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! Pam from Mentor on the Lake, OH: “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here and look at my hands; and reach your finger here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
I commit!
Let the godly sing with joy to the Lord, for it is fitting to praise him.
Psalm 33:1 NLT
I commit!
Be still and know that I am God
I will be exalted among the nations
I will be exalted in the earth’
Psalm 46 verse 10 NIV
I commit! Gail: Olathe, Kansas. “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
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.
Forgot to say “I commit” because I did that last January 1 and my prayer is for all to find joy and delight in His Word.
Beth from Madison, WI “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”â€â€ Psalm‬ â€112:7 NIV
Susie McNeely Russellville Arkansas
Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
NIV
I commit!
Austin, TX
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
I commit, Cindy Cannon, Brighton, IL – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
I commit! Jolinda Drake from Kearney, Nebraska: Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1 NIV
I commit! Karen, Dallas, TX
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17(NIV)
I commit! Kathleen from Colorado Springs. Then I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. Rev 21:1 (NLT)
I commit! Sharon Temple from Lakeway TX.: “To you O Lord, I lift up my soul; Psalms 25:1 NIV
I commit!
Ginger from Wetumpka, Alabama
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. Ps. 16:6 HCSB
I commit! Pam from Mentor on the Lake, OH: “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here and look at my hands; and reach your finger here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27 NKJV.
Jenny Nelson Kenner,LA Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33 1 NIV
I commit! Amy Williams from Destrehan, Louisiana
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ESV
I commit!
Ruth from Atlanta
Comfort, comfort, my people says your God.
Isaiah 40:1 ESV
I commit! Sarah from Columbia,Missouri. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,7 serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 ESV
I commit! Emily, Augusta, GA
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
I commit!! Katie, Augusta, Ga: So He brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing. Ps 107:43 NASB
I commit!
Donna Ellis, Marietta GA
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7, NIV
I commit!
Cyndi and Kirsten from Telford, PA
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
I Commit!!! Lisa, McKinney,TX “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
â€â€2 Timothy‬ â€1:7‬ â€NLT‬‬
I commit! Kathleen from Georgetown, Texas.
Of David. In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1 NIV
Lori Smith
Little Rock Arkansas
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€51:12‬ â€NIV‬‬
I commit!!! Felicia from Leesburg, GA: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 HCSB
I commit! Kathy from Madison, CT
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ” Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
I commit! Sherri from Philadelphia, TN
Trust in the Lord,
and do good;
Dwell in the land,
and feed on His faithfulness.
PS 37:3 NKJV
Deanne Johnson – Laguna Hills
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV
I commit!
I commit! Michele from Atlanta. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 NKJV
I commit! Leigh Clemmons from Shorter, Alabama- “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 NIV
I commit! Becki Barns from Centennial,CO. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,”, Psalm 1:1, NIV
Karen Maggi from Southlake, TX
Lord, you have searched me and you know me. Psalm 139.1 NIV
Lynne, Lacombe Canada . Psalm 139:1 NLT: O LORD, You have examined my heart and know everything about me.
I commit! Kimberly Kleimann, Chico CA The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psalm 118:14 KJV
I commit! Julie Snyder from Franklin, TN: “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 ESV
I commit!
Carrie from Dunwoody, GA.
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 13:3) NIV
I commit! Whitney from Greenwood, SC. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. Phil. 3:13 NIV
I commit!
Jill Greer, Medina, TN
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
I commit! Cathy San Bernardino Ca.
To you o lord , I lift up my soul .
Psalm :25:1 Nkjv.
I commit! Joyce in Seneca SC “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
I Commit! Anna Jackson Tennessee.
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trails, knowing, that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:1-3
I commit! Emily Howard from Cincinnati, Ohio: “For the word of the the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” Psalm 33:4 NIV
I commit! Catherine Lisle, Edmond, OK: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV
Hello, my name is Lori and I live in Medford Oregon.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:1-2‬ â€NASB‬‬
I felt led by the Holy Spirit to memorize all of Romans 8 so I am adding on an extra verse to week 1.
I am committed to memorizing Scripture!
“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,”
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:3‬ â€NASB‬‬
Committed!
Regina Orr
Floydada, Texas
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.”
Psalm 63:3 NKJV
Vonnie Baker
Marble Hill MO
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 KJV
I commit! Phyllis from Irvine, California: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” Psalm 1:1 ESV
Sherry, Indianapolis , IN
Psalm 34:1 (NIV)
“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be always on my lips.”.
I’m working on the whole chapter for this year!
Brenda Jones, Richmond, Va. – “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
Hey, Brenda! I’m just south of you in Chester.