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.
Kimberly, Cypress, TX
Matt 6:25 ESV “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
“Because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that HE is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Tim 1:12b NIV
Heidi, Eagan, MN
I commit!
Be still and know that I AM God. Psalm 46:10, NIV
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Ps 25:1 NIV
I commit!
Psalm 119:133
Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. Psalm 119:162 (NLT)
I commit! Ginny from Lansdale, PA: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT
I commit!!
Sarah- Appleton, WI
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville, TX (I know I’m late to the party but hope I can still be in?!)
“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.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€43:19‬ â€NIV
Hi Kaylee! Of course you can still join. So glad to have you with us for SSMT 2017!
I Commit!!! susan, ky. Hebrews 11:7
BY faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. NIV
I commit!
Melissa S.
Columbus, OH
1 John 3:1 ESV See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Virginia from Elgin, Tx.
Those who follow God’s ways will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss; bearing fruit in every season of their lives.
Psalm 1:3 TPT
Carla from Chesterfield, Virginia
I’m in! My verse is: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (KJV) John 7:38.
I commit!
Madison– Columbus, Ohio
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” Colossians 1:15
I commit! DeAnna S from Columbus, Ohio : ““Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
â€â€Psalms‬ â€25:1‬ â€
Laura, Moseley, Va. I commit! “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5 NKJV
I commit!
Cindy B.
KY
Psalm 34:4-5 NLT
I prayed to the Lord and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
I commit! Sue from Pocatello, Idaho. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)
Helena from Paradise, PA —
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” ~~ Psalm 51:10 (MEV)
I commit!
Leatha
Katy, TX
And they were there a long time and were boldly speaking about the Lord. And He gave witness concerning the word of His grace by the signs and by the wonders that He was doing by their hands. Acts 14:3 APNT
I Commit! Bethany B. from Newport Beach, CA “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
Sherry Bruce Campobello, South Carolina: I commit! 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!! Susan J. from Corrales, NM – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV
Psalms 107:1 KJV. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. This year I need to remember to be thankful and that God is good to me and merciful when I least deserve it.
I commit!
Jan-Orlando, FL
Psalm 139:1 NIV-You have searched me Lord, and you know me.
I already posted my verse on here, but I had to share this. My husband and I teach 5th grade AWANA at our church. When I opened the lesson to study for tonight, I discovered that the kids’ memory verse is the same as MY memory verse. God is awesome! I love when He does stuff like that. I want to share the verse again:
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
-Psalm 119:10-11 ESV
Isn’t the Lord fun? Thank you for sharing with us!
I commit! Missy from Houston,Texas
Deut. 8:2- And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
I commit!
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NAS
I Commit! Evelyn from Tulsa, OK — Micah 6:8 NIV — He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Lydia Whigham from Millry, Alabama I commit! “The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11,NLT
Lorraine Listoe from Calgary, Alberta: “The Lord says,“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 NLT
I commit!!!
Pam from Camden, SC: “Create in me a clean, pure heart, O God, and place a steadfast spirit within me.” NIV
Mary Beth – Raleigh, North Carolina
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 3:22-23 (ESV)
I Commit! Anji from Fort Worth, Texas
My word for the year is “Love”. And I heard over the holidays that “Love is the skin of knowing”. WOW! So, with this said, I start this year out with seeking knowledge for love, with this verse:
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
Vicki Pierce from Sweeny, TX I Commit!
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy our brother,
Colossians 1:1 NIV
I commit! Dawn from Alvord- You will show me the path of life, fullness of joy in your presence, delights at your right hand forever. Psalm 16:11 NAB
I COMMIT! Marcie Bullock from Norman, Oklahoma To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 ESV
Ann, Cataula, GA
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, NLT
Keron, Boise, Idaho
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESV
Tiffany B from Mountain View, Wy
Psalm 27:13-14 NCV
I truly believe I will live to see the Lords goodness. Wait for the Lords help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help.
I commit! Marie, Frederick, MD God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient
sorry, first time
verse is Col. 1:11 from NCV
I Commit! Leah form Kansas City, MO
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10
Phylis Wright from Rio Rancho, NM
“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
Michele from Centreville, AL: 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I commit!
PHillippians 4:13 (niv)
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I Commit! Misty Ingalls from Yakima, Washington “God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12, NCV
Gilbert, Arizona
Phil. 4:8- Finally brethren, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. KJV
(I need to have this one engraved on my forehead. LOL)
Trish from Kenai, Alaska
I commit! Psalm 145:1 I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever. New Living
I commit! Katrinna, Bossier City, LA, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV