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!
Desiree Richardson from Dallas, Texas, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8 NIV
John 11:25 niv
Jesus said to Her. I AM the resurrection and the life!
Robin McMurray, Grants Pass, Oregon
Psalm 121:6 ESV
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Elize from Secunda, South Africa
Psalm 25:7 “Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.” AMP
Melissa Anderson Fort Worth, TX
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David , as preached in my gospel, 2 Timothy 2:8 ESV
Kathy Gerlach, Andover, Kansas
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if
I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Psalm 139:8 NIV
Holly J from Santa Monica, CA
If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. – Psalm 139:8, NASB
Deanna – Perry Georgia
Psalm 25:8 NASB
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way
Katharine from Watertown, WI
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3, NIV
Stephanie Tausch- Helotes.,Tx
“a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:8 NIV
Kisha Majors from Wylie, TX “O my people trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 NLT
Highlands Ranch CO PS 25:7 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. NASB
Ohio
Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.
Psalm 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:8&9
DeeDee Martin. Katy,Tx
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
Cara from Melbourne Australia.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy”
Matthew 5v7 ESV
Annie, Alabama
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:5 NLT
Kim from New Port Richey,FL
Colossians 3:9-10 ESV
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. And put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
Anne B., Chesterfield, MI: Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 ESV
Whitney from Grovetown, GA: “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.” Colossians 3:8 (NLT)
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matt 5:14 NASB
Deb in Windsor, CT:
“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
– 1 Chronicles 16:11, NIV
Kim Cook – Valley, AL
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” ~ Titus 2:11 NIV
Martha Robertson, Harrodsburg Kentucky
2 Timothy 4:5
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
NLT
Cathy from Birmingham, Alabama
2Thessalonians 3:5 NASB
May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
Colleen, Kissimmee, FL
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
~ Isaiah 53:5
Kay in Muscle Shoals, AL
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19: 7-8 ESV
Kim Foley, Arnold, MD
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Colossians 3:19 (NIV)
Robin from Leo, IN “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Kristine from Welland, ON
John 1:12 ESV
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Gay
Round Rock, TX
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we ask of Him.
I John 5:14-15 NIV
Amy Link – Alva, FL
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
Acts 1:8 NIV
Paige, ATL John 14:14, 15 ESV
If you ask me anything in my Name, I will do it.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Antoinette, Hoofddorp, the Netherlands
Filippenzen 4:8(NBV)
Ten slotte, broeders en zuster, schenk aandacht aan alles wat waar is, alles wat edel is, alles wat rechtvaardig is, alles wat zuiver is, alles wat lieflijk is, alles wat eervol is, kortom aan alles wat deugdzaam is en lof verdient.
Kimberly Embrey Greenfield, IN “He will spend his days in prosperity and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him: he makes his covenant known to them” Psalm 25:13-14
Gina Ables – Newnan, GA – Proverbs 3:7 (ESV) Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Kristie, Montgomery, TX: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ” Romans 12:16 NIV
Delite Ritter Westpoint, IN
Psalms 121:8 NASB
“The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”
Debbie, from Orlando
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” NIV
Melanie – Decatur, AL
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ~1 Timothy 6:18 NIV
Judy, Satellite Beach, FL
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27(ESV)
Audrey, Lebanon, IN
Romans 6:22-23 NIV
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
One thing I asked from the Lord, this only do I seek that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
Naomi Stephens from Calhoun City, MS
“If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.” Psalm 139:8 NLT
Alicia Rowe, Taylorsville, KY
“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret, it only leads to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9 (NASB)
Martha McElhaney Ooltewah, TN
He is not here! For He has been resurrected just as He said. Come see the place where He lay. Matthew 28: 6. HCSB
Darcy, Rosenberg TX, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”
Psalms 145:18-19 ESV
Kristin from Dunmor, Ky
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ” John 1:5 ESV
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
Allison Lee from Lubbock, TX
“praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47 (ESV)