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!
Heather from Sherwood, OR
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””
Hebrews 12:3-6 ESV
Jamie, Dallas, TX. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquity; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; Who satisfies you with good So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV
Lora – Kernersville, NC – “If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is Leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:8 NIV
Lorrie Moudy, El Dorado, Arkansas, “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9
Anna from Ontario, Canada
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Kori, Duluth MN: The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Proverbs 18:8 ESV
Marilyn, Alton, IA “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.” Psalm 25:8 NIV
Sarah Schoolcraft from Kingwood, TX
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,”
2 Timothy 2:8 NIV
Rae Anne, Brandon, MS
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV
Sue in Kalamazoo, MI
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
Mary Annis, Jacksonville, TX
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
Jo, Columbia, Missouri
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39 NIV
LeAnn, Spring, TX
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Terry , Odessa, FL
“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10, NIV
Kim Emmerich
Dickinson, ND
Psalm 145:7 ESV
They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
Acts 5:38-39Amplified Bible (AMP)
38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will fail and be destroyed; 39 but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”
Angie
Buffalo, NY
Jenny Smith, Lewisville, TX
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1b-2 (ESV)
“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished,” and bowed his head and dismissed his spirit.” (John 19:30 TLB)
Julie Davis, Blairsville, PA
Do not Lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Colossians 3:9 ESV
Darcy Hicks, Pace, Fl:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8 NIV
Carolyn from South Bucks,UK
Remember Lord your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Psalm 25:6 NIV
Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
Whitney from Russellville, TN
Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:2. ESV
Liz Scherer
Fort Worth, TX
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 NIV
Devi, Singapore
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
April 17, 2017
Jeanne Sutton of Sacramento CA
I will say of the Lord,
“He is my Refuge and my Fortress,
my God, in whom I will trust.”
Psalm 91:2 NIV
Kelly from Delaware, OH
“For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:47 NIV
Gigi Parisi
Mullica Hill NJ
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Dina Emery Grand Rapids,MI
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 NIV
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
I John 4:14
NASB
Christi Bruecher from Houston, TX
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
Susanna, Ross, CA
That you may know the exceeding greatness of His power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.
Ephesians 1:18-20 NKJV
Beaumont, Texas
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;
if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too.
Psalm 139:8 NAB
Pam, Brighton, CO
Philippians 1:9(NLT)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Lisa Walden – Arlington Tx
Exodus 20:17 NIV
[17] “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Judy Lawson Galion, OH
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 NIV 1984
Lynda from Ocala, FL: (NIV) Psalm 139:8 – If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Becky, St. Augustine, Florida.
Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:23-24 NIV
Brenda Loyd,Talala, Ok. 1st Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it. KJV
Natalie Malec, Grand Prairie, TX
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”
Psalms 9:10 NLT
Megan Loscher
Quincy, IL
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me, and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 (NASB)
Linda Howard, Frankenmuth Jesus, who makes people holy, and all those who are made holy have the same Father. That is why Jesu isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11 (GWT)
Katie from Easley, SC
“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbor?” -James 4:12 (NIV)
Molly Norwood Longview, Tx Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for me hope is in him. Psalm 62:5 NLT
Andrea Porter, Pottstown, PA
Psalm 105:4 NIV
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.