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! Jen Niehus, Peyton, Colorado: “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 ESV
I commit! Sarah Barker from Greensboro, NC: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.” Psalms 103:1 NLT
I commit! Emily from Madison, WI
“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! Kelly, from Carrollton, Texas: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14, KJV
I commit! Mary Elliff from Seattle, Washington. “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 does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit.” John 15 1-2 ESV
I commit!
Sandy from Stockton, California;
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
I commit! Emma from Houston, Texas. ‘Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty’ Psalm 91:1, NIV
I commit! Beaumont, Texas.
For the leader. A psalm of David.
Lord, you have probed me, you know me:
Psalm 139:1 NAB
I commit! Michelle from Bangor, Maine
The Lord says, “I am the one who comforts you.
So why should you be afraid of people, who die?
Why should you fear people who die like the grass?
(Is. 51:12 NCV)
I commit! Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
Psalm 117:1 NIV
I commit! Kathy from Menifee, CA. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Isaiah 43:1 HCSB
I commit! Julie of OC, CA
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NIV
I commit! Tina from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
Psalm 117:1. (NIV)
I commit! Leanne Anderson from Cloquet, Minnesota. ” A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench. ” Proverbs 10:7 MSG
I commit! Susan from Longmont, CO
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isa 26:3 (NIV)
I commit!!!
Leigh…Houston, Texas
The hope of the righteous is JOY, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. Proverbs 10:28 HCS
I commit! Cindy, Bangor,CA “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV
I commit! Debbie from California. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” NIV
I commit! Debbie from California. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52 NIV
Natalie, Kotzebue:
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth. Psalms 46:10 KJV
I commit!
Misty Weare, Alliance,NE
“Paul,an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”–Colossians 1:1-2 ESV
I commit! Katrina W. From Los Angeles, California “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV
I commit!! Diane Ashwill, Southaven, Mississippi. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1. NIV
I commit! Laura from Cambodia:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)
I commit.Myra of San Diego. God is not a man,that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken and shall be not make it good? KJV Numbers 23:19
I commit! Elaine, Asheville, NC. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NLT
Julia, Tampa, FL
Luke 1:46-47
I commit!
And Mary said, “my soul glorifies the Lotd and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
(NIV)
I commit! Jon (not a siesta, but doing this with my wife) from Knoxville, TN
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)ESV
I commit! Kim M. Columbus NC. “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” ESV
I commit! Cindy Crumpton from Fort Worth, Texas. “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” Colossians 4:5 ESV
Darlene, St Augustine, FL
I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalms 25:2 NIV
I commit! Jen from Sulphur,LA.
“The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
â€â€Exodus‬ â€14:14‬ â€NLT
Michelle D, Manassas, Virginia
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
I commit – Nichole from Birmingham, Alabama.
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. John 6:35 (NLT).
I commit! Becca Gordon from Glasgow
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater…
Isaiah 55:10 NIV
Lori, Kodak, TN
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
I John 1:1 KJV
I commit- Denise G from Bostic, NC”To you, Lord,I lift up my soul” Psalm 25:1 (NIV)
I commit! Sara from RoundRock
For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2Pet 1:5-7 NIV
I commit! Jana from Bennington, Vermont
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him; Psalm 37:23
NIV
I commit! Michelle from St. Peters, MO When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:19 NIV)
I commit. Katherine from The Woodlands, Texas. “Jabez called out the to God of Israel, ‘If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.’ And God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 HCSB.
Maria Hogan from Tallmadge, Ohio
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being,
praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:1 (NIV)
Tara Snyder, La Grange, KY
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.
Hosea 6:3
Andrea from Pensacola, FL. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” Proverbs 6:6, NIV
I commit! Lisa from Mauldin, SC
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer.
Philemon 1:1 NKJV
I commit! Kelly Davis, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Let Your mercy and loving kindness, oh Lord, be upon us,
in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.
I commit! Sherry from Reedy, West Virginia
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.” 2 Timothy 3:14 ESV
I commit! Susan from Marietta GA Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,”I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 NIV
Lori, Fort Wayne, IN
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV