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! Shellie Goff from Springfield, MO.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Devi, Singapore
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
Hebrews 11:13, NLT
I commit! Cindy from Valdosta, GA. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6, HCSB
I commit! Shari from Arlington & Richmond, Virginia: Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1 ESV
Hey, Shari! When you’re in Richmond, I’m just south of you in Chester.
I Commit!
Rachel Umphreys, Delta Pennsylvania
But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him. I John 2:5 NIV
I commit! Jamie from Irving TX: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” Psalms‬ â€23:1-2‬ â€NLT‬‬
I commit!
Margo, Burlington Ontario
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. Habakkuk 3:17, 18 NIV
Yvonne Gearing from Kingman, AZ: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
I commit!
Lorri, Good Hope, GA
“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”
â€â€Titus‬ â€2:1‬ â€NASB‬‬
I commit!! Monica, PA ” As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” I Sam 12:23 (NIV)
This verse caused me to pause and mediate. Very convicting!
I commit! Patty from Talbott, Tennessee. But now the Lord has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 1 Kings 5:4 ESV
I commit!
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you, he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
Deut. 31:8 NIV
Romans 8:26 (NIV) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercede for us with groans that words cannot express.
I committ!!!
Olda from Huntsville AL
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord”. 2 Timothy 1:1-2 ESV
I commit!
Stephanie from El Cajon, CA
“Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
I commit! Kyndra, Houston, TX
Romans 12:2 NKJV “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.”
I COMMIT!!!!!
The end of all things is near.
Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled
so that you can pray. NIV
I commit! Dawn Atwood, Colleyville, TX
Being with You will fill me with joy; at Your right hand I will find pleasure forever. Psalm 16:11, NCV
I commit! Marilyn from Baton Rouge. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. psalm 91:1 NIV
I commit! Melissa Martinez from Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV
Celina, OH
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My Righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
I commit! Cara Railey from Springfield Missouri: “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Matthew 15:11 NLT
I commit! Tanya from Sierra Vista: “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down”. 1 Cor. 10:13A MSG
I commit! Tanya from Sierra Vista, AZ: “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down”. 1 Cor. 10:13A MSG
I commit! Claire Phillips from Topeka, Kansas.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:1 KJV
I commit. Kathy, Austin , God,”I live in the high & holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit crushed, and what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up on their feet again.” Isaiah 57:15
I commit! Yvonne Gearing from Kingman, AZ: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
I commit ! Marie, Franklin, TN
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous.
Psalm 1:6a NIV
I commit ! Jennifer from Omer Michigan. You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You – in both inclination and character] Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Isaiah 26:3 AMP
I commit! Anne, Durham, NC
“He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation.” Colossians 1:15 ESV
I commit! Jamie Wellman from Grandview, MO:
“You shall have a song
As in the night when a holy festival is kept,
And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute,
To come into the mountain of the LORD,
To the Mighty One of Israel.” Isaiah 30:29, NKJV
I commit!
Tanis from Cranbrook BC.
2 Timothy 3:16 HCSB. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
I commit! Lori Causyn from Kenora, Canada. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:19. ESV
I commit Susan from Forest Lake, MN “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
I commit! Amy from Hobe Sound, FL. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the promise of life in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:1 (HCSB)
I commit! Beth from Pittsburgh, PA “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 NRSV
I commit! Kay from Deer Park, TX
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
James 1:1 NIV ’84
I commit! Allison, Scottsdale, AZ
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30 (NIV)
I commit! Janice Knott from Magnolia, Texas
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Is 26:3 NASB
I commit!! Jody Bowhay from Huntsville, AL NIV
Psalm 37:3
“Trust in the Lord and do good: dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
I Commit!
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2Timothy 2 ESV
I commit! Stacy Minor from Big Lake, MN.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1,2 NLT
I commit! Lee Ann Cole from Campbellsville, KY: ““Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€43:19‬ â€KJV‬‬
I COMMIT!! Terri McKeever from Katy, TX
It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord you are safe. Proverbs 29:25 (GNT)
I commit! Marsha Elliott from Richmond, KY:
“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” Exodus 15:2 NIV
I Commit! Tina, Zalma, If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
I commit. Patrice, Midland, TX
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him and He will do this:
Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV)
I commit! Janey from Nashville, TN
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Matthew 6:34, The Message
Thank you! This verse is for me!
I commit! J. Lynn Jones from Southlake, Texas: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
I commit!