
I commit! Heather Glover from Belfast, Northern Ireland: Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are Noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. Philippians ch4 v 8 NKJV.
I commit! Grace Dickerson from Clearwater, Kansas
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 King James Version
I commit! You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
Psalm 18:28-29 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ron 8:38-39
I Commit!! Katlin Brown from Elida, Ohio
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” â€â€Ephesians‬ â€3:20-21‬ â€ESV‬‬
I commit! Rose Collins Okmulgee, OK Count it all joy my brethren when you experience trials and tribulations.. James 1:1-4
I Commit: Carol King from Ft. Worth, TX: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 NASB
I commit! Amanda Harris from Big Rapids Michigan. “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Psalm 123:1 ESV
I commit! Denise from San Saba, Texas: “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
Adina
Pittsburgh
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.
Psalm 32:1
NLT
Icommit! Michelle Johnson Hart MI: “so will my Word be which goes forth from my mouth;it will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire,and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 NASB
I commit! But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 NIV
I commit! Lisa Tackett from Bethany, OK
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 NIV
I commit! Pam Best from Mason Ohio, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 ESV
I commit! Beth Holcomb from Anderson, IN: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NIV
I commit! Beth from Bowling green, Ky.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Proverbs 3 NASB
I commit! Brenda Peterson from Lake Stevens, Wa. Psalms 32:8 NKJV I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Kate, Bristol, UK
I commit!
But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.
Isaiah 49:25 NIV
I commit! Stacy Brozek from Houston, TX
“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
â€â€Colossians‬ â€1:29‬ â€NIV‬‬
Kelly in Jackson, TN.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13, ESV
I commit! Rebecca Shingledecker, Fort Worth, Texas “to you, oh Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1
I commit! Tammy from Virginia
Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually.
Romans 12:12 God’s Word translation
I commit! Lori Motal from Sugar Land, Texas
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
â€â€2 Corinthians‬ â€4:17-18‬ â€NLT‬‬
I Commit!!! Beth Smith from Houston TX:
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15 NIV
“I commit!”Karen from Fairfield, Ca
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NIV
I commit! Lanette from Kingston, NY: “I will proclaim Your Justice, and I will praise You all day long.” Psalm 35.28 NLT
Adri Ann from Hospers, Iowa. I commit!!
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5. NIV
I commit!!! Alichar Smith from Phoenix, Arizona.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 NKJV
I Commit! Lynne from Pittsburgh:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
I commit! Ana Kempfer from Dayton, TX
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,” II Timothy 1:1 ESV
I commit! Ashley Arnold from Bryant, Arkansas
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, (â€1 Corinthians‬ â€6‬:â€19‬ NLT)
I commit Sue of Derwood, Maryland
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life– your sleeping, eating, going- to- work, and walking -around life — and place it before God as an offering . Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.” Romans 12:1 The Message
I commit!!! Erin Grace from Mobile, AL: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 NIV
I commit!!! Donna, Bakersfield, California
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”
Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)