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.
Darlene, St Augustine, FL
Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
Psalms 25:12 NIV
Conne, Angel Fire, NM
“And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things) not on the things that are on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 AMP
Stacy, Carmel IN. Set a guard over my mouth LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 NIV
I commit.
Amanda, Memphis Tn
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! Jessica Corpus Christi, TX
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the divine will to the saints at Ephesus whobare also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:1 amplified version
I commit!
Marilyn Brown from The Plains ,Ohio says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4: 6-7 NIV
I commit! Dede from Nashville TN “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Prob 1:7 NLT
I commit! Debbie, Fort Worth, TX
“Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me.”
Psalms 139:1 ESV
Shuree Ramirez. Windsor Colorado. 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 NLT
Anna. Cumming, GA.
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)
Ashlee from Johnson City, TN: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” ~ Jude 1:24
ESV!
Pam from Dublin, VA:”Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” Phil 4:1 NIVUK
Sara Beth from Shelby, NC. “For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Young’s Literal Translation
I commit 🙂
Nikki from Winchester, VA: Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18 NASB
Sharon from Radford, VA: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 KJV
Kate Posthuma from Cheney, WA
I love the Lord for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 116:1, NIV
I commit! Barb from Lansdale, PA: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20, ESV
I Commit! Sheila, Beckley, WV
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Psalm 118:8 NIV
I commit! Kari Ellis, Bloomington, MN: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1 NRSV
Jeanette Cole from Hull, Illinois: “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.” Psalm 48:1, NASB
I commit! Sierrah from Baytown, Tx: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” 1Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
I commit.
Elisabeth from Mesa, AZ: “God, you’re my last chance of the day. I spend the night on my knees before you.” Psalm 88:1, The Message
Charlotte Caudill-Glockner from Lexington, Kentucky: “And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2 NKJV
I commit! Carol from Virginia Beach, VA “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker-” Philemon 1 NIV
I commit!
Mary Annis Witt from Jacksonville, TX. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 KJV
I commit.
Lauren from Frisco: “Do everything in love.” ~1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV
Diane from Columbus, Ohio, 2 Cor. 3:18 “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with every-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18 NIV
I Commit!! McKenna Carnahan Big Piney, Wyoming.
“So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live or the clothes that you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.” Mattew 6: 25 NCV
Kristen Jeuick – Rockville, VA – In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; in the morning, I will order my prayer to you & eagerly watch. Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
Auneca from Donalsonville, GA
Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom
Psalm 90:12 NIV
I commit!
Lisa from Fort Worth TX: “Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me!” Psalm 139:1 ESV
Cynda from Colorado Springs
“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
Lianne Abbotsford, BC, “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.”
â€â€Micah‬ â€6:8‬ â€TNIV
I committ, Tricia from Cincinnati, OH – Psalm 118:24 THIS is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)
Darlene, St Augustine, FL
Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
Psalms 25:12 NIV
Patti from Shalimar, Florida, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” 2 Coronthians 4:18, NIV
Sarah Vint from Des Moines, Iowa “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes. 5:16-18 NIV
I commit!!
I commit! Tammy from Sparta, NC
John 1:15
“(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. ‘”)NIV
Kathy Garison from Abilene, TX: “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:17
I commit!!!
Am so excited to be saturating myself with God’s Word!!!
I am from Michigan. My daughter and I will be doing this together. Our first verse is:
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” NKJV
Becky Bigbie from Highland Village, Tx
I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless compared to the priceless gain of what Christ has done. NLV Philippians 3:7
I Commit!
I commit! Pat Chesterfield Virginia. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1
January 12, 2017 at 10:18 a.m.
Anjie from Bloomington, IN. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 NIV
I COMMIT! Felicia, Des Moines, IA. “But my righteous one shall live by faith.” Heb 11:38, ESV
Julie, Haltom City, Texas.
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16, NLT
I commit! Joy Sanders from Nashville, Tennessee: “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.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€55:11‬ â€NLT‬‬
I commit! Andrea from Sherwood, AR: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8, NIV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hewbrews 11:1 KJV
Austin, Texas
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hewbrews 11:1 KJV