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! Jo Ann Szyska, MI.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28-29 (ESV)
I commit! Holly from Alpharetta, GA “O Lord, I give my life to you.” Psalm 25:1 NLT
….and I commit!!!
I commit!
Donna from Beavercreek, Ohio
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Rev 4:1 NIV
I commit! Paula Burger from Herndon, Virginia: “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” Philippians:3:13 NIV
Mary, Tarpon Springs, Florida
I commit! Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 NIV
I commit! Kristy from Cheyenne, WY: “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8 NIV
I Commit! Jacqui, Chester, UK
“The Lord bless you and keep you”
Numbers 6:24 TNIV
I commit!
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
“Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: ‘I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.’ ” Ezekiel 37:4b-5 (NIV’84)
I commit! Beth from Ypsilanti, MI. “Do not conform to the pattern 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 12:2 NIV
I commit! Marji Miller from Acme, PA. “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5 ESV
I commit!
Linda, Blue Springs, MO
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8 ESV
I commit! Tara Milligan, Stigler,OK. 1 Peter 4:7, “The end is near. Be alert and sober in mind so that you can pray.” NIV
I commit! Jennifer Bass from Fort Worth, Texas: “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:”
â€â€2 Timothy‬ â€4:1 HCSB
I commit! Anne from South Chesterfield, VA
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:1 ESV
Hey, Anne! Saw your post. I’m from Chester & I’m commit to SSMT, too.
I commit! Chiffon from Spring, TX: “Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes” 1 Samuel 12:16 KJV
I commit!
Elizabeth from Midland, Texas
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God:
may they be happy and joyful.
Psalm 68:3 NIV
NIV Eph 1:3
Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
HaHa! I was in such a hurry to get the verse posted, I didn’t type I Commit! So I am doing it now! I commit!
I commit!
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope
1 Timothy 1:1 (NIV)
I commit! Memorizing Romans 5-8 Vickie Gainous, Cairo, GA Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NRSV
I commit! Sharon Wildman from South Charleston, Ohio: “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 20-21 NIV
I commit! Nancy Osterberg from Knoxville, TN – This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
I Commit! Wendy from Buckeye, Arizona: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NASB
I commit! Tiffany from Tulsa, Oklahoma: “for God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.” 1 John 3:20 The Message
I commit! Leah Walters from St.Thomas, ON Canada
“..those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Lisa George from Rogers, Arkansas “Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 46:9 NASB
I commit! Martha Basler from Houston
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in hHim.
Nahum 1:7 NIV
I commit! Kelsi Baldovin from Altoona, WI: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 2:22-23 ESV
I commit! Lena, Wilmore
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV
Melanie from Armuchee, GA
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
Psalm 86:6 (ESV)
I commit! Valerie Keyser from Fort Myers, FL: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
ESV
I commit! Christy from Georgetown, Texas
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing! Revelation 5:12 ESV
I commit! Debbie from Fort Thomas, Kentucky
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1 NIV
I Commit! Sarah from Montrose, CO:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 ESV
Marcy Woodcock
Roanoke TX
I commit!
“Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me.”
Psalm 139:1 NIV
I commit! Lin Hale from Lubbock, TX. “Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. (â€Psalms‬ â€25‬:â€4-5‬ NASB).”
Kristin from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, ” Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.” Proverbs 12:16 NLT
I commit!!! Michelle from Logan, NM
The Lord is my light and salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27:1 NIV
Monica V Cheyenne, WY
2 Timothy 2:15 HCSB
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to
God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.”
I commit! Tanisha from Dayton Ohio: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.” Psalm 34:7 NASB
I commit!! Audrey White from Dallas, Tx.
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” Psalm 125:1 ESV
I commit! Bethany, Clyde, TX
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4, 5 NIV0
I commit! Elisha from Springfield, MO. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control: against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
Jen Lee, Ames, IA: I commit! Colossians 1:11 (ESV) “May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy”
Tilley from Franklin, TN:
And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”
Revelation 21:5 (NET Bible)
I COMMIT!!!
I commit!!! Megan from St. Paul The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV
I commit! Susan Kolb from Slidell, LA
“Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches”. Proverbs 24:3-4 NKJV
DeeDee from Katy, Texas
You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Deut. 6:6 NLT
I commit! Courtney from San Diego Cali. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”-Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
I commit! Brenda from Columbia, South Carolina
“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet i will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT