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!
“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” -1Jn 3:8 (NIV)
Conna Sullivan
Decatur, TX
Michèle, Wasaga Beach, Ontario
“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 ESV
Jennifer from San Antonio, TX
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV.
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,”
2 Timothy 2:8, ESV
Tina Crouch
Waxahachie, Texas
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Tammy, Burleson, TX
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Colossians 1:11-12 (ESV)
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”
Lamentations 3:25 (ESV)
Kim, Richland, WA
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.
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Jeannine Hale
Eagan, MN
So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 HCSB
Melissa, Redmond, OR
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 31:24 NIV
From Marysville, MI
Proverbs 31:10-12
A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find! Her husband depends on her, and she never lets him down. She is good to him every day of her life. NIV
Tammy Daniel from Atoka, Ok:
“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133 ESV
And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God wth all your heart and with all your soul.
NIV Deuteronomy 10:12
Karessa, Peoria, IL:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville TX
“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Psalm 16:6
Denise Ciofani from Lexington, NC. “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21 NIV
“Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates
on it day and night.” Psalm 1:2 HCS
Michèle, Wasaga Beach, Ontario
“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 ESV
Donna, Athens, GA
For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
–Mattheyw 6:32 (RSV-2CE)
oops–Matthew. Please feel free to correct my typo!
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities.
Isaiah 53:5
NRSV
Ann from Odessa, FL
“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:5 NASB
Connor from Greenwood, SC
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14 NLT
Paula Rutherford, Decatur, Tx–
“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”
Psalm 63:8 (1985 NIV)
Martina — Richmond, TX
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plana to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Kristy McIntyre from Eugene, OR
” that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:8 NIV
Leigh, Shorter, Alabama: You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; at Your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm 16:11 CSB
Ruth Kitchener, ON
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Psalm 19:9,10 (NIV)
Peggy Miles – Jackson, Michigan
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 (NASB)
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Ps 91:8 ESV
Melissa from Sacramento, CA “Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has gone to Thessalonica. Crescents has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me in ministry.
2 Timothy 4:9-11, ESV
Trish Patterson – Clover, SC
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God. – Ephesians 6:17 NASB
Phoebe Cunningham from Tucson, Arizona:
“He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”
John 1:8 ESV
Amy Andrews, Bellaire, Texas
That raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:20 NLT
Caroline Schollaardt Calgary, AB, Canada
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ” John 15:4 (NIV)
Theresa, Cheyenne, WY
may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
Ephesians 3:18 NIV
Lisa Curtis
Jackson, MO
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. Psalm 23:1 HCSB
Lisa S from Fairfield, CT
Ephesians 2:14 NIV “He himself is our peace.”
Easter blessings, everyone!
Connie-Fulton, KY
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 NIV 1984
Kathy from Visalia California
Philippians 3:14 KJV
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to Himself together with you.
2 Corinthians 4:14 NLT
Michele from Springfield, VA–
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
–Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Stacey Masterson, Hanscom AFB: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV
Ann in Marina, California:
“The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
2 Timothy 2:6-7 HCSB
John 21:25
“There are still many other things that Jesus did, yet if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the books to record them.”
NAB
Deb, Becker, MN
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
Lynn, New Smyrna Beach, Fl.
The sovereign Lord has taught me what to say, so that I can strengthen the weary. Every morning He makes me eager to hear what he has is going to teach me.
GNB Isaiah 50:4
Tera Lewis from Colorado Springs, Co:
Psalm 51:5-9New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Jerrie-Longview, TX
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
Jennifer Bass, Fort Worth, TX:
“There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8 HCSB
Aj from Newberg, OR: “Watch out that you don’t lose what you have worked for. Make sure that you get your complete reward.” (1 John 8 NIRV)