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 legalisticĀ about much around here but I am a drill sergeant about the precise way we accept comments for SSMT verse entries. OneĀ 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. Ā 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 itĀ 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 wordsĀ this time toĀ the front of theĀ 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 becauseĀ 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 againstĀ evil rulers, powers and principalitiesĀ 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! Rebecca from Birmingham, AL
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life ” John 8:12b. NIV
I commit. Amy from Baton Rouge, La.
āAnd I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.ā
āāPhilippiansā¬ ā1:6ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
I Commit!!!! Connie, Greene Iowa
My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever! Psalm 73:26(TLB)
I commit! Susan Christian, Middletown, OH
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. NIV
I Sherry, commit from the jersey shore, ocean county, nj
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. He decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. God is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of Christ and forgave our sins.
Ephesians 1:4-7 New Living Translation
I commit! Kim W from Denver CO
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.Psalm 40:5 (NLT)
I commit! Laura from Quinton, Va
But he said to me,”My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
I commit! Lori from Perrysburg, Ohio: “in you, Lord God, I put my trust.” Psalm 25:1 NIV
I Commit! Kari Turner, Charlottesville, VA
āFor You make him most blessed [and a blessing] forever; You make him joyful with the joy of Your presence.ā
āāPSALMā¬ ā21:6ā¬ āAMPā¬ā¬
I commit! Barbara Smith – San Antonio, Tx
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Psalm 25:1 (NLT)
Tina, Roanoke, AL
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
I commit! Rhondelle, Galveston, Tx.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 NIV
I commit! Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert.
I commit! Danielle Walker from Charleston South Carolina. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.” Psalm40:8 ESV
I commit! Lindsey, San Antonio: “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! Terri Conner from Austell, Georgia
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
I commit! Debbie from Loganville, Ga.. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
I commit! Stacy from Detroit, Michigan
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives.do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (niv)
I commit! Terra in Mobile, AL. “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 (ESV)
I commit. Laura S, Indianapolis, IN: Ps.37:5 NAS “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.”
You make known to me the path of life; You fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Ps. 16:11, NIV
I commit!
Debbie from Orlando
“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.” Philemon 8-9 NIV
I commit!
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 1 Timothy 1:7 KJV
I commit! Gail Watkins from m Greensboro GA.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6. NLT
I commit!! Peggy from Warsaw, IN. ESV Philippians 1: 2. Grace to you and Peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I commit! Adele Hill, Lexington, KY, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 1:1, NKJV
I commit! Layne Hall from Columbus MS: For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
I commit. Lynn Buckalew from Brandon, MS.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 ESV
Ann, Mandeville, La
Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Rachel : Paris, France. I commit!
1Thess 5:23-24 NASB
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and May your spirit and soul be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
I commit! Kendra from Fort Wayne, IN
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 NASB
I Commit ! Kendra Uniontown Ohio,3 āCall to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.āJeremiah 33:3 NIV
Icommit! Kelly Johnson Elmore,Alabama
Psalm 25:1 NASB To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
I commit! Kathleen from Starje, FL. 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.” Rsvelation 21:5 (ESV)
I commit! Marla from Benton, AR: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 1:1 NIV
I commit!
Sydney from Amarillo, Texas
“Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love”
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
I commit! Robin Pollitte, Morehead, Ky- “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2 ESV
I commit! Jules from the Rocky Mtns, Colorado: āNow may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.ā 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV
I commit!
Kathy Rupp Chattanooga, TN
An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient God-willed life is spacious.
Proverbs 15:32 (The Message)
I commit! Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
Kathleen Partin. Saint Joseph, Michigan
Proverbs 16:24
I commit
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healthy to the body.
NRSV
I commit! Amy, Beaverton, Ontario
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 NIV
Delanie, Hillsboro. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” Psl 51:20 NIV
Amanda; Queen City, TX
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. Philippians 4:8 NIV
I commit! Lori from Bainbridge, NY.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
From York Haven, Pa. My son, give attention to my words: Incline your ear to my sayings. Proverbs 4:20
I commit!! Michelle from Okotoks, Alberta, Canada.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 ESV
I commit! Joy from Fort Mill, SC
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2 NASB
I commit! Linda White from West Alexandria, Ohio. “Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me.” Psalm 139:1 NIV
I commit! Joy Thompson from Richmond, Virginia
Be Joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV