Hi SSMT partners! I’m Bailie – the newest and youngest member of the LPM staff.
A few weeks into my time here at LPM, I kept hearing the term “SSMT” being thrown around by my coworkers, and I wondered what on earth are they talking about? And when one of them explained, “Oh, it’s stands for Siesta Scripture Memory Team,” I was even more confused. What’s a Siesta? I thought. Doesn’t that mean “nap” in Spanish? Smile.
So if any of you are new to SSMT, I’m right there with you! Now I couldn’t be more on board with this simple, achievable way to sear God’s Word into our hearts and minds.
Do you have a section of Scripture that you find yourself referring back to all the time? Maybe you leave your little Bible bookmark there or the Lord keeps proving its relevance to you season after season. For me, it’s Hebrews 4:14-16:
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
These verses have ministered to me for years. They encouraged me through months of living in a foreign country. They motivated me to get back up and fight when temptation overcame me. They showed me how Jesus is so fully human, truly, He can relate to everything I feel. And they reminded me of my God-given dignity and confidence to approach His throne of grace (thank you JESUS!). I’ve read them so many times, I could give you a great paraphrasing, but I decided it was time to commit them to memory.
Stay strong, Siestas!
Donna from Beavercreek, OH
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, Rev 4:9 (NIV)
Lisa, McKinney,TX “And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”
Romans 8:30 NLT
You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalms 16:11 HCSB
http://bible.com/72/psa.16.11.HCSB
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 HCSB
Stephanie, El Cajon, CA, Romans 12:11(NIV) – “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Ginger from Wetumpka, AL
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 2Tim. 2:15 HCBS
Lynette, Nashville, TN
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:8 ESV
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:19-20, NIV
Billie, Yucca Valley, CA
“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wild flower.”
James 1:9-10 (NIV)
Amy7634 from the Midwest:
“Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
Lynn from Greenwood, SC –
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 NIV
Carolyn Hisaw Broken Arrow, Ok.
Psalm 91:5 NLT
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Thank you for this verse- it is so important for our days!
Nancy Bradshaw – Melbourne, Florida
We demolish strongholds and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Nancy, this is a verse that has been brought to my attention this year after a difficult situation my family has been going through that involves other Christians. And this verse has stood out to me to remember to take captive my thoughts to the obedience of Christ. Blessings to you this Easter.
Beau Ratliff from Midland, TX. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 7:6-7 NIV
Chyrll, Memphis, Tennessee.
“When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.” Acts 1:13 NASB
Mary Merrell
Albuquerque NM
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Jacki from Grandville, MI
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:8. NIV
“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.”
Psalm 25:8 NIV
Kelley, Houston TX
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
This is one of my favorite verses from many years back. Thank you for reminding me of it. I submitted my verse right under yours and am happy I saw it.
Linda from Chester, VA
“If I go to heaven, you are there; if I go to the place of the dead, you are there.”
Psalm 139:8
Melissa, Sulphur, LA
Because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Ephesians 6:8 (NIV)
Connie, Moss Bluff, LA
Because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Ephesians 6:8 (NIV)
Kate
Fort Smith, AR
“A true friend sticks by you like family!”
Proverbs 18:24 NIV
Denise Wilkin, The Woodlands, Texas
1 Peter 1:5-6
Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
NIV
Debbie from Colorado Springs
Eph. 3:16-19 (NIV)
I pray that out of his glorious riches, he will strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Oh I LOVE this section of scripture! I pray this over my family all the time! Go for it Girl!
Psalm 139:8 NASB
If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.
Claire Phillips, Topeka, KS
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16 (ESV)
Leah, Kansas City, MO
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
Melissa from Lawrenceburg TN
Micah 7:7 But as for me I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. ESV
Regina, Floydada, TX
Continuing in Psalm 34~ “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 ESV
Debbie McElroy from Zachary, La: “As He spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with JOY when they saw the Lord.” John 20:20 NLT
Kelly from Fowler, IN
Proverbs 16:3 NKJV
3: Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
Meredith from Johnstown, Ohio: God made him who had no no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
Gretchen, Gahanna, Ohio
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Psalms 51:8
Allison from Albany, GA: “On you I have depended since birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers.” Psalm 91:6 NABRE
Laura from Hudson, IL:
Psalm 25:8 (NIV)
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in His ways
Peggy Welch of Bloomington, Indiana. I Chronicles 16:11, Amplified: Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and see His face and to be in His presence continually!
I have chosen this verse this year also.
Cindy, Lancaster OH
I sought Adonai, and he answered me;
he rescued me from everything I feared.
Psalm 34:4 (CJB)
I love this translation. It is on my lit of future verses to do. How comforting.
Kim Auvenshine, Fort Worth, TX
“He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.”
Psalms 116:8 NLT
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)
Carolyn Medlin Oceanside Ca
Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud
I Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Deanna, Columbia SC
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
Hillary Dickey, D’iberville, MS.
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV
Kristine from Edmond, OK
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3 NLT
Rita Brake from Los Alamos NM ” It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
Janet from Bemus Point, NY
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
Berni, Albuquerque
In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing
certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to
prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
Romans 12:6 NLT
“Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.”~Ephesians 4:29 BSB
Sue Middeldorf – Troy, Michigan- “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.” Psalm 25:8 (NIV)