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.
Julia from Charlotte, North Carolina.
I committ!!!
“Do nothing from selfish ambition of conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3 ESV
I commit Nessa, Johns Creek, GA ““There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:1‬ â€NKJV‬‬
I am commit!
Dawn Deare from Lafayette, LA
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. Psalm 119:49 ESV
Glenda Willard from Farmington, New Mexico “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Oops, posted this in the wrong spot.
Psalm 63:1-NIV
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I commit.! Kelley Columbus, Mississippi My grace is sufficient for you for my power is mad perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
I commit. Nancy from Drew, Ms. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. KJV
I commit! Brenda Bridges, DeQuincy, LA
This is a vision the prophet Habakkuk received from the Lord. Here is what Habakkuk said. Habakkuk 1:1 NIRV
Cathy, Chester UK
Isaiah 26v3-4
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
SharonAnne Gouveia From Redwood City, CA: “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV
Ann Medford, Sunset, Texas. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV).
Kathy from Conroe: Ephesians 6:13 NASB-Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
I commit!! For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Lily, Clarksville, TN: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Catherine Bird from Cedar Park, Texas: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
I commit, Diane Pierson, Ona even
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1Cor. 15:58 nouveau
I commit! Roberta Murakami from Honolulu, HI: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” Proverbs 18:10, NKJV
I Commit! Mickey from Missouri:
Then the Lord spoke to me, saying, “You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn North.”
Deuteronomy 2:2-3
Pam Green from Centreville, Virginia.
I commit!
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:1-2 NIV
Barbara Q, West Point, Georgia
John 14:2 NIV – My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
Jenks, OK
I commit! Nancy from Jenks, OK Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed throughthe heavens, Jusus the Son of God, let us Hold fast our confession. Hebrews 4:14, NKJV
Linda Madeksho, Houston, TX. Verse 2. Prov. 19.23. WMB
2.3. The fear of the Lord leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by Trouble.
Issiah 55:2 NKJV
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. “
Jess from Woodstock, Vermont
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV
McCook “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7 NIV
Isaiah 43:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
Israel’s Only Savior
43 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah 43:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
43 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Mary-Hamilton from Oxford, MS
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 HCSB
Beth Hurst, Ypsilanti, MI.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 NIV
Jodi from Wellsboro, PA
O Lord, you have searched me and know me! Psalm 139:1
I Commit! Susan Young from Fairhope, AL: “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2 (NIV)
I commit! Margie San Angelo Tx
John 1:1
In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. NIV
Forgot to post last time: “I commit.” Charlotte Busbee, Concord, CA. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12 NASB
Mary Ann from Texas “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life He has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. ” 2 Timothy 1:1 NLT
Carlie; Jefferson City, MO
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” -Deuteronomy 6:4-6, NIV
I commit! Sherry L from Pasadena, CA: “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.” Psalm 139:1 NIV
Dianna for Houston, Tx is still Committed!
“The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Memorizing Psalm 27:
I Commit!
Verse 2: when evil men advance against me
To devour my flesh,
When my enemies and my foes
attack me,
they will stumble and fail.
Kelley Rose from Searcy, AR
“Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
He is to be feared above all Gods.”
Psalm 96:3-4. (NIV84)
I commit!
Rikki from Archie, Missouri: “In the same way, a woman who has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in diy and spirit.” 1 Corinthians 7:34
“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2 (NIV)
I commit!
Rikki from Archie, Missouri: “In the same way, a woman who has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and spirit.” 1 Corinthians 7:34
1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT “So, my dear brothers and sisters be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is useless.”
Dee from Dallas Tx -The wise woman builds her house, butthe foolish tears it down with her own hands. Proverbs 14:1
Breann, Odessa, FL
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
Michelle, Frisco, TX – late to start but committed to the Word!!
I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you
Psalm 119:11 NIV
Debbie Berman from Boyd, Texas: “O my God in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me” Psalms 25:2 ESV
Kelsi, Altoona, WI: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4, ESV
Kelly, from CA-I changed my mind and am doing Psalm 25!
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” Psalm 25:1 NIV