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.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I will wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:5 ESV
I commit! Dianne from East Point, KY “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understandingāindeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,” Proverbs 2:1-3 (NIV)
Connie Willis, Knoxville, TN, Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You, I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 ESV
I commit! Suzy, Lees Summit, MO ” Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” 3 John 2 NLT
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.
Psalm 34:8 King James 2000 Bible
I commit! Bekah, Minneapolis, MN. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ” Isaiah 55:11 NIV
I commit!
Mansfield, TX
Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way Inshould go, for to You I entrust my life.
I commit. Cheryl from Charlottesville: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing.” -Proverbs 31:8 (NCV)
He who dwells in secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps. 91:1 (NKJV)
I Committ! Tammi Foster Bethany OK,
āBut I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”ā
āāPsalmsā¬ ā31:14ā¬ āESVā¬ā¬
I commit! Lisa from Houston. “Anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus can expect to be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (NAB)
I commit!! Amber Hawkins from Cicero Indiana “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah 26:8 NIV
I commit!
Terry
Washington, IL
I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1 (NLT)
I commit! Tammy from Crowley, Louisiana : “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ” Hebrews 10:36-36 NASB
Denise Hoft Columbia, SC
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul; Psalms 25:1
I commit! Shayla Collie from Mount Shasta, CA. “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Ephesians 4:17 NIV
I commit! Carrie Smart from Liberty, TX
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)
I Commit! Kim Sawyer, Orangeburg, SC
Hosea 12:6 (KJV)
Therefore turn thou to thy God: Keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
I commit!! Connie Blaut from Amarillo, Texas: “Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the LORD’s servant gave you: to love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Joshua 22:5 HCSB
I commit!
Trisha Wall from Midland, TX:
Praise the name of God forever and ever,
For He has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
He removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to the scholars.
Daniel 2:20-21, NLT
Whitney from Russellville, TN
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) ESV
I commit!!
Kristine, Edmond, OK
“The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Ps. 37:23 NLT
I commit! Becky from Overland Park, KS.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
I commit! Robin, Knoxville, TN: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust. Ps 91:1-2 (ESV)
I commit! Laura, Waxhaw, NC: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:15 NIV
I commit! Tanna from Edmond, OK: “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth.” 1 Corinthians 1:26 NIV
To you O LORD, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 ESV
I commit! Jenny Werth, Grand Ledge, MI
“For this commandment I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you nor is it out of reach. But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.” Deuteronomy 30:11,14 AMP
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8,9 (ESV)
Georgia Smith from Bristow, OK says, I commit!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8,9 (ESV)
I commit! Kimberly Robinson from Fort Hood, Texas:” But all things should be done decently and in order.” 1 Cor. 14:40ESV
Teresa Ford from Highlands N.C. I commit! 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
I commit! Donna Washington from Watkinsville, GA “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16 (NASB)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1 ESV
Vicki
Murfreesboro,TN
I commit!
Psalm 34:18 (HCSB)
“The Lord is near the broken-hearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.”
I commit! Ann Hallam from Austin Texas:
āHe abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him.ā Isaiah 33:6 NET
I commit! Kelly – Orlando, FL
“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2, NLT
I commit! I’m Kristen from Grapevine, Texas. My first (set) of verses is James 1:1-4
“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
I commit! Aimee from Spring Hill, TN, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all contentment in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” – 2 Cor 9:8 (ESV)
I commit!! MariĆ© Secunda South Africa – Eph1:7 “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” NIV
I commit! Alicia P Atlanta, GA
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
Psalm 46:5 esv
I COMMIT! Mindy Johnson, Oakdale, CA
āThe rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. ā Isaiah 55:11 NLT
I commit! Danica from Lenexa, KS I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,ā declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 15:20 NIV
I commit! Robyn Wright Washington, IN
“Therefore, the Lord waits to be gracious to you; and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 30:18 ESV
I commit! Judy Quickel from Huntersville, NC “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living” Psalm 27:13 NLT
313 College Park Dr Lynchburg, Va 24502
Just started Children of the Day this morning at Calvary Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va It’s at least my 8th study of yours that I have participated in. Will be praying about memorizing the scriptures. Can’t wait to get into 1st and 2nd Thessalonians
I commit! Rebecca, Alexandria, VA. PS 25:1″To you, Oh LORD, I lift up my soul.”
Arlene Marlboro NJ
“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalm 34:1
I commit! Marci Arkansas
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 ESV
I commit! Andrea Gallagher from Pensacola, Florida: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT