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.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will shower you the right way.”
Proverbs 3:5,6
Sandy Harper from Ringgold, Georgia
Psalm 92:14-15 HCSB
“They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green,
to declare: ‘The Lord is just; He is my rock, and there is no
righteousness in Him.’ “
Sandy Harper from Ringgold, Georgia
Psalm 92:14-15 HCSB
“They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green,
to declare: ‘The Lord is just; He is my rock, and there
is no unrighteousness in Him.’ “
Matt. 6:20-21
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I commit! Joy, Altadena, CA “And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.’ ” Exodus 14:13-14 ESV
Mary Ann from Texas: “I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.” 2 Timothy 1:2 NLT
Arlene C. from Georgetown, TX: HE who calls you is FAITHFUL, HE will do it! 1 Thess. 5:24. HCSB
Tarra – Cascade, Idaho
Show me your ways O Lord, Teach me your paths;
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 NLT
I commit! Shannon from Elsmere, KY Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. Psalm 1:1 ESV
I commit: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to know what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2, NIV
I COMMIT!!
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”-Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! James 1:1 NLT
Nancy Griffin from Drew, Ms says: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. NASB
Starting late! I decided to memorize Psalm 31 this year. I commit, now from San Antonio, TX! We moved Jan 14th.
Psalm 31:1, NIV
“In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.”
Glad to have you join us, Michelle!
II Cor. 4:17 NIV
” For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
I trust in you my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. Psalm 25:2 NLT
Brooklyn New York: Do not conform to the pattern of this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good and perfect will”. Romans 12:2 NIV
Brooklyn New York:”Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good and perfect will”. Romans 12:2 NIV
February 1
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
2 Samuel 22:33
Linda Smith from Little Rock, AR “Do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 NASB
Wanda from Macon, Ga
” I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Jn 15:5 NKJV
Linda
I commit!
Gaylord, MI
John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other. NIV
I commit!
Matthew 22:37 NIV
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Jodi from Houston. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor 9:8 (NIV)
Debra Vining Jacksonville FL “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.”
â€â€Ephesians‬ â€6:13‬ â€NASB‬‬
Rachelle – Findlay, Ohio
” His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Psalms 32:5 you are my hiding place, you protect me from my troubles and fill me with songs of salvation. ncv
Jill Sperry Oklahoma
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 6:13 NIV
Jenny – Midland,TX
I commit! “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 ESV
Lori from Seguin, Texas
To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.
Ecc 2:26
Fear of the Lord gives life, security and protection from harm.
Proverbs 19:23 NLT
Romans 11:29 (NIV)
“for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable”
Rebecca Gordon, Glasgow UK.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (jeremiah 17: 7-8)
Rebecca Gordon, Glasgow UK.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (jeremiah 17: 7-8 NIV)
Margaret Harris from Wyandotte Michigan, I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my Fortress, my God in whom I trust”. Psalm 91NIV
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€139:13-14
Angela from Rivervale, NJ
The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. Psalm 143:3 NIV
Kim Laurel Mississippi
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22NIV
Jaye H
Decatur, Al
I commit! Isaiah 55:11New Living Translation (NLT)
11 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.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O mortal what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. Bible Gateway
Pamela Nicholson, Cumming, GA
So I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3 NIV
Kristin from Houston, TX
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NIV
Linda Nelson, Harvest, AL. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
And I will give them one heart, [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God] Ezekiel 11:19 AMPC
I commit! Psalm 91:11-12 (NASB)
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
Cindy Bridges, Shelby, NC
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive them and heal their land.” 2 Chronic 7:14 (ESV)
Molly Hotchkiss, Cypress, TX
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. I Peter 4:9 NIV
I commit!! Chaundel Holladay
Lake Forest, CA
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.”
Psalm 139:1 (NASB)
Delora Scaggs, Jefferson City, MO–“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
â€â€Philippians‬ â€4:6‬ â€NIV‬‬
I commit!
Bethany Sutherlin, Stillwater, OK
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him.
Psalm 37:23 AMP
I commit Brenttia, Little Rock, AR
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 NIV