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.
Lou Ann Smith from McAllen,TX
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Colossians 3:12 ESV
I commit! Michelle Alosa Concord, NH
“He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
Psalm 91:4 NLT
I commit. Paige, Wetumpka, AL.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
I commit! Dawn from Gainesville, GA. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
Michele H., Pearland, TX
Psalm 103:17, “But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,.” NASB
I commit! Mary from Bay Springs, MS
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” KJV
I commit!! Marcelene from Tucson, Arizona “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Fromm whence comes my help?” Psalm 121:1 NKJV
From Pearland, Texas.
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion,
therefore I will put my hope in Him. Lamentations 3:22-24 (HCSB)
I commit! Deb, Lancaster PA
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:3 esv
I commit! Katie from Langley, BC: “…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23, NIV
I commit. Debbie from Old Hickory, TN
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people,”. Deuteronomy 7:6. NIV
I commit! Rosa, Plano “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;” Psalm 25:1 NIV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 ESV
I commit! Lindsay Rother from Branson, Missouri: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, NASB
I commit! Shelly from Leachville, AR “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 ESV
I commit? Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall five thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4 Auth KJV
I commit! Sarah from Kansas City: 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. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2, NIV.
I commit! Jenni from Dunn, NC
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,” Philippians 2:1 KJV
I commit! Kristy from Shreveport, LA
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Romans 12:11 ESV
I commit!!
Johannah, Alexandria
“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5 ESV
I commit! Lynda Rickey from Ocala, Florida: O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. Psalm 139:1 NIV
I commit! Lisa from Alpharetta, GA “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” NIV
I commit! Julie from Liberty Hill, Texas
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:14-15 NIV
I commit!! Donna from Wendell, NC
“Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Caitlyn from Bolt, WV
I COMMIT!
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,”
Psalms 19:1-4 ESV
I COMMIT Rhonda from New Palestine, Indiana
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6 & 7 NLT
I commit! Olivia – Rogersville, TN
Fight the good fight for the faith, take hold of the eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV
Morgan, Stigler “The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7: 9 new international verison
I commit! Kristy from Madison, Ms.
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1 NIV
I commit! Sue from Yuma, AZ: “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT).
I commit! Pam,Campbellsburg In. Make a joyful shout to God all the earth. Psalm 66:1 NKJV NSFL
Richmond,VA-This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 HCSB
I Commit! Rita from Prague,OK
“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” Philippians 3:10,NIV
I commit. Teresa, Chadron, NE
“yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:18 ESV
I commit! Lori from Bangor, Maine
Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.
John 9:3 The Message
I commit! Deanna from Maytown, AL
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! Sarah from Arlington, VA: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'” Isaiah 43:1, ESV
I commit! Gloria from London, Canada
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 KJV
I commit! Lisa in Pineville, LA: we wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20 NIV
I commit! Morgan, Stigler “The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7: 9 new international verison
I commit! Michelle from Monroe NC. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NKJV
I’m committed! Rae Anne from Brandon ,Mississippi
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed. For His compassions never fail.”
Lamentations 3:22
I commit! Judy C from Russellville, Arkansas: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. James 5:16 HCSB
I commit! Andrea from Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong
Psalm37:1 NIV
I commit! Christine Richardson from Vienna, Virginia:
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36 KJ
I commit!! Susan from Westville, FL. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and you will have great success. Joshua 1:8 ESV
I commit! Elaina from Saint Louis, MO
““But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
Matthew 12:36 NIV
I commit! Marian from Ahwatukee, AZ. Psalm 25
Lord, I turn to you. Psalm 25:1. HCSB
I commit! Debbie Oliver from Mariposa, California: “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James: To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.” Jude 1 HCSB
Julie from Festus, Missouri
I commit! Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV