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.
I’m late, but I commit! Rhonda, Holly Springs, MS: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2Timothy 3:15 ESV
April Wilson, Bossier City, LA
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept save. Proverbs 29:25
Cynthia, Greenwood, SC, āBehold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.ā Isaiah 12:2 – NASB
Tori in Elmer, LA
“As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.” – Proverbs 27:19 HCSB
Sheri New, Atlanta, TX
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 NKJV
I commit! Paula Faulkner, Fort Madison, IA
“You will seek ME and find ME
when you seek ME with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 27:13 NIV
Julie~Coppell, TX
No one whose hope is in you will be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who
are treacherous without excuse. Psalm 25:3 (NIV)
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.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
http://bible.com/111/eph.6.12.NIV
Tami Roebuck, Paradise: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
Halima~Conyers,GA
Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
Psalms 119:50 NLT
Rona Howard, Fort Worth, TX
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.
James 5:16 (Message)
Tia Lorentzen, Albuquerque NM
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
I commit! Sharon from the United States.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30 NIV)
Virginia Rust, Elgin, Tx
The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power & you will be changed into a different person. 1st Samuel 11:6 NIV
Erika Archie, Gatesville, TX
I’m late but I’m committed!
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
Roman’s 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Roman’s 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Debra – Illinois
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 God’s Word Translation
I commit! Renae from Albuquerque, NM:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1 – NKJV
Dedra Smith from Rio Rancho, New Mexico:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Week 1:
āWhen you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.ā Isaiah 43:2
Nancy, from Marysville, PA
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
I’m late but I commit! Sallie from Hillsborough, NC
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” Psalm 25:1 ESV
I commit! Sheila from Mount Airy, NC: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Cor. 13:1
Hewitt, TX
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
John 14:15 (NIV)
Tanna Newberg from Edmond, OK
“He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the the things that are not–to nullify the things that are,”
1 Corinthians 1:28
I commit!!!! Dana from Spring Hill, TN:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:16 NIV
Flower Mound, TX
If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chron 7:14 NIV
I commit! Amy from Buda, Texas
āFor I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.ā Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
I commit! Kathy Hayman Marysville, MI
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
Mei, Easley SC
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7
” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
Heather Bennett from Bend, OR
I commit! “Praise and thanks be to the Lord my rock.” Psalm 144:1 NLV
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joyce – LaPalma, CA
James 3:17 But wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
NKV James 3:17
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, et us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us and and let us run with endurance the race that is set before you.” Hebrews 12:1 (NKJ)
Ps. 25:4-5 Show me Your ways O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day. Ps 25:4-5 NKJV
Amy
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
ESV
Tonya S., St. Petersburg, FL, I commit! “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. ‘, Phill. 4:19 NIV
Roman’s 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether her prophesy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Verse 4…..”He counts the number of stars;He calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4 nkjv
Tonya Thibodeaux from DeQuincy Louisiana
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”
I Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
Debbie Burdzy, Calgary AB.
I’m SUPER LATE! Sorry.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
(I forgot to post…but I memorized it š )
Sallie from Hillsborough, NC
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exalt over me.
Psalm 25:2 ESV
Andrea from San Diego, CA
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
I commit!
Carol Crabtree, Farmers Branch, TX,
If you love Me, keep My commands.
John 14:15 NIV
Psalm 31:3 Yes. You are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me. AMP
Brooklyn New York: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (NIV)
Pat Arthur from Chesterfield, VA
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:4